The US Army’s Fort Cavazos Flight Simulation Division has received its latest AH-64E Guardian multirole combat helicopter simulator, enabling simultaneous training for the service’s aviators.
The division at Yoakum-Defrenn Army Heliport in Texas offers realistic flight training with platforms modeled on army helicopters such as the CH-47 Chinook and UH-60 Black Hawk.
The facility requires aircrews to complete a certain number of flight hours annually to maintain their skills with the vehicles.
“US Army flight simulation training is important because it is efficient, effective and safe,” Flight Simulation Division Chief Eric Csizmesia explained.
“Efficient because costs associated with operating rotary wing aircraft are extremely high. Fuel, maintenance, repair parts and repairing/replacing damaged aircraft are costly. Comparatively speaking, flight simulation has proven to be very cost efficient.”
Additional AH-64E Simulator
The latest AH-64E simulator was integrated into a Guardian trainer and now supports flight lessons.
“Aviation units are in a lot of need for simulation. We only had one device … and it kind of shorted them on their training needs. Now that we have two devices, we can meet all of their training needs,” Flight Simulation Division Instructor Jim Campbell stated.
“One aircrew can be in (the newest simulator) and one aircrew can be in the other one and they can fly a mission together as if there were two aircraft outside flying a mission.”
“Having the two flight simulators linked is going to be more beneficial and will provide more realistic Aviator training.”
Preparation for Actual Flight
While the Fort Cavazos simulators are beneficial in honing flight skills, Csizmesia emphasized that they do not replace live training.
“Regardless of an aviator’s experience level, there is always something new to learn,” Csizmesia said.
A trainee from the 17th Cavalry Regiment explained, “This (training) is a way to make sure that we are staying proficient before we start aircraft progression training, make sure we’re staying up on the basic stuff before we actually get back in the aircraft.”
“The flight simulation device allows me to mess up here, so I don’t mess up out there… being able to do stuff like this helps us refresh on everything we’ve forgotten in the meantime,” another trainee added.
