Industry and Technology:
MH-60S Full Motion Simulator
Article by LCDR E. “Chip” Lancaster, USN(Ret)
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Features
he MH-60S and MH60R helicopters form the cornerstone of the Navy’s Helicopter Master Plan with both helicopters sharing a common cockpit and technology. The MH-60S “Sierra” Knighthawk is used for vertical replenishment, mine countermeasures, combat search and rescue, anti-surface warfare and plane guard while the MH-60R “Romeo” Seahawk is used for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare. Plans are to procure 271 Sierras and 254 Romeos. CAE USA has been under contract since 2004 to design and build MH-60S and R OFTs (Operational Flight Trainer) and WTTs (Weapons Tactics Trainer). These trainers are designed to operate independently or linked. When linked the trainers operate together as a TOFT (Tactical Operational Flight Trainer) providing total aircrew mission training. CAE USA is now under contract to deliver seven Sierra OFTs and six Sierra WTTs. The first full motion Sierra simulator was delivered in early 2009 to NAS Norfolk. The second full motion simulator was delivered to NAS North Island in late 2009 for setup, acceptance and use in 2010. These simulators incorporate hydraulic piston motion bases to deliver a six-degree of freedom full motion system. The motion along with latest state of the art visuals will
provide a significant increase in realism for pilot training. The new hydraulic system is state of the art, providing a smooth and quiet motion delivery. One new feature incorporated in this motion system is a separate cockpit seat vibration platform. This allows the motion system to separately provide realistic The Sierra motion-based simulators are in the HSC-3/HS-10 helicopter vibrations training building simulator bays where the Foxtrot and Hotel to the pilots without simulators were previously located. Photo courtesy of HSC-3 vibrating the Public Affairs Office. whole simulator. The seat vibration platform prevents and communication links. Instruction problems with visual projection screen can be provided from the station inside delamination which had a tendency the simulator or from an independent to occur in previous motion based outside station. simulators where the whole simulator The WTT is located separate vibrated. from the OFT in an adjacent room. The instructor station and Linked OFT/WTT training can be operating system is similar to that facilitated from the separate outside previously built for stationary OFT 5 independent instructor console located thus providing operational continuity adjacent to the WTT. The linked trainers for simulator instructors without the will provide a total aircrew mission necessity of extensive additional training system. The pilots along with training. The instructor station is the aircrew will be able to interact in the provided with three fully adjustable seats training scenario.
Human Factor Mishaps in Military Helicopters The Cost and a Recommended Solution Article by Peter B. Mapes
Disclaimer: The views expressed herein are those of the author and do not purport to represent those of the Department of Defense or the Services. All statistics are from publicly released studies conducted utilizing Service Safety Center data.
During our study of all 917 of the class A and B helicopter mishaps that occurred in the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) from October of 1984 through September of 2005 (FY 85-05) we made many interesting discoveries. Among these was the finding that human
factor (HF) mishaps demonstrate much poorer survival rates and much higher occurrence rates than non-human factor (NHF) mishaps. I should probably start by defining (our definition) a HF mishap: HF mishaps are those mishaps which result from an act of commission or omission on the part of a crewmember
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aboard the mishap aircraft or aboard the aircraft which hit the mishap aircraft in the case of midair collisions. NHF mishaps are everything else. Overall across the Services, HF mishaps account for 62 to 65% of the mishaps. Since this is a Naval venue, Continue to page 14