Army approves new AWR for ICARUS devices

The new AWR means that all UH-60L and UH/HH-60M Black Hawk helicopters across the US Army fleet can now be used alongside the Instrument Conditions Awareness Recognition and Understanding System (ICARUS).

It follows the announcement of a previous AWR that covered only the UH-60L/M in May 2022. A range of variant Black Hawks are employed by the US Army in an array of roles, including medical evacuation, air assault and general support roles.

The ICARUS is a ‘smart view-limiting device’ that enables instructor pilots and unit trainers to simulate degraded visual environments (DVE) in their aircraft. This allows users to dial in any level of visibility for dynamic scenario-based training – effectively bringing ‘simulator level control’ to real aircraft training.

The device is capable of mimicking ‘startle effects’

The use of the device is expected to offer several improvements in the training of army aviators. During Inadvertent Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IIMC) training, ICARUS can simulate a rapid reduction in visibility to evoke the ‘startle effect’ and force and emergency transition to instrument flying. The device can also enhance IFR proficiency by mimicking real-world weather, ‘adding value throughout a practice instrument approach’. The device can also ‘replicate marginal visibility conditions’, enabling that ‘all important weather decision-making skills can be put to the test during planning and in flight, crucial for Pilot-in-Command check rides’.

According to ICARUS Co-founder and former Army Aviator Erik Sabiston: “The death rates for IIMC are unacceptable for our soldiers. No other device but ICARUS can accurately replicate the inputs or mental challenges that the Startle Effect places upon our aircrews. If you can survive your first IIMC, chances are you will never have a problem again. When you train the stress of the Startle Effect out of pilots, they survive the real thing.”

The ICARUS team has stated that they will continue to work with US Army aviation units to further ‘develop and deploy associated tactics, techniques and procedures’, and that it was looking to ‘field the device with other airframes’ in both the army and other branches of the military.