Improving rear crew training

Coming from an aviation engineering background, what interested you about the challenges of rear crew hoist training and simulation?

Most of my career has been in training and simulation. What I noted during these years is that simulation is and continues to be extremely important in training. However, a lot of the simulation technologies are targeted towards pilots. If we apply the same rationale, why is simulation not as prevalent for rear crew training? This is what drove our development. With the use of new technologies like virtual reality (VR) / mixed reality (MR), we believe that with the addition of high-fidelity haptics, we can bring the same high-fidelity training to helicopter hoist operators and provide a safe yet dynamic environment to bring the best training outcomes.

In addition, we are working hard to transform the rear crew training continuum to include high-fidelity simulators such as the Hoist Mission Training System (HMTS) to provide initial and recurrent training.

The HMTS and its portable sister product are fully immersive virtual reality environments with realistic 3D cable behavior. How is this achieved?

This is achieved by combining the best simulation engine, the best VR/MR technology and a person-in-the-loop dynamic cable haptics. The immersion and the physical interaction make the HMTS so realistic that a large percentage of helicopter hoist training can be achieved in the simulator. We can create any type of environment to put the trainee in any situation that cannot be trained in the real helicopter in a safe manner. We can also create dangerous situations and insert malfunctions to make the training even more realistic and permit a ‘low repetition – high risk’ situation to be repeatable.

The HMTS and portable HMTS are also able to be linked to pilot flight training simulators running the same scenario. How does this help with crew training?

This is an important feature that is provided to the whole crew. This permits full crew training by improving crew management, communications, and teamwork in simulated difficult operational situations. As regulations change for hoisting operations training, this capability will help fulfil the simulation training requirements. Bluedrop has already connected a full flight simulator to its HMTS for full crew training. Bluedrop’s system also offers performance data analytics that provide real time feedback to the trainees and the trainers. This permits objective assessment and after-action reviews based on data.

What other benefits does Bluedrop Training & Simulation offer to special missions crews that they can’t get anywhere else?

Bluedrop Training & Simulation offers the capability to train ‘low repetition – high risk’ situations repeatedly and thus taking away the ‘low repetition’ factor. The HMTS also offers the capability to train situations that are difficult to plan or to ‘order’; for example, a rescue from a sinking ship or in a dangerous flooded area. Most rescues are required in difficult situations; with simulation, we can recreate these situations efficiently, safely, at low cost and without using blade hours.