The strong working relationship and close cooperation of Leonardo and Suzuyo & Co. Ltd. (Suzuyo) in Japan has resulted in the certification of an AW139 Level D Full Flight Simulator (FFS). The event marks a major milestone for the first Level D FFS helicopter simulator based in the country. Together with an AW139 Level 5 Flight Training Device (FTD) already certified in July 2021, the FFS manufactured by Leonardo in collaboration with CAE covers the entire range of advanced flight simulation training for the Leonardo AW139 intermediate twin engine helicopter in Japan. The simulators are installed at Suzuyo facilities located nearby Mount Fuji Shizuoka Airport and will be operated by its subsidiary Fuji Aviation Systems (FAS). Further enhancing safety and operation training effectiveness, Leonardo will continue supporting and collaborating to establish the Fuji Training Academy.
The parties had achieved an early agreement in the shape of Letter of Intent on the simulation devices in June 2019 and announced the contract for the FFS simulator in January 2020. Leonardo is also providing Suzuyo with briefing and debriefing capabilities and additional training aids developed by Leonardo such as E-Learning to support ground training delivery and the ETD Lite-5 advanced procedural trainer, capable of being reconfigurable to support both AW139 and AW109 GrandNew helicopters.
This step confirms Leonardo’s commitment to a continued enhancement of safety standards as an uncompromising value and a core contributor to mission effectiveness and safety, for pilots, crew members and technicians, helping assess any mission risk.
With nearly 70 AW139s in-service in Japan today performing a wide range of roles such as law enforcement, search and rescue over land and sea, fire-fighting and electronic newsgathering, the provision of pilot training services combining a FFS and other training tools and distance learning capabilities at FAS will further reinforce the level of service provided to existing and future operators of the most successful helicopter in its category.
