FlightSafety International is set to begin test flights mid-month on the first of three Level D simulators for Air Methods’ new training center, according to that operator’s chief pilot.

Chief Pilot Raj Helweg said FlightSafety has completed data collection from flights of three Air Methods aircraft – an Airbus Helicopters AS350 and H130 and Bell Helicopter 407GX – and has been building the full-motion flight simulators at its Broken Arrow, Oklahoma manufacturing facility. The Air Methods executive, who provided the updat at the FAA’s recent International Rotorcraft Safety Conference in Hurst, Texas, said those three types represent about 60% of Air Methods’ fleet.

“In the middle of November, we will start the test flying process with those three simulators, starting with the AS350,” Helweg said. “By this time next year, we will be utilizing Level D simulators for 75% of our flight training at Air Methods.”

FlightSafety is building a 100,000-square-foot facility adjacent to Denver International Airport for Air Methods under a 10-year agreement signed in December 2014. It will house the AS350, H130 and 407GX simulators plus a Level D Airbus EC135 simulator being moved from FlightSafety’s Learning Center in Dallas.

“We’ve had a lot of success with that light twin simulator,” Helweg said.

The Denver center is scheduled to open this year. It will be available to public operators and other commercial ones.

The FAA requires that a Level D simulator provide static and dynamic control loading, move in six axis (pitch, roll and yaw, as well as heave, surge and sway) and have a visual display of at least 180 degrees wide and 40 degrees high that accurately portrays day, dusk and night scenes. A Level D sim also must provide realistic cockpit noise.

“The utilization of simulators will allow us scenario-based training to bridge training on maneuvers, like practice autorotations, and emergency procedures with real-world applications,’” Helweg said. “We believe that is the key to setting our pilots up for success.”