Helicopter Flight Simulator

Beginning of 2009, Delhi-based chartered aviation company Shaurya Aeronautics, owned by entrepreneur and experienced Commercial Pilot Sandeep Saraf, launched the country’s first helicopter simulator training facility at Safdarjang airport. The training facility has been set up in partnership with an Italian company, Frasca International that manufactures flight training equipment for airlines, flight schools and military organisations worldwide. Founded in 1958, Frasca has delivered over 2,200 devices to over 70 countries.

With an initial investment of Rs 10 crore, the new training facility at Safdarjang Airport is an independent company registered as Shaurya Flight Sim (SFS). Currently offering simulator training on Bell 206 and Bell 407 helicopters in all weather conditions by day and night covering all emergency procedures, SFS is a professional flight training organisation primarily providing training to helicopter pilots. As per Wing Commander (Retd) Pragat Singh, the Chief Flying Instructor, the company has the vision of being “the best in Aviation Simulation Training in Asia by 2010 and one of the top five in the world by 2015”.

According to the Rotary Wing Society of India, there were 12 fatal helicopter accidents in the country between 1970 and 2008. Eight of these were attributed to lack of practice in flying solely with the help of instruments when loss of visual reference occurred. Regular and adequate practice on the simulator will allow pilots to hone their skills at an extremely low cost and help reduce such accidents.

The new facility comes as a welcome relief for the 1,000 or so helicopter pilots operating in India who for renewal of licence, have to undergo mandatory simulator training abroad every year at high costs to the operator. The helicopter fleet is growing and more pilots will be added to the pool with the passage of time. Besides reducing the cost of training by 60 per cent SFS will save time and improve the availability of pilots to the operator.

All training courses offered by SFS are designed and developed to fully meet the operational standards and requirements laid down by the Indian Directorate General of Civil Aviation. SFS has also obtained certification from the Federal Aviation Administration, the American regulatory authority, for its training devices and courses offered.

Self-Sponsored training courses offered by SFS

• Simulator Training for Private Pilot Licence (Helicopter)
• Simulator Training for Commercial Pilot Licence (Helicopter)
• Simulator Training for Instrument Rating (Helicopter)
• Recurrent Training for Competency Checks on the Simulator/Flying Training Device
• IR Renewal on the Simulator/ Flying Training Device
• Type Endorsement/ Type Rating on the Simulator/ Flying Training Device
• Training on Special VFR