Royal Netherlands Air Force Begins Chinook Training On Upgraded Simulators

The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) has begun training its Chinook aircrews to the CH-47D and CH-47F standards after the successful completion of Chinook simulators upgrades. 

The upgrade was done over the past two years to support RNLAF Chinook training, which is contracted to run through 2018 at CAE's MSHATF. The RNLAF have recently fielded six new-build CH-47F Chinook helicopters to reinforce its existing fleet of 11 CH-47D Chinooks.

"Training our pilots to become acquainted with the new CH-47F is essential for enhanced flight safety and mission effectiveness," said Major Franklin Groenewold, Program Manager - Expansion Chinook Fleet, Netherlands Ministry of Defence. "CAE's MSHATF offers the ideal synthetic training environment for initial conversion training as well as advanced mission training. With the comprehensive ground school and simulator training we get at the MSHATF, our crews are well-prepared and operationally ready for current and future missions."

The simulator upgrade included ensuring concurrency with the RNLAF's current Avionics Control and Management System (ACMS) Block 5 CH-47D and new Block 6 CH-47F Chinook helicopters. The Chinook simulator was also upgraded to support other specific features of the CH-47F model, including missile warning sensors, radar warning receivers, chaff/flare dispense system, and digital automatic flight control system.

"This is an important upgrade for the Royal Netherlands Air Force Chinook force and we are pleased that our long term partnership with the Netherlands Ministry of Defence as well as the UK Ministry of Defence allows us to continue adapting the training services we offer at the MSHATF," said Andrew Naismith, Managing Director, CAE Aircrew Training Services plc. "Our aim is always to ensure the aircrews who train at the MSHATF experience training consistent with the aircraft they fly and relevant to current operations."