October 9, 2010 - CAE announced at the Helitech Europe conference that it has received FAA approval to deliver the pilot training ground school for the Eurocopter AS350 helicopter through a CAE Simfinity e-Learning program, enabling pilots to reduce their time at the training centre for both initial and recurrent training. 

Pilots who complete the AS350 e-Learning program via distance learning will go through a brief pre-simulator review and qualification exam and then proceed to training sessions in the CAE 3000 Series helicopter mission simulator located at a CAE training location in Phoenix, Arizona.  Instructor-led classroom training will not be required. 

"This is another breakthrough for CAE's continuing innovation in training solutions development," said Jeff Roberts, CAE Group President, Civil Simulation Products, Training and Service. "We are committed to offering options to our clients that enhance safety as well as operational efficiency. This new helicopter e-Learning approach will provide highly effective training and help lower operators' costs by reducing pilots' time spent away from their base." 

For initial training, the no-classroom e-Learning option can save AS350 students two days at the training centre, compared with the traditional instructor-led ground school.

The AS350 Initial Pilot Training Course can be delivered through the CAE Learning Management System (LMS), which includes recommended sequencing, or through standalone portable electronic media. For clients who prefer, the traditional instructor-led ground school is also available and can be conducted at a CAE training centre or at the customer's facility.

The CAE AS350 simulator in Phoenix was recently qualified by the FAA for Level 7 flight training device credits, as well as by Transport Canada. The CAE 3000 Series helicopter mission simulator features unprecedented realism for helicopter-specific mission training, including offshore, emergency medical services, law enforcement, high-altitude, corporate, and other operations. The simulator enables pilots to practice challenging procedures without risk such as low-level flight, confined area operations and autorotation.