STAT MedEvac
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Fidelity Flight Simulation
Eurocopter EC135 simulator contract

STAT MedEvac, a Pittsburgh-headquartered medical transport company, has awarded Fidelity Flight Simulation a contract to complete a full motion flight simulation device (FSD) for the Eurocopter EC135 helicopter. This simulator will be the first Eurocopter full motion flight simulation device in North America, and will allow STAT MedEvac to provide its pilots superior flight training at a dramatically lower cost. The simulator’s affordability will allow the FSD to be located at STAT MedEvac’s home base in Pittsburgh, PA, rather than require STAT MedEvac pilots to travel to Florida for training in a simulator which models an entirely different aircraft type.

STAT MedEvac had earlier provided Fidelity with prototype development funding to demonstrate that it could successfully model the standard and emergency flight characteristics of the EC135. With the aerodynamic model approved, Fidelity has now been contracted to complete the FSD. Fidelity is utilizing all the technologies it perfected for years in fixed wing flight simulation, including its 6 axis electric motion base and RealVision external visual display, to lower costs and make the project feasible for STAT MedEvac.

Although all of the EC135 systems will be replicated, only those systems necessary to meet STAT MedEvac’s training requirements will be functioning. By writing the specification for functioning systems around STAT MedEvac’s training requirements, Fidelity can further lower costs and make highly realistic flight simulation more affordable for STAT MedEvac.

Although the FSD contract was only awarded in early December of 2002, Fidelity’s fast track production process will have the simulator available for STAT MedEvac training by Spring of this year. “The simulator will actually be operational and on exhibit at the Heli-Expo show in Dallas in February.” claims Mark Limbach, Director of Marketing for Fidelity Flight Simulation.

“STAT MedEvac is tasked to undertake lifesaving missions under adverse conditions,” claims Jim Bothwell, Chief Operating Officer for STAT MedEvac. “The ability to replicate these conditions, along with emergencies, has become a mandatory part of our approach to medevac crew training. Providing crews with the opportunity to practice emergency procedures, especially those that cannot be duplicated in expensive aircraft, is essential for safe operations. Fidelity Flight Simulation has provided the necessary expertise to develop a training simulator specific for our operations at a reasonable cost."

"We believe this to be an ideal training solution for STAT MedEvac," says Graham Hodgetts, President of Fidelity Flight Simulation. "Rather than having to pay exorbitant amounts for pilots to travel and train in simulator flight models different than the aircraft they fly, STAT MedEvac pilots will have highly realistic, full motion flight simulation for their Eurocopter aircraft right at their primary facility."
STAT MedEvac is a consortium of Pittsburgh area hospitals that provides medical transport of critically ill or injured patients throughout the world. STAT MedEvac currently operates 14 air medical transport helicopters and conducts over 8,000 missions per year, and works with CJ Systems Aviation Group. More information can be found on its website at www.statmedevac.com or by contacting Jim Bothwell at 412-460-3000.

Fidelity Flight Simulation is the leader in affordable full motion flight simulation. For more information, contact Mark Limbach at 412-321-3280, or at .