Helicopter simulator in Mount Pearl first of its kind in Canada

Training opportunities for helicopter pilots who work in Newfoundland and Labrador's challenging offshore have received a boost, with the opening Tuesday of a new training and research and development centre in Mount Pearl.

• Families gather to remember Cougar Flight 491, seven years later

The centre was established through a $13-million investment by the partnership that operates the Hibernia oil field, and another $3.3 million from the province's research and development corporation.

The centre includes Canada's first civilian helicopter simulator with night vision training capabilities, and will allow pilots to simulate some of the most challenging and realistic flight conditions in the offshore.

It simulates flying a Sikorsky S92, the model used by Cougar Helicopters to service the three producing oil fields in the offshore.

The centre is operated by a Canadian company called CAE, a world leader in helicopter pilot training. Pilots with Cougar started training at the centre in April.

'Unprecedented realism'

Cougar operates six S92 helicopters out of a base at St. John's International Airport, and its pilots receive simulator training at least four times a year.

Previously, these pilots travelled to the United States or the United Kingdom for such training, but can now avail of the "unprecedented realism" offered by the new simulator, including landing on platforms such as Hibernia in all possible conditions.

This wasn't possible at other locations.

"The quality of the simulator is probably more important than where it is," said Hank Williams, chief operating officer with Cougar Helicopters. 

"The accuracy of flying in this environment is what makes us so happy to be using this simulator."

The enhanced training centre opens more than seven years after the crash of Cougar Flight 491, which resulted in the death of 17 people. There was only one survivor.

Money for training now spent at home

Those speaking at Tuesday's official opening say the simulator, and related research projects at the centre, will be used to develop and test new products and services to further enhance safety.

"For innovation, new industry, new opportunity, and for safety, this is a great investment for the province," said Natural Resources Minister Siobhan Coady.

Williams said having such a centre in the province will make training more efficient and require less travel for pilots.

He said money spent by Cougar to send pilots abroad for spending will now be spent "in our backyard."

CAE has hired four technicians to operate the centre, and that number is expected to grow as training demands grow.

"These pilots can train in any kind of mission without having to leave the ground," said CAE president Nick Leontidis. 

Len Coughlan, with the Hibernia Management and Development Corporation, said in a release the training will also create local jobs and boost local expertise.

"Having this facility in the region increases the level of research related to helicopter operations, which will contribute to improved operations and flight safety," he said.