Introduction to Operational Theatre Came from Synthetic Environment

Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) CH-147F CHINOOK, CH-146 GRIFFON, and CC-130J HERCULES aircrews currently supporting the United Nations Task Force Mali mission initially experienced the West African country virtually before embarking on the actual operational mission.

The aircrews all prepared for the mission in CAE-built full-mission simulators. CAE developed a high-fidelity virtual database of Mali, based on the Open Geospatial Consortium Common Database (OGC CDB), to be used in the CHINOOK and HERCULES simulators, and a generic database of the Mali area for use in the GRIFFON simulator. The company also created highly-detailed and realistic virtual operational training areas. Instructors from CAE then worked closely with RCAF personnel to create lesson plans so aircrews could rehearse a range of missions, including aeromedical evacuation, in the virtual world.

“We knew Task Force Mali would be a very high tempo mission requiring our aircrews to be prepared and ready at a moment’s notice,” commented Commander 1 Wing, RCAF, Col Travis Morehen. “Simulation-based training is an invaluable tool in helping familiarise our aircrews with the operational environment and giving them the ability to practice and rehearse a variety of mission scenarios before actually having to perform these life-saving missions for real.”

“Simulation is an ideal tool for pre-deployment operation and mission rehearsal training because it gives aircrews the opportunity to safely and cost-effectively prepare for real-world operations in a virtual environment,” added Vice President and General Manager, CAE Canada, Joe Armstrong. “CAE is the RCAF’s training partner on all the aircraft platforms involved in Task Force Mali, and we bring a great deal of experience and expertise as a training systems integrator in being able to help the RCAF leverage its simulation-based training enterprise to support its operational missions.”