Manportable Solution Enhances Training Flexibility

Having used SEA’s fully integrated Flight Deck Officer (FDO) simulator at its naval training establishment in Bergen for five years, the Royal Norwegian Navy has now become the first customer to order the company’s upgraded portable DECKsim Virtual Reality (VR) Trainer. The new man portable solution will enable them to train individuals on board any ship or at any land-based facility.

SEA, a Cohort plc company, has developed DECKsim to replicate flight decks (for ships and oil platforms) and land-based airfield environments for training aircraft handling procedures. DECKsim is used by several navies and is currently attracting strong interest globally for both fixed installation simulators and portable solutions. The system is easily configured for specific airframes, platforms and scenario requirements. Users of the system have demonstrated a reduction of up to 50% in FDO-related live aircraft flying hours, enabling a rapid return on investment to be realised. In addition to lowering training costs, the system delivers an environment in which an individual can train in routine and emergency operating conditions, which is impossible with the live platform.

“We have harnessed the latest developments in VR technology and embodied it within the modular DECKsim system.  The result is a truly portable solution which efficiently addresses FDO ‘currency’ training and testing, which is a challenge for all organisations,” commented the company’s  Business Development Executive, Andy McGowan.

Tim Mahon