Simulation And Training At Canada’s 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron

Aviation Week visited the Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF) new 450 Tactical Helicopter Sqdn. (THS) in Petawawa, Ontario, in early October. The 450 THS has 15 new Boeing CH-147F Chinook helicopters and a state-of-the-art training center with three CAE-built mission simulators (one full-motion, one fixed-based and one deployable) and an integrated gunnery trainer.

A gaggle of Chinooks in the new hangar at Petawawa. The 450 THS received its first F-model Chinook in June 2013 and its 15th in July 2014. The squadron has gained its initial operating capability and plans for full operational capability in 2017.

Close-up view of the F-model CH-147s, which include 30 Canada-specific changes compared to the base model. Among the upgrades are a forward-looking MX15 electro-optical/infrared sensor under the nose, improved flight controls, extended-range "fat" tanks, a power-down ramp and windshield washing system.

Lt. Col. Chris McKenna, commanding officer of the 450 THS, discusses the integrated gunnery trainer in the squadron's high bay, with the full-motion (right), fixed-based (center) and integrated gunnery trainer (left). 

The RCAF opted for only one full-motion simulator, although the floor under the fixed-base simulator was beefed up in case officials decide to add motion later.

The three simulators can be linked for mission simulations, with the integrated gunnery trainer and its C6 general-purpose machine gun attached to any one of the three flight decks. 

The transportable simulator and supporting equipment ships to forward operating bases via Canadian Boeing C-17. The simulator cab has two slide-out sections that, when opened up, provide room for observers behind the pilot seats and instructor station.

First officers spend four weeks in ground school in the new classrooms, followed by 4.5 weeks in flight training that includes 50 sorties, 30 of which are simulated and 20 of which are live. First officers can upgrade to captain in about two years.

Maintenance technicians use 60-in. touchscreen displays in the classroom to perform maintenance tasks before trying the activities on a non-flying Chinook known as the 16th aircraft.

The Boeing-provided maintenance trainer gives technicians the chance to perform any and all maintenance on the helicopter, including engine and blade changes in the Petawawa facility. 

Blade removals and replacements are part of the training on the maintenance trainer at Petawawa.

Students practice maintenance tasks in the tail end of the trainer, a former MH-47E from the U.S. 160th special operations aviation regiment.

The 450 THS manages it simulators from the tactical control center. Three Chinooks can fly in coupled simulation, with a machine gunner in the integrated gunnery trainer attached to one of the helicopters. In the future, the simulators will be coupled externally to other Canadian forces, both air and ground.

The integrated gunnery trainer, a unique asset to the 450 THS, will allow the RCAF to save money by replacing live-fire qualifications, which require 3,000-4,000 shots on the range, by virtual qualifications. 

A gunner practices with the general-purpose machine gun in the integrated gunnery trainer. The system is designed to produce the actual volume levels of the gun, which required that the outside of the simulator have sound insulation.