FlightSafety Introduces Enhanced Vital X Visual System Designed Specifically for Helicopter Training

Feb. 17, 2010
FlightSafety will be demonstrating the enhanced VITAL X visual system during Heli-Expo 2010 in Houston, Texas, from February 21-23

LaGuardia Airport, New York (February 17, 2010) – FlightSafety International introduces an enhanced version of its VITAL X Visual System designed specifically for use in helicopter training programs and simulators.

“FlightSafety will be demonstrating the enhanced VITAL X visual system during Heli-Expo 2010 in Houston, Texas, from February 21-23. Attendees will be able to view newly created high resolution scenes developed specifically for Emergency Medical Services, Off Shore, Newsgathering and law enforcement operators,” said George Ferito, Director, Rotorcraft Business Development.

The new highly detailed low altitude visuals include mountainous terrain, accident scenes, pinnacle landings, airports, hospital helipads, obstacles such as power lines, trees, and bridges and an oil rig complete with lighting, and articulation of the model and sea state animations.

“This significant enhancement to FlightSafety’s industry leading VITAL X Visual System was designed based on extensive consultation with helicopter operators from various industry segments and our vast experience in civil and military simulation equipment,” said Rick Armstrong, Vice President, Simulation.

The company’s new VITAL AccuView glass mirror optical system significantly enhances visual clarity and brightness while eliminating the image degradation and edge band distortion inherent in many traditional display systems. Another advantage of the system is that it can be scaled beyond its 60 x 200 degree Field of View and offers the ability to customize the up look and down look views to reflect a specific aircraft type. The first AccuView system will be installed on a Sikorsky S-76D simulator that is currently in production at FlightSafety. The enhanced VITAL X visual system features a Global Synthetic Natural Environment world database of geo-specific satellite imagery. The system supports hundreds of six Degree of Freedom fully articulated moving models, 3D sea states, physics-based MultiVis atmospheric weather and sensor effects, and shaders to enhance training realism.

FlightSafety provides a wide variety of factory authorized pilot and maintenance training programs for the vast majority of fixed and rotor wing business aircraft manufacturers including Bell Helicopter and Sikorsky Aircraft Company. The company will offer a fleet of 15 helicopter simulators and other advanced training devices by year end located at its Learning Centers in Fort Worth, Texas; Lafayette, Louisiana; West Palm Beach, Florida and in the United Kingdom at the Farnborough Airport.

FlightSafety International is the world’s premier professional aviation training company and manufacturer of flight simulators, visual systems and displays for commercial, government and military organizations. We provide more than a million hours of training each year to pilots, technicians and other aviation professionals from 154 countries. FlightSafety operates the world’s largest fleet of advanced full flight simulators at Learning Centers and training locations in the United States, Canada, Europe, South Africa and Asia.