From the Field: Frasca Delivers Bell 206 FTDs to Iraq

Frasca International has delivered two flight training devices (FTDs) for the Bell Helicopter Model 206B for the U.S. Air Force to use in training Iraqi air force pilots.

These FTDs delivered to Kirkuk Air Base, about 145 nm (270 km) north of Baghdad, are part of an August 2007 order for nine to be used for training pilots for both rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft. The order includes the Bell 206 units, two Bell UH-1 FTDs, three for the Cessna 172 and two for the Cessna Caravan. The pair of UH-1 units and a Caravan FTD are slated for delivery within the next few months.

All nine FTDs will include Frasca’s TruVision 220 visual display system, which uses a 220X70 deg curved screen to offer students a seamless field of view for greater realism and fidelity.

"It is hard to imagine how we trained without the Frasca simulators," said Lt. Col. Mark Bennett, commander of the Air Force’s 52nd Expeditionary Flying Training Sqdn. "The visuals are outstanding and the simulators show exactly how we are training the Iraqi air force’s future pilots."

The contract is a result of a Foreign Military Sales transaction in which the U.S. Army’s Program Executive Officer for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation procured multiple FTDs for the Iraqi Air Force Flight Training Program. The devices will be used for a large portion of the flight instruction.

The Iraqi military forces have not had a flight training school since 2003.