At the Airborne Law Enforcement Association Annual Conference in Tucson, Arizona, American Eurocopter and ALEA announced that American Eurocopter’s new AS350 flight and mission training simulator will be used for ALEA’s Advanced Tactical Flight Officer training course. The course will be presented by ALEA staff at American Eurocopter’s Training Center in Grand Prairie, Texas.

American Eurocopter’s AS350 flight and mission training simulator is scheduled to be operational in the fourth quarter of this year, and it will be one of the most technologically advanced, single-engine helicopter simulators in the world. It will also be the only simulator in the United States to offer a full Tactical Flight Officer (TFO) suite for conducting true Crew Resource Management (CRM) training while flying actual Law Enforcement scenarios.

The AS350 has become the aircraft of choice for airborne law enforcement, and it is in service with federal, state and local agencies throughout the United States. The AS350 simulator is designed with a full cockpit and cabin and will provide capabilities for a variety of pilot and crew missions including patrol, vehicle and foot pursuits, homeland security, and airborne use of force (AUF).

“This was a unique opportunity for us to utilize one of the most advanced, full-motion flight simulators on the market,” said Martin Jackson, ALEA President. “This will allow us to bring real world training scenarios to our course for the entire crew.”

“Not only will the use of the AS350 simulator in ALEA’s course redefine how TFO training is conducted, it demonstrates American Eurocopter’s continued dedication to Airborne Law Enforcement and ALEA,” explained Del Livingston, Vice President, Flight Operations, Aviation Safety and Customer Training for American Eurocopter.

The AS350 simulator was designed with input from American Eurocopter’s Law Enforcement customers, including unit commanders, pilots, TFO’s and tactical team members. With its full cockpit and TFO suite, the AS350 simulator will set a new standard in the industry for Law Enforcement and air medical crew training.

American Eurocopter worked very closely with Indra Systems to create the AS350 simulator. Indra Systems also developed the EC135 level B simulator and the EC145 level 4 simulator currently in operation at American Eurocopter’s Training Center. For more information on training programs and services, contact training@eurocopterusa.com.

About American Eurocopter
American Eurocopter is a helicopter manufacturer that produces, markets, sells and supports the broadest range of civil and para-public helicopters offered by any manufacturer in the United States. The company is a subsidiary of EADS North America Holdings, the North American operations of EADS, a global leader in aerospace, defense and related services, and is an affiliate of Eurocopter, the largest helicopter manufacturer in the world. American Eurocopter’s product line represents the most cost-effective, technologically-advanced helicopters, ranging from light single to heavy twin, serving all markets and missions. Company headquarters and main facilities are located in Grand Prairie, TX, with a large manufacturing and production facility in Columbus, MS, that produces the UH-72A for the U.S. Army’s Light Utility Helicopter program.

About Eurocopter
Established in 1992, the Franco-German-Spanish Eurocopter Group is a Division of EADS, a world leader in aerospace, defence and related services. The Eurocopter Group employs approx. 15,600 people. In 2009, Eurocopter confirmed its position as the world’s No. 1 helicopter manufacturer in the civil and parapublic market, with a turnover of 4.6 billion Euros, orders for 344 new helicopters, and a 52 percent market share in the civil and parapublic sectors. Overall, the Group’s products account for 30 percent of the total world helicopter fleet. Its strong worldwide presence is ensured by its 18 subsidiaries on five continents, along with a dense network of distributors, certified agents and maintenance centres. More than 10,500 Eurocopter helicopters are currently in service with over 2,800 customers in more than 140 countries. Eurocopter offers the largest civil and military helicopter range in the world.