CAE-built CH-147F Chinook simulators at Petawawa helped prepare RCAF aircrews for Task Force Mali
CAE created high-fidelity virtual databases of Mali so that RCAF aircrews could do pre-deployment training and mission rehearsal exercises prior to deploying on operations.

Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) CH-147F Chinook, CH-146 Griffon, and CC-130J Hercules aircrews currently supporting the United Nations Task Force Mali mission initially experienced the West African country virtually before embarking on the actual operational mission.

RCAF CH-147F aircrews from 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron at Petawawa, CH-146 aircrews from 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron in Edmonton, and CC-130J aircrews from 8 Wing Trenton, all prepared for the mission in CAE-built full-mission simulators.  CAE developed a high-fidelity virtual database of Mali based on the Open Geospatial Consortium Common Database (OGC CDB) to be used in the CH-147F Chinook and CC-130J Hercules simulators, and a generic database of the Mali area for use in the CH-146 Griffon simulator. CAE also created highly-detailed and realistic virtual operational training areas. Instructors from CAE then worked closely with RCAF personnel to create lesson plans so aircrews could rehearse a range of missions, including aeromedical evacuation, in the virtual world.  

“We knew Task Force Mali would be a very high tempo mission requiring our aircrews to be prepared and ready at a moment’s notice,” said Colonel Travis Morehen, Commander 1 Wing, Royal Canadian Air Force.  “Simulation-based training is an invaluable tool in helping familiarize our aircrews with the operational environment and giving them the ability to practice and rehearse a variety of mission scenarios before actually having to perform these life-saving missions for real.”

“Simulation is an ideal tool for pre-deployment operation and mission rehearsal training because it gives aircrews the opportunity to safely and cost-effectively prepare for real-world operations in a virtual environment,” said Joe Armstrong, Vice President and General Manager, CAE Canada.  “CAE is the RCAF’s training partner on all the aircraft platforms involved in Task Force Mali, and we bring a great deal of experience and expertise as a training systems integrator in being able to help the RCAF leverage its simulation-based training enterprise to support its operational missions.”

About CAE

CAE’s Defence & Security business unit focuses on helping prepare our customers to develop and maintain the highest levels of mission readiness.  We are a world-class training systems integrator offering a comprehensive portfolio of training centres, training services and simulation products across the air, land, sea and public safety market segments.  We serve our global defence and security customers through regional operations in Canada; the United States/Latin America; Europe/Africa; and Asia-Pacific/Middle East, all of which leverage the full breadth of CAE’s capabilities, technologies and solutions.

CAE is a global leader in training for the civil aviation, defence and security, and healthcare markets. Backed by a record of more than 70 years of industry firsts, we continue to help define global training standards with our innovative virtual-to-live training solutions to make flying safer, maintain defence force readiness and enhance patient safety. We have the broadest global presence in the industry, with over 9,000 employees, 160 sites and training locations in over 35 countries. Each year, we train more than 220,000 civil and defence crewmembers, including more than 135,000 pilots and thousands of healthcare professionals worldwide. www.cae.com

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