Simulation technology offers aircrews enhanced training opportunities.

• Author: Sicard, Sarah

Simulators have long provided pilots with the basic training needed to learn the art of flying. Now, industry leaders are taking flight simulation to higher levels, creating entire new realities for pilots.

"It's an area that has evolved tremendously over the last decade," Phil Perey, CAE's senior director of strategy and business development, told National Defense. CAE is a Quebec, Canada-based simulation and training company.

"The moment the aircrew lift their eyes up and look out the window, you have to create a pretty compelling appearance of that virtual world," he added.

CAE's Medallion-6000 is one such image generator that creates an ultrahigh resolution picture for training with fast jet, tanker, transport and rotary wing aircraft. The program is used to train pilots to fly Lockheed Martin's C-130J Super Hercules and MH-60R Seahawk aircraft in combat.

By using a common database, which holds a variety of simulated environments, CAE is able to produce a realistic picture, Perey said.

The Medallion-6000 is intended to significantly enhance interoperable training and mission rehearsal capabilities, while reducing imagery processing time.

In previous versions of the Medallion, there were only handfiils of set scenarios, Perey said. Now the system allows greater interactive options for users.

The company is adding "standard capabilities in the image generator, such as dynamic shadows, such as advanced lighting. It gives the aircrew a sense of depth," he said.

There are many basic components that go into putting the system together, but the most critical piece is the sophisticated engine that powers the simulation, Perey said.

CAE has been perfecting the simulation engine over the last 30 years, he added.

"The image generator itself is a piece that we've been involved with since about the mid-80s, going from big-arm machines to making the early transition on to using gaming and computer graphics," he said. "That product now is following that technology curve, so as we keep investing in the software and using the latest graphics, we're able to bring faster and faster capabilities to the team."

CAE will be debuting the latest version of the Medallion-6000 at the 2014 Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference in Orlando, Florida this December.

Another recently debuted airplane simulator is Leidos' DASH-8 Aircrew Readiness Trainer (DART). The system was unveiled at the Association for the United States Army annual...