42
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/ Vol. 5 / No. 3 / MARCH 2013
The Starlite International Training
Academy, South Africa's leading
helicopter training organisation, has
ordered an Elite Evolution S723T
FNPT II - the first Elite rotary wing
training simulator sold in Africa.
The device will be installed
at Starlite's training academy at
Mossel Bay Airfield and will be
used to enhance helicopter flight
training there a location which,
together with Starlite's base at
Durban Airport, has already trained
over 1,000 helicopter pilots.
Starlite's Managing Director
Training and Chief Flying
Instructor, Kate Odendaal, spent
two days at Elite's headquarters at
Dübendorf, Switzerland, to assess
the simulator and its performance
and then placed the order.
The Elite S723T replicates the
twin engine Eurocopter AS355
and will have a 3-channel CAVE
visual system, dual pilot layout with
dynamic control loading on the
cyclic and pedals, an original Garmin
GNS430 GPS, and a navigation
and RealView data base covering
all of South Africa with specific
ultra-high resolution airport insets
for the airports at Mossel Bay,
Durban, Port Elizabeth and George.
Elite's Marketing and Sales
Director, René Huddlestone, said:
"We were so impressed with Kate
Odendaal's professional knowledge
about everything to do with
helicopters. We have sold fixed wing
simulators in Africa but this is the
first purchase in that continent of an
Elite helicopter simulator, and we are
very pleased that it has been ordered
by the leading rotary wing training
organisation in South Africa."
Starlite focuses on providing
military standard aviation training,
offering ab initio and specialised
courses to the military, paramilitary,
commercial and institutional
sectors and continuously updates
Helicopter News
Leading South
African rotary
wing training
organisation places
order for an Elite
Simulator a first
for the manufac-
turer in Africa
both the flight and ground
school syllabi to meet changing
civil and military criteria.
Kate Odendaal, who became
Chief Flying Instructor at Starlite
in 2009 and now leads a team of
11 rotary wing instructors and
who sits on the board of advisors
of the Southern African Women
in Aviation and Aerospace group,
said of the purchase of the Elite
S723T: "Starlite is honoured to be
the launch customer for the Elite
helicopter simulator in Africa. It is
the first EASA, JAA, FAA, SACAA
approved FNPT II helicopter
simulator to be approved under the
new South African Civil Aviation
(SACAA) regulations of 2013.
"We believe that the twin
engine, multicrew, dual EFIS,
fully IFR configuration will add
significant value to the scope of
training that we currently offer.
"I was very impressed with
the real feel of the flight controls
provided by the dynamic control
loading and in particular during
simulation of emergencies such
as hydraulic failure, autorotations
and tail rotor control failures.
Working closely with René
Huddlestone and his team at Elite,
who expertly interpreted our
requirements, resulted in having
the custom designed RealView 3D
visuals of the areas in which we train
developed specifically for our needs,
as opposed to using generic views.
"With such an acquisition,
Starlite has again positioned itself
to deliver the highest standard of
training, with added benefits to our
diverse clientele list which includes
the Air Forces, Armies and Police
Air Wings of Southern Africa.
We look forward to a long
and rewarding relationship
with the Elite team."
STARLITE
Bell Helicopter has announced an
agreement with LifeFlight Eagle
for the supply of two Bell 407GX
aircraft. LifeFlight Eagle will
utilize the helicopters to transport
critically ill and injured persons
in the Kansas City, MO area.
"Our current fleet of Bell 407's
has demonstrated a high degree
of safe, reliable and cost-effective
performance," said Roxanne Shanks,
CEO at LifeFlight Eagle. "We
are excited by the opportunity to
upgrade our fleet to the new 407GXs,
and are very pleased at the high
residual value the current aircraft
held after 10 years in service."
LifeFlight Eagle, established in
1978, is a non-profit organization
dedicated to providing safe, quality
emergency air transport and patient
care to communities surrounding
Kansas City in Missouri and
Kansas. The two new Bell 407GX
aircraft will replace their two
hard-working analog Bell 407s.
"The Bell 407GX integrates
reliability, speed, performance
and maneuverability," said Danny
Maldonado, executive vice president
of Sales and Marketing at Bell
Helicopter. "With the proven ability
to cruise at 130 knots, the Bell
407GX can quickly get to the scene,
provide fast and easy patient loading,
and a smooth ride to safety."
Built on the success of the Bell
407, the 407GX is the only helicopter
equipped with the innovative Garmin
G1000HTM integrated glass flight
deck, making it the most advanced
light, single-engine rotorcraft on
the market. The Garmin G1000HTM
enhances mission awareness with
HTAWS, TIS, moving map display
and Garmin's Helicopter Synthetic
Vision Technology (HSVTM).
"Bell Helicopter is proud to be
a part of the life-saving missions
carried out by LifeFlight Eagle
every day," said Maldonado. "We
look forward to continuing to
grow our relationship with them
as they expand their operations."
The Bell 407GX safety
features include a rupture resistant
fuel system, engine exceedance
monitoring and a collective mounted
throttle. The Bell 407GX is backed
by Bell Helicopter's #1 ranked
Customer Support and Service
with more than 100 customer
service facilities in 34 countries.
For more information on this
aircraft you can contact
National Airways Corporation
+2711 267 5000
aircraftsales@nac.co.za
LifeFlight Eagle
acquires two
more Bell 407GX
aircraft for their
service
s
If you have any interesting news please feel free to send to
mike@globalaviator.co.za
ADDRESS: P.O. Box 201322, Durban North, 4016, South Africa Hangar 123, Virginia Airport, Durban North
031 571 6600
www.starliteaviation.co.za
Committed. Experienced. Passionate.
Starlite Africa Aviation:
Contact:
Kate on 082 552 2001
email:
katee@starliteaviation.co.za
Starlite Aviation Operations:
Contact:
Dimmie on 072 599 4676
email:
dimmied@starliteaviation.co.za
OPERATIONS
TRAINING
Starlite Maintenance Durban:
Contact:
Wimpie on 082 402 7117
email:
wimpier@starliteaviation.co.za
MAINTENANCE
Starlite Aero Sales:
Contact:
Klara on 083 324 8530
email:
klaraf@starliteaviation.co.za
SALES