P-3K2 Orion - NZ4207 Takes Flight!

From 23 July to 3 August 2007 SQNLDRS Al McIntosh and Rob Shearer attended the P-3K2 Flight Deck Trainer Factory Acceptance Test at the L-3 Communications Integrated Systems plant in Texas.

The new FDT Trainer in all its glory. WN-07-0037-02-tn.jpg.

The acceptance test ended two years of hard work for SQNLDR McIntosh intimately involved with the manufacturer, Fidelity Flight Systems Incorporated (FFSI), developing the P-3K2 Flight Deck Trainer (FDT) capability on behalf of the RNZAF and the Ministry of Defence. SQNLDR McIntosh has worked closely with the Fidelity team, the MoD project team and prime contractor for the P-3 Systems Upgrade Project L-3 Communications Integrated Systems.

The FDT is the RNZAF’s first step towards its own full motion, six axis, high visual fidelity procedural trainer for flight deck crews. The trainer will provide No. 5 Squadron crews with an advanced training capability for normal and emergency operating procedures. The trainer can be sequenced to simulate complex and demanding flight scenarios. The trainer will provide pilots and flight engineers with a high level of simulation for emergency operating procedures; ranging from cross-wind landings to auto-coupled precision approaches through to ditching drills – all with six degree freedom of movement and dynamic control providing a similar ‘feel’ to the real aircraft.

In addition to pure ‘flying’ benefits the trainer provides, it also simulates most of the navigation, display and instrument systems on the P-3K2.

The trainer will provide significant benefits for crews coming to grips with the P-3K2’s flight management, navigation, communications, and electronic flight and engine instrument systems. The hybrid glass cockpit requires significant P-3 flight deck procedural and ‘cockpit automation philosophy’ changes in order to effectively and safely operate the aircraft. To this end – the flight deck trainer will be a significant training asset for the RNZAF.

SQNLDRS Shearer (left) and McIntosh at the controls of the P-3K2 Orion trainer built in Texas. WN-07-0037-01-tn.jpg.

The FDT has also been a valuable proving ground for the new equipment in the upgraded aircraft’s flight deck. A couple of minor changes to the aircraft were identified as a result of the experience gained from building the FDT cockpit. John McLaughlin, L-3 Integrated Systems engineer responsible for the FDT observes that, ‘Evaluations of the cockpit displays in the FDT identified a need to have the radar altitude and vertical speed indications increase in size when the P-3 aircraft is flying over-water patrols at very low altitudes. Making these changes while the cockpit display software was still under development was a straightforward process. Making the same changes during the flight test phase of the programme, would have been much more difficult.’

SQNLDR Al McIntosh believes the trainer will be a heavily used resource by crews keen to hone their flying skills, systems knowledge, and normal and abnormal procedures. ‘There is a very high level of functionality built into the trainer,’ he said. He has been ‘extremely impressed’ by the Fidelity staff’s can-do attitude.

L-3 Communications Integrated Systems involvement has also gone the extra mile. The original concept relied on cannibalising the current Redifon trainer for items such as seats, panels and frames. After an initial site survey at RNZAF Auckland, L-3/IS were so impressed with the historical value of the Redifon that they went to extra expense and effort to keep the Redifon intact. L-3/IS donated a surplus P-3 cockpit and worked with the MoD team and RNZAF to obtain other surplus parts to avoid the need to cannibalise the Redifon. ‘We were very inspired by the RNZAF’s resourcefulness in maintaining the 1960’s valve-based technology in the Redifon. Working cooperatively with the Ministry of Defence team to obtain alternate parts was a tangible contribution that L-3 Integrated Systems could make to preserve the Redifon for posterity,’ said L-3 Integrated Systems, Project Director, Mr Casey Cueto.

The next step occurs in October when the trainer will be integrated with the P-3K2’s System Integration Training Laboratory (SITL) in preparation for initial P-3K2 crew training - currently planned for early next year. Once integrated with the SITL, flight deck training can be expanded to incorporate P-3 tactical roles in a ‘whole crew scenario training’ environment. This integration will provide the FDT with even more functionality and utility when interfaced to the SITL tactical Data Management System and sensor systems.