Airbus Helicopters Japan

Airbus Helicopters Japan -  Wide views in tight spaces

At the Airbus Helicopters Japan training center in Kobe, pilots can experience operations in virtually all conditions thanks to the certified EC135P2+ Rotary Wing Simulator. Several Barco FL35 LED WQXGA projectors, equipped with an ultra-wide EN47 lens, create a life-like, visual experience.

“Unlike in fixed wing aircraft and airliners, helicopter pilots rely heavily on visual cues for safe flights”, explains Yusuke Murata, Flight Safety controller at Airbus Helicopters Japan. “That’s why we needed a solution that could create a very wide and very big field of view.”

Barco and systems integrator Indra worked closely together to meet the client’s specific requirements: a 10-channel dome equipped with extremely bright Barco FL35 LED projectors. Due to the very limited space inside the simulator, however, creating wide, panoramic projections couldn’t be done with regular lenses. Together, Barco and Indra developed the EN47 WQXGA lens, with an ultra-short, 0.65 throw ratio. Ever since it was developed for Airbus Helicopters Japan, this lens has been successfully implemented in numerous other simulation projects as well.

Watch the video for some impressions.