Bristow Group and Leonardo have placed an AW139 Full Flight Level D Simulator into operational service at Bristow Helicopters’ training centre in Dyce, Aberdeen. Developed by Leonardo and CAE through their Rotorsim joint venture, the device expands local training capacity for Bristow crews and third-party operators supporting offshore energy and search-and-rescue missions in the North Sea.
The simulator joins an AW189 Level D full-flight simulator already operating at the purpose-built facility, which also contains six classrooms and specialist instructors. The centre supports pilots involved in offshore oil-and-gas operations and search-and-rescue work, with the AW139 widely used for both mission types in the region.
The new device increases the availability of AW139 simulation in Aberdeen and reduces the need for crews to train at other locations. Bristow is a major global AW139 operator, while the company’s North Sea operations serve UK and international customers.
Nigel Piercey, Bristow’s head of UK training, described the simulator as additional AW139 training capacity for mission-critical services. The operational-readiness event coincided with a safety seminar in Aberdeen involving Bristow, Leonardo and CAE.