Era Training Center Announces AW139 Flight Simulator Training Device For U.S. Gulf Coast

Era Helicopters LLC (Era) operates eight of its fleet of 23 AW139s in the Gulf, and has orders and options for more than 20 additional aircraft -- with more than a dozen additional AW139s operating or booked in the region. The specific location for the new AW139 FSTD will likely be within an existing Era facility in the Gulf.
  
Era currently has 15 bases along the Gulf Coast, with major locations in Lake Charles, Port Fourchon, and Houma, Louisiana and Galveston, Texas. Ed Washecka, President and CEO of Era Group said, “We look forward to continue to create jobs and bring visitors from around the world with our new investments in the Gulf region.” ETC currently provides training to approximately 2,000 individuals annually, who contribute more than one million dollars in economic activity in the region. The AW139 should add significantly to that figure, as there are more than 2,000 pilots trained to fly the 300 AW139s operating worldwide, and there are more than 200 additional AW139s currently on order.

AgustaWestland, as prime contractor, partnered with Frasca International, Inc. (Frasca) to support the development and production of the FSTDs, with work carried out at Frasca’s facilities in the U.S. and at AgustaWestland’s facilities in Sesto Calende, Italy. Frasca built the two FSTDs currently offered for training programs by ETC.


About Era Training Center
Era Training Center (ETC), a joint venture between Era Group Inc. and Frasca, provides sophisticated, multidisciplinary helicopter flight training through innovative programs and state-of-the-art Flight Simulator Training Devices (FSTDs). ETC holds a CFR Part 142 Certificate, designating it as an FAA-approved training center, and also is certified by ANAC, the aviation authority of Brazil. ETC’s existing Lake Charles, Louisiana facility features two FAA-approved Level 6 FSTDs, the EC135 P2+ and the AS350B2, designed by FRASCA International to provide exact cockpit replication for both single-pilot and dual-pilot IFR configuration.

ETC offers diverse training programs that are provided to a wide array of helicopter personnel, including corporate, oil and gas, EMS, ENG, law enforcement, government and military users. ETC is on the cutting edge in implementing night-vision goggle (NVG) training in its classrooms, FSTDs and aircraft, and in conducting remote computer-based flight training.

ETC has several additional FSTDs on order and will open a facility in Brazil in 2011. ETC is evaluating the creation of additional facilities in North America, Europe and Asia.

To learn more about Era Training Center and available courses, visit www.eratrainingcenter.com.

For additional information, contact Melanie Landry, Communications Coordinator, at (337) 478-6131 or visit www.eratrainingcenter.com.