Colombia getting UH-60 training facility

• Tweet

RIO NEGRO, Colombia, July 7 (UPI) -- A UH-60 Black Hawk training center is under construction at a Colombian air base and will be completed this year, Sikorsky Aerospace Services announced.

The helicopter simulation facility will further improve the operational readiness of the Colombian armed forces, whose UH-60 fleet ranks among the world's largest.

Sikorsky said the facility will offer a full-motion, high-fidelity simulator to support pilot and flight crew training for the Colombian armed services and Sikorsky military customers throughout Latin America.

The simulator is FAA Level D rated, the highest qualification available. Equipped with industry leading electric motion and control loading technology, it will offer a highly detailed cockpit replication of all controls and aircraft systems including wide-field, outside-world visual systems.

"Colombia is a very important Black Hawk customer and we are dedicated to furthering in-country aftermarket services," said SAS President David Adler. "Earlier this year, we expanded our service platform to include a maintenance support team. And currently, we are advancing depot capabilities for crash and battle damaged aircraft.

"This training facility represents another major milestone toward our overall commitment to Sikorsky customers in Latin America."

Overseeing construction of the facility is the Corporacion de la Industria Aeronautica de Colombia, the acquisition arm of the Colombian Ministry of Defense.