Sim Your Plane has announced the delivery of the first flight simulation device capable of simulating aerial saw work to Rotor Blade LLC, a company based in Georgetown, South Carolina.
Sim Your Plane worked with industry leading software company Laminar Research to develop the upcoming version of their state-of-the-art flight simulation software (X-Plane) and the integration of aerial saw into the flight simulation world.
Varjo, one of the most advanced virtual reality hardware developers in the world, was chosen to supply the VR headset used in the solution. The company’s Varjo XR-3 was selected in order to provide pilot training with the clearest, sharpest image and best performance in the market.
“This is brand-new technology that helps Rotor Blade provide better training to its pilots in a safer environment; even before putting them in the real cockpit. The technology is fantastic,” says Randy Jernigan, chief pilot of Rotor Blade, LLC.
Ben Myburgh, owner of Sim Your Plane also added that, “the solution provided by Sim Your Plane, which is the first and only product in the world to provide such training ability, also allows pilots to perform procedures and maneuvers that would simply be too risky to practice in real life. By using Sim Your Plane’s technology, VR flight simulator companies will not only reduce costs, but also provide better training to their pilots. Less risk and cost means more training, which translates to less accidents.”
In addition, Sim Your Plane has submitted paperwork requesting the FAA to certify the aerial saw simulator as the FAA’s first virtual reality approved sim.
Sim Your Plane’s development on the project consisted of:
- Custom designed helicopter matching their real aircraft specs and visuals
- Custom world scenery built within the X-Plane flight simulation software for practicing the aerial saw as well as powerline and utility work
- Aerial Saw sling load physics including ground handling, rotations, engine starting and accurate visuals of branches being cut
- A Hughes 500 fuselage was converted into the control input for the computer with working cyclic, collective, pedals, engine buttons and all switch controls such as saw buttons; all of which are recognized by the computer and perform accordingly as per the real-world counterpart.
Specific documentation to support the training of pilots to be safer and more effective at their work was also provided.
This press release was prepared and distributed by Sim Your Plane.
