JUNE 2009 - N°24
RAFALE
SIMULATION THE
REFERENCE FOR
TRAINING SYSTEMS
www.sogitec.com
P4
RAFALE
SIMULATION
THE REFERENCE FOR TRAINING SYSTEMS
4
10
14
17-18
Sogitec is part of it, in its own way, by keeping on focusing on innovation,
services and integration:
• innovation in the customer support area by pursuing the development of
new technical publications tools, new military and commercial aviation
simulation designs, and new instruction tools, based on a future needs
(5 and 10 years from now) perspective;
• services, with a focus on quality, reactivity, and customer care, adopting
a sustained-progress and new-technologies-oriented approach;
• integration - bridging the gap between the manufacturer and the user
who manage system data for all support needs – which makes us benefit
from constant interactions between commercial/civilian and military
applications.
TECHNICAL DOCUMENTATION
FALCON… the great migration
SIMULATION
EUROFIGHTER, the adventure goes on
InterActions is published by Sogitec Marketing and Communication
4, rue Marcel-Monge – Immeuble Nobel – 92158 Suresnes Cedex - France
Tel. : + 33 (0)1 41 18 57 00 – Fax : + 33 (0)1 41 18 59 09 – Emaill : contact@sogitec.fr
www.sogitec.com
Publisher : Xavier Dissoubray.
Editorial Committee : Patrice Albouy, Denis Billot, Philippe Bonnemay, Joël
Clairon, Laurent Germe, Patrick Hallé, Annick Lefort-Henaff, Bruno
Montagut, Christian Normandin, Thierry Ruelle.
Design and production : Activ’Company.
Editors : Frédéric Aragon, André Bréand.
Photos courtesy of Dassault Aviation, Sogitec, all right reserved.
P10
FALCON…
THE
GREAT MIGRATION
Looking from this perspective, the present InterActions issue actually
illustrates Sogitec’s recent past. It also illustrates the future that we have
been preparing for a few years. It is based upon:
• Rafale export proposals, in the framework of which Sogitec acts as
prime contractor for simulation systems and is responsible for technical
publications and cross-domain products;
• services and products offered for Falcon aircraft;
• helicopter simulation;
• integrated logistic support products.
The economic downturn is here indeed, but it is a motivation to us that
strengthens our determination in keeping on going the same way.
Focus on innovation, services
and integration.
P14
EUROFIGHTER,
Yves FOUCHÉ
Sogitec Industries Chief Executive Officer
The release of the latest InterActions issue matches the 2009 Paris Air
Show. This exhibition is often presented as – and this year’s centenary
edition is no exception – a celebration. Along with all visitors, we are looking forward with much delight to all latest technological advances presentations and demonstrations that will be on display during the show.
SIMULATION
RAFALE simulation,
the reference for training systems
IN BRIEF
editorial
THE
ADVENTURES GOES ON
InterActions JUNE 2009 - 3
RAFALE
SIMULATION,
REFERENCE
THE
FOR
TRAINING SYSTEMS
"Escort", in visual contact with the attacking
fighters to be protected. They are followed by the F15Es,
F18Cs, Mirage 2000Ds for the SEAD (Suppression of Enemy
Air Defense) assigned to scramble or destroy enemy air
defense radars. The STRIKE attack group, to reach the targets assigned (DPMI: Desired Point of Main Impact) can
then enter into action with coordination provided by the E2C Hawkeye (the C2 Function, Command and Control, simulated at the Blue Team Instructor Station and constantly
transmitting details for situation awareness or the
"Picture").
During the maneuver, COMAO will have to fend off attacks
coming from the Red Team Sukhoi 27s, then the many
anti-aircraft batteries including an SA-6, deliberately
"forgotten" during the briefing… Finally, one and a quarter
hours after initial mustering, the entire group, having
accomplished its mission, groups together again at the set
time to return to base. The 4 pilots meet for debriefing
during which each critical phase can be replayed in full
to analyze their behavior, to perfect the training process
and also to refine the combat tactics.
A brief return to the scene at sea… "This combat mission
clearly demonstrates the value of a system like this one,
confirming the relevance of the technical options chosen
by Sogitec for its simulators" explains principal Philippe
Bastien of the French Navy. As you have already understood, the previous account concerns two
virtual missions conducted from the French Navy and
Air Force Rafale Simulation Centers at Naval Air
Station (NAS) Landivisiau and at Saint-Dizier Air Force
Base (AFB). "Thanks to the extraordinary realism of
flight conditions offered by the machine and the visual
system, a young pilot trained in the United States on a
T-45 Goshawk, after only a dozen hours on the simulator, was the first to achieve conversion-to-type on
Rafale without having to achieve it via Super-Etendard
and/or its simulator" adds principal Bastien, instructor
at the Landivisiau RSC. This demonstrates the high
technical achievement of this equipment and its capability of quickly qualifying crews for the Rafale.
The RSC confirms
the relevance of
the technical options
chosen by Sogitec.
> Saint Dizier Rafale Simulation
Center’s instructor operating station
For pilot instruction and training, the French Air Force and Navy
have exceptional tools available: the two Rafale Simulation Centers (RSC).
In the air-to-surface configuration, the Rafale Marine
F2, the naval version, flies at a sea-skimming altitude of
350 feet at Mach 0.95. Its electronic countermeasures
are activated to escape detection and lock-on by enemy
ship radar. Very quickly, several warships can be seen,
including a frigate and several support vessels. On its
approach axis, the fighter, just a few nautical miles from
the warships, engages fast climbing boosted by its
afterburner, to better identify the target and engage it.
The Rafale then dives onto its target, a more vulnerable
supply ship, to begin its low altitude attack. It instantly
inflicts severe damage to the vessel. After pulling out and
climbing sharply, a column of smoke rises from the ship,
confirmation of a violent fire! However, the Rafale is not
completely out of harm's way because at the same time, it
becomes itself the target of a missile fired from the warship! The pilot has nothing to worry about, however, since
4 - InterActions JUNE 2009
the Spectra active protection on the Rafale enters into operation and the hostile missile is avoided by a chaff release
from the fighter.
At the same time, at Saint-Dizier, two single-seater
Rafale aircraft and a French Air Force two-seater take
off on a wingtip to wingtip patrol with their virtual Rafale
wingers and join the COMAO (COMposite Air Operation)
on a GCA pattern. This maneuver, like the overall mission,
was displayed to the pilots shortly before the session
began at the "Blue Team" briefing station. In all, the
COMAO is made up of 30 virtual aircraft, mainly fighters,
dealing with the airborne threats of the Red Team
(SWEEP). Their behavior was set by the instructors
before the real-time exercise began. These are virtual
Mirage 2000-5 aircraft chosen for this task by the
Mission Commander. With their virtual wingers, our
Rafale pilots form the second wave of fighters for the
InterActions JUNE 2009 - 5
The RSC is a way
of obtaining quality in
its achievements during
training, in particular
by the networking
of individual simulators
within the same center.
An ultra high-performance system
Rafale simulation is nothing new, whether to the Armed
Forces or to Sogitec. It all began in 2001 with the delivery
of two Rafale Tactical Trainers for the French F1 Navy
version (air-to-air with MICA missile and 30 mm gun),
already installed at Landivisiau NAS and on the “Charles
de Gaulle” aircraft carrier. The systems may appear
modest now but had the merit of opening the way to the
current systems, representative of the best now available
in the aeronautical military simulation area. Things have
changed enormously since, four F2 version Rafale simulators have been installed at Saint Dizier AFB in the first
of the two RSCs, put through acceptance in December
2007 and inaugurated in January 2008. The system is
housed in an impressive building designed by Sogitec. A
year later, the French Navy followed suit with the acceptance of the second RSC in November 2008, inaugurated
early this year (see “Brief” on page 17).
After being awarded in 2003 by the French Defense
Procurement Agency, the Délégation Générale pour
l’Armement (DGA), the RSC was required to address the
> Inside the Safir Display
6 - InterActions JUNE 2009
changing specifications of the aircraft, through additional
air-to-ground capabilities, while covering the complete
spectrum of pilot training, from trainee pilots to highly
qualified patrol leaders, operating on complex tactical
missions. The RSC is a way of obtaining quality in its achievements during training, in particular by the networking of
individual simulators within the same center, so that up to
four pilots can be engaged in the same virtual mission,
while immersing the crews in a full tactical environment.
The main design was inspired by the system designed by
Sogitec for the Air Force Combat Training Centre (Centre
d’entraînement au combat, CEC) at Mont-de-Marsan, a
driver for multi-mission organization within a collective
training context at the RSC.
To achieve this ambitious training objective, there is no
shortage of innovations at the RSC. We have the Safir
display means by Sogitec, an immersion system with
eight rear-projected facets, covering the entire Rafale
field of view without making the least concession, despite
the coverage, in terms of contrast, brightness and resolution ; Apogée 6 image generation systems, contributing to
the captivating aspect of the visual environment, for instance in terms of meteorological and atmospheric conditions. Aircraft imagery sensors are also hyper-realistically
simulated with the OSF (Front-sector optronic system) and
its 2 TV and thermal infrared sensors, the radar imagery
offered by RBE2, the representative reality of the cockpit,
the sound playback, the G-seat and the anti-G suit, all
adding to the sensory stimulation of crews.
The Tactical Server is an essential element adding to the
operational relevance of the Centers, putting training in
a tactical setting ranging from the simulation of virtual
wingmen, to solicit the workload of the patrol leader for
instance, to the animation of hostiles on the ground, at
sea or in the air. Although this tactical animation is
totally independent (for instance, the virtual wingmen
obey the orders of the pilot given by voice), the instructor can play the part of enemy aircraft pilot at any time,
or of air traffic controller, an air defense controller etc.
This particularly dense virtual or operational theater
combined with a multi-simulator capability, makes it
possible to solicit and generate training conditions that
are impossible to rival with in peacetime and that are
nevertheless essential to fully stimulate the potential of
the Rafale mission system and its apprenticeship by the
crew members. All this is within the context of the use
of link 16 (surveillance of tactical environment and C2
exchange) and of electronic warfare.
Last of all, there is the modularity of the Rafale Simulation
Center which, depending on the chosen configuration,
allows two or three totally separate missions to be carried
out, or can be devoted to a single all-encompassing tactical mission aimed at pilots that have already gone through
training. During the latter, typically, an instructor operating
station (IOS) is assigned to the "Blue Team" dealing only
with the TACSIT (Tactical Situation) seen by the players of
its Team and provided only with the associated monitoring
and control views. A second station is assigned to the
adverse "Red Team" and a third instructor station provides
overall supervision. In parallel, a debriefing station used in
real-time monitoring configuration on large screens
means that a large audience can monitor all the operations
and interactions between the players (all the IOS views can
be displayed along with a copy of the cockpit "displays" and
the elementary pilot actions in the overall TACSIT view),
including the audio communications. Organizing the center
in this way clearly illustrates the concept of a "Training
Center" because, in all, up to 12 trainees can be trained at
the same time: four can be on briefing, four in "flight" on
the simulators and four on debriefing.
Finally, in terms of their "physical" organization, the facilities at Saint-Dizier and Landivisiau, during the building
of which Sogitec acted as prime contractor, have two
levels: The first contains the simulators, the instructor
station room and the briefing/debriefing installations. The
second level is dedicated to administration and particularly houses several hundred computers (more than 300
at Saint-Dizier) for image generation, terrain database
and tactical environment.
Towards networking and F3 version
RSCs are not to be considered to be frozen systems, as
demonstrated by the new challenges tackled by
Sogitec – the networking between Saint-Dizier and
Landivisiau and bringing up them to the Rafale F3
standard – to propel the Centers towards an ever
higher level of excellence.
The first example of networking is the one implemented
between the two RSCs. First awarded by the French
Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) in early 2009, networking is engineered by Sogitec using a high rate link
between the two centers, approximately 800 km apart.
Networking is compliant with the HLA (High Level
Architecture standard, an international standard dedicated essentially to defense systems) and the external
networking function of the RSC is hosted by the standardized tactical server. Once completed, networking
will offer a considerable virtual tactical training field
with no less than six Rafale pilot in simulators.
Eventually, the various French Air Force Rafale and
Mirage 2000 simulators, combined with the standardized Tactical Server, and by optimizing their permanent
upgrading, will offer the capability for similar networking
operations.
The second major challenge now being defined with
the DGA, consists in upgrading the CSRs in conformity
with the aircraft F3 version. It should be borne in mind
that the F3 standard will complete the Rafale F2 weaponry (MICA EM/IR, SCALP, AASM) by a reinforced
aptitude to assault at sea (using the AM-39 Block 2
air-to-sea version of the well-known Exocet anti-ship
missile), the laser target designation capability with
the Damocles pod and its associated Laser Guided
weaponry (GBU 12 and 24 Paveway), a reconnaissance
capability with the Reco NG pod (operating in the TV
band and the two IR bands) and that of a nuclear strike
(with the ASMP-A cruise missile), and many other
equipment enhancements, such as the addition of an
HR (High Resolution) mode to the RBE2. A host of
developments in perspective for the simulation system!
Up to twelve trainees can be trained
at the same time.
InterActions JUNE 2009 - 7
SOGITEC’S COMPREHENSIVE
EXPORT OFFER
Although there is no doubt that the RSC is the cornerstone to the system, the comprehensive global offer of
Rafale training facilities proposed by Sogitec includes a
full range of systems capable of addressing the needs
of the most demanding armed forces.
This range includes the Rafale Maintenance Trainer
(RMTEMR), an innovative tool more specifically dedicated to maintenance technicians. This is a new concept,
falling between Computer Based Training (CBT) and
on-job training on real equipment in the workshop.
RMT brings in a virtual practical phase which consists
in diagnosing and repairing failures. It is a real virtual
workshop. In more concrete terms, RMT is a small
simulator using code interpreted by the trainees. The
instructor selects the failures and the trainee diagnoses them. This piece of equipment is more particularly
aircraft-systems-oriented (armament, hydraulics,
electronics, etc.). RMT is a brand new product based on
behavioral simulation using an existing database and
reproducing the man machine interface.
Another item in the global offer is Computer Based
Training or CBT. This is a theoretical pilot and maintenance technician training tool enabling them to
understand how the aircraft systems work.
Sogitec Industries thus offers a global system incorporating RMT and CBT in the same training structure, the
LMS (Learning Management System), guaranteeing
that the trainees are monitored throughout their
whole training syllabus.
The proposed Rafale Simulation Center is the core of
Sogitec export proposal, based on the two-cockpit
replicat-configuration delivered to Landivisiau, in
which both systems can be configured to simulate a
Rafale two-seater if the export customer has this
version of the aircraft.
To better address export needs, there is an initial
innovation which consists in the introduction of an
equivalent piloted simulation tool which is also complementary to the mission simulator is included in
the CSRs: the FWST (Flight & Weapon Systems
Trainer). This tool is equivalent since it meets the
same operational requirements as the Full Mission
Simulators by ensuring maintained skills of Rafale
pilots under operational conditions. It is complementary for it includes a simplified visual system (three
direct projection channels on a cylindrical screen), and
is implemented in a lightweight version (no dedicated
building) compared to the complete simulation centre.
The second innovating concept is the Mission
Observation Station (MOS), an extended briefing/debriefing station which, as if it were a "super instructor
operating station" or a real war room, offers the capability of monitoring mission run-through in real-time and
witnessing the many exchanges that take place during a
Full Tactics exercise: pilot(s), instructor(s), C2 controller(s),… An ideal tool for showing to VIP's, but also for
collective crew training and improved awareness of the
importance of working together in a simulation environment. Much like what happens on operational missions,
a Rafale pilot is never alone while training in a simulator.
Obviously, as the prime contractor of the simulation
centers accompanying Rafale export sales, Sogitec
offers a number of local adjustments according to the
requirements of the customer: In particular, specific
weaponry which differs from one user to another, and
the databases of the country, generated using
Sindbad 3 terrain database generation system.
CSR AT THE HEART OF TRAINING
IN THE FRENCH AIR FORCE
In the same way as all flying simulation facilities and tools
now available to it, the Rafale simulation centre has become
an integral part of its way of thinking about the subject by the
French Air Force. The Forces emphasize several key aspects
in the implementing of flight simulation: a contribution to
training and the operational preparation of the aircrews,
more intensive use of simulation, the policy for the specific
acquisition of dedicated equipment, a dynamic movement
towards outsourced maintenance. At the heart of the use of
these simulators is the "pilot simulation perimeter" describing its "field of action" and the "simulation levels". There
are five of these "levels":
Level 1, vector (initial training);
Level 2, mission system outside the tactical field;
Level 3, maintenance of skills (failure processing, revision of emergency procedures, training in flight without
visibility, IFR procedures,…);
Level 4, maintenance in and operational conditions (training
in elementary tactics, threat management, implementation
of SNA,…) ;
Level 5, operational readiness by beinf able to manage a
complex operational situation in a realistic environment
including several vectors.
What is the ace card that CSR can play in this pedagogical
context? Playing the part of a multilevel tool (levels 1 to 5)
which, depending on the profile of the "trainee", can be used
to produce a "tailor-made" training session. This simulator
concept offers a particularly rich panel of missions in what is
almost a unique "wartime" context, capable of covering the
entire fighter pilot training spectrum on the Rafale, from the
beginner pilot who left training school less than three years
previously, and experienced pilots on different generations of
fighter aircraft like the Mirage F1, Super-Etendard and
Mirage 2000, requiring to achieve conversion-to-type to
Rafale.
AIR ACTIVITIES
SIMULATED ACTIVITIES
CATEGORIES
Interconnection
N5
"Operational readiness"
DMT
N4
"Maintenance
in Operational Conditions"
N3
"Maintenance of skills"
N2
"Navigation and Weapon
System"
N1
"Vector"
> Onboard Rafale…simulator
(head up display)
8 - InterActions JUNE 2009
Combat
Training
Center
Rafale
Sim
Center
Training Centres
Flight Simulator
FMS
Flight or weapon Syst Trainers
FNPT
CBT
InterActions JUNE 2009 - 9
degree of complexity involved”, he continues. In practical
terms, this technical documentation is more comprehensive and more detailed than that prepared for previous
executive aircraft, and an extremely complex degree of
cooperation was required with other program partners
(Pratt & Whitney, Honeywell, Messier-Dowty, etc.).
“Against this background, the BUF teams were able to
learn a great deal, because they had to evaluate the documentation production capabilities of suppliers, as well as
their own ability to deliver on time.” It is important to note
that, for this program, all the contractors were managed
by Sogitec, which set up a dedicated coordination and
validation team within the BUF. In overall terms, there
was no major crisis, and the support documentation was
available to accompany the first deliveries of the aircraft
in June 2007. “This collaborative working experience
should help us to increase the level of our involvement in
the next Dassault Aviation business jet program much
more smoothly”, adds Bruno Montagut.
FALCON…
THE GREAT
MIGRATION
Building on the experience gained with
the Falcon 7X program, Sogitec has
taken on the task of migrating the
document libraries for other aircraft in
the Falcon family.
Bruno MONTAGUT
Director Falcon
Business Unit
The core of the technical and maintenance documentation
produced by Sogitec and its partners for buyers of the
aircraft was achieved with the help of three high-performance systems: the Virtual Project Management (VPM)
and Catia CAD systems, and the company’s integrated
document library management system Sogitec DocTec.
The task entrusted to the BUF consisted of building the
“Our customers expect online documentation” manufacturing database and the associated portal in preparation
for publishing the documentation designed for use by
Falcon 7X operators. “It's important that our teams are
involved in working with the aircraft manufacturer several
years before production begins”, emphasizes the BUF
Director.
With the 7X, paper documentation became a thing of the
past. All the manuals for this aircraft are supplied on
DVD and are available over the Internet. In order to
supply operators and customers with permanently upto-date documentation, the BUF provides a six-monthly
update. This frequency allows the team to incorporate
the latest aircraft system developments, correct any
inconsistencies, and make temporary revisions. At a
practical level, the DSC remains the preferred point of
customer contact, whilst the BUF interacts directly with
Dassault Aviation. “The introduction of online documentation via a web portal has literally changed the lives of
operators. The access codes, passwords and encryption
keys required to view the documentation online are
> Falcon 7X assembly chain at
Dassault Aviation plant at Merignac
Thierry RUELLE
Deputy Director Falcon
Business Unit
At the same time as the latest member of the Dassault
Falcon family, the 7X, was being digitally modeled, another innovation was also being introduced; less visible
perhaps, but one of equal importance for the aircraft's
future users. This innovation was the production of
fully-digital technical and maintenance documentation
by a team of partners coordinated and led by Sogitec
Industries. The teams responsible for using the DocTec
authoring and ViewTec viewing tools to create and
maintain digital libraries are based in the company’s
Business Unit Falcon (BUF), which was established in
2005 within the Dassault Aviation facility at BordeauxMérignac.
10 - InterActions JUNE 2009
Our customers
expect online
documentation.
The major milestone
Sogitec as designer and project leader
Working closely with the aircraft manufacturer’s
Customer Support Department (DSC in French), the
BUF teams conduct all the documentary research required to compile the documentation and ensure overall
consistency. “The Falcon 7X is an entirely new aircraft in
many ways, and a great deal of work was involved in
producing its technical and support documentation”,
explains BUF Director Bruno Montagut. “This program
was also special in another way, because it was intimately linked with the DocTec authoring package, which
allowed us to meet all our deadlines, despite the high
InterActions JUNE 2009 - 11
Although a priority demand, the online aspect should be
an extra. In terms of the overall challenge, it is important
that at company level, we achieve perfect synchronization
and keep within our program budgets. Lastly, all this
documentation must be available online by 2011 at the
latest”, he adds before going on enthusiastically to
explain how the “philosophy” of the documentation will
also change significantly: “In future documentation,
people will be working on cross-disciplinary technical
issues, rather than on a program-by-program basis”.
What this means is that the architecture of the documentation and parts lists will not be referenced directly
to a particular aircraft program, but will apply to the
entire range simultaneously. It therefore represents a
major sea-change for the industry.
We must focus our
energies on optimizing
maintenance from the
customer's point of view.
supplied to customers by Dassault Aviation themselves”, explains Bruno Montagut. Nevertheless, meetings
and seminars are also hosted by the bizjet manufacturer
to facilitate direct practical contact with users who rely
on Sogitec products every day.
Currently, the Falcon 7X library is the only interactive documentation to be made available online. The BUF now has
the goal of migrating the document libraries for other
Falcon family aircraft, with particular focus on the Falcon
50, 900 and 2000 variants. The documentation for the
Falcon 10 and 20 and their derivatives has also been digitized in PDF form for viewing on CD-ROM or DVD, but there
is no need to migrate these libraries to the totally-digital
DocTec solution required for more recent aircraft.
“This Falcon migration will focus on three key issues, the
first of which is doing the IT development required to
convert documents to the 7X format. This involves
converting all the existing “paper” information into
DocTec-compatible databases. The old document libraries must be edited manually, because we then have to
validate the outcome”, continues Bruno Montagut. “Once
we’ve completed that task, we will have to supplement
and improve the system we designed for the F7X.”
Having completed the migration, the specialists of the
BUF will have some work to do on updating the old document libraries. At the same time, they must also take
account of, and incorporate, the latest developments in
12 - InterActions JUNE 2009
viewing software. All of these tasks should come together
in time for validation this summer.
Sogitec plans to begin migration of the Falcon 900EX document libraries this September, with a completion deadline
of March 2010. “This migration is fairly quick, since the IT
teams have already conducted trial migrations to iron out
all the risks in advance”, explains Bruno Montagut.
Migration of the Falcon 2000 and 50 documentations is
scheduled to be completed by the end of summer 2010.
The benefits of building a documentation library around a
central database, like that used for the Falcon 7X, have
already included the ability to validate the EASy cockpit
documentation for the Falcon 900EX. Compared with the
process of validating paper documentation, the result is a
huge amount of time saved.
The engineers of the BUF work in close cooperation with
all business lines on a permanent basis, as well as with
the sub-systems suppliers involved in the program.
Individual engineers are also dedicated specifically to
customer support, and are available at all times to
operators via e-mail. This digital hotline enables an
immediate response that supports the work done by the
Customer Support Department engineers. “This method
of working makes it easier to correct any errors flagged
up in the documentation”, continues Thierry Ruelle, “But
all our energy and thought must be focused primarily on
optimizing maintenance from the customer's point of
view, because that will be a determining factor in the
ability of the Falcon range to compete successfully”.
BUF IN THE
FALCON’S NEST
THE
Established in 2005, the Business Unit Falcon
(BUF) now contains 46 Sogitec Industries specialists working alongside 16 employees seconded
from Dassault Aviation. It is in a noticeably calm
and peaceful environment of open workspaces
and soft colors that the BUF teams responsible
for the Falcon family documentation go about their
business. A few yards further on down the corridor,
and the visitor enters the impeccably-clean and
hugely impressive Falcon 900 EX assembly hall,
where around 20 of these “exceptional beasts” are
being brought to life. Moving on a little further,
other nests provide homes for a number of Falcon
7X and Falcon 2000 aircraft. The specialists of the
BUF are all experienced engineers, most are graduates from France's leading engineering schools
or the military. They are organized into the three
segments of airframe, propulsion and hydraulic and
electrical systems, as explained by Francis Laporte,
Maintenance Documentation Manager. The many
technological challenges they work with are very
complex. For example, the introduction into executive
business jets of integrated avionics with a central
maintenance computer is nothing short of a minirevolution, and demands very high levels of technical
expertise. Which is why the company needs to attract
the very highest level of graduates, from leading
French institutions such as Supaéro, Centrale and
Arts et Métiers, as well as specialists with in-depth
technical and practical experience gained in the Air
Force or Naval Aviation. In order to comply with the
requirements of the ATA 2200 aviation standard, all
civil aircraft technical documentation must be written
in English. The BUF team is therefore totally bilingual,
and is supported by a professional translator, who in
addition to her translation tasks, also provides
ongoing support and training for technical authors in
the subtleties of the English language.
The Falcon Migration targets 2011
This is a new challenge for the teams of Sogitec and the
BUF, because this migration will involve up to 40 people
from September onwards. “We shouldn't underestimate
the sheer size of this migration. We must have a clear
overview of the document libraries involved, and avoid
being submerged by all the specific issues that will inevitably arise”, emphasizes BUF Deputy Director Thierry
Ruelle. “The customer expects instructions, so the information must not be downgraded in any way and users
must not have the impression that it has regressed.
InterActions JUNE 2009 - 13
EUROFIGHTER
ADVENTURE GOES ON
THE
Sogitec’s know-how is once again confirmed on the biggest
European aeronautical military program with the
"Supplement 5" contract.
the display system. "With the advent of Supplement 5,
the roles have been reversed", explains Christian
Normandin, BUSY Project Engineer. "Sogitec will henceforward be supplying the display system and CAE the
synthetic imagery".
The running of program was managed by means of
"Supplements". For Supplement 1, corresponding to the
first aircraft delivery lot, began with the fitting out of the
integration platform (Joint Integration Facility, JIF) at
Manching where two CT simulators and two FMS were installed. Subsequently, seven FMS simulators and four CT
simulators, all production units, were delivered to British,
German, Italian, Spanish and then Austrian airbases.
Supplement 2 is dedicated to maintaining under operational conditions (MOC) Supplement 1 equipment while
Supplement 3 and 4 allowed the development of certain
aircraft evolutions but did not concern Sogitec activities.
Today, Supplement 5, which in the ASTA program corresponds to the setting up of training means corresponding to
aircraft tranches 2 and 3, concerns a new order for six
FMS and five CT simulators for the four founding countries
of the Eurofighter program.
When a new aircraft reaches the squadron, one spin-off is
the need for simulators offering improved performance
by virtue of the latest technological developments.
"Because of the many nations committed to this program, the Eurofighter contract is a particularly complex
task to deal with" points out Christian Normandin.
"Technical supervision of the ASTA program is by the
Integration Program Team (IPT), which includes the
various aircraft prime contractors (BAe, EADS, Alenia)
and ESS” (cf. simplified chart). IPT’s customer is NETMA
(Nato Eurofighter & Tornado Management Agency).
The contracts corresponding to Supplement 5 have now
gone through and have been accepted by the customers.
"At Sogitec, this work was carried out by BUSY and the
DRSI. The first phase of integration and validation for the
CT simulators is complete" goes on Christian Normandin.
For the display part, there is an unbroken tie between
Supplement 1 and Supplement 5. "We have to address the
task of increasing the number of FMS projectors to 16!
For improved contrast and brightness, we now use 14
landscape display projectors and 2 portrait display units,
enabling us to overcome problems of image alignment
and blinding, by modifying the initial options".
Sogitec as final integrator.
The first FMS simulator was delivered in April and the
second will be shipped in July. Sogitec has a contract for
the design, production, delivery and integration of the
dome, structure, video projectors and target projectors.
It takes five months to install the display system alone,
while the image generator requires one month more. The
dome is made of composites and has a diameter of 7.3 m
for the FMS and 4 m for the CT. "The first CT version
consisted of a faceted-image rear-projection system but
for Supplement 5, we have come back to a spherical
structure supporting 8 x 3 mPixel LCoSD projectors.
Sogitec is acting as integrator with respect to the customer, guaranteeing the accurate fulfilling of the specifi-
> Centre de réalité virtuelle (VRC)
au bureau d'étude du Falcon 7X
à Saint-Cloud.
Christian NORMANDIN
Program Manager,
Business Unit Simulation Systems
Ten years ago, the needs of the four customer nations
for federating the developments of the Eurofighter aircraft training means prompted the members of the
Eurofighter consortium to create the ASTA (Aircrew
Synthetic Training Aid) project, and to entrust simulator
component development and production to the company
known as Eurofighter Simulation System (ESS). In particular, this entity handles Calls for Tenders involving the
14 - InterActions JUNE 2009
design and supply of visual systems for Full Mission
Simulator (FMS) and Cockpit Trainer (CT) simulator types,
featuring image generators and display systems. Working
exclusively in conjunction with Canadian CAE, for the duration of the Eurofighter program, in 2001, Sogitec was awarded this Call for Tenders. Originally, because of the way the
responsibilities were shared, Sogitec was put in charge of
producing and supplying the image generator and CAE of
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cations" states Christian Normandin.
Equipment deliveries will be set out through to the end of
2011. Generally, whether for the FMS or the CT simulator,
qualification will be at the JIF in Germany. At Suresnes
and at Bruz, this program will involve a dozen engineers,
testimony to the excellence of Sogitec Industries’ know
how for these top line simulators.
THE TYPHOON EUROFIGHTER
The European Typhoon Eurofighter program came
into being at the end of 1987 and so far, has generated
more than 700 orders deliverable in three segments.
The first segment for a total of 163 aircraft is now
approaching the end of delivery with 55 combat
aircraft in the United Kingdom (out of a planned total
of 232 aircraft), 44 in Germany (180), 29 in Italy (121),
20 in Spain (87) and 15 in Austria (15) which entered
the program in 2002. Saudi Arabia, which ordered 72
aircraft, will receive the first 48 units as part of section
2, deliverable before 2013.
DIMENSIONS
Wingspan: 10.95 m
FRENCH NAVY
RCS
The French Navy Rafale Simulation Centre (RSC)
located at Landivisiau Naval Air Station (Brittany), is
now fully operational. In November 2008, the Navy
took over and the Centre was inaugurated on
January 9, 2009 by Vice Admiral de Rostolan,
commanding officer of the French Naval Aviation.
This took place one year after the entry into operational service of the French Air Force RSC at
Saint-Dizier Air Force Base.
Sogitec Industries supplied the full visual system
based on Apogée 6 image generation and the Safir
rear-projection facetted display as well as the briefing/debriefing station and instructor operating station
(as a cooperative venture). Sogitec also designed the
whole Centre as a system, thus conducting integration
and validation phases as well. Sogitec in addition acted
as prime contractor for associated facilities (building
and interior fittings).
The next step in the program will be an optical fibre
connection between the two Naval and Air Force Centres
to enhance capabilities in terms of tactical training scenarios which continue to become increasingly complex. The
way had been paved for this development thanks to the
RSCs having been equipped from the design stage with
an HLA (High Level Architecture, a software standard for
the interconnection of distributed systems) gateway while
the CSR centre at Saint-Dizier is already "HLA certified".
Length: 15.96 m
Height: 5.28 m
Wing surface area: 50 m2
WEIGHTS:
Weight when empty: 11000 kg
Maximum takeoff weight: 23500 kg
Motorization: 2 Eurojet EJ200-3A turbojets
with individual power of 60 kN dry
and 90 kN with postcombustion.
PERFORMANCE:
Maximum speed: Mach 2 (2470 km/h)
Rate of climb: 15240 m/min
Operational ceiling: 19812 m
Action radius : 1800 km
EUROFIGHTER G
GmbH
bH
International Project Team
16 - InterActions JUNE 2009
SHERPA MOVES TOWARDS THE SUBMITS
Every day and night, Cougar and Puma helicopters
are given the opportunity of proving their indispensable supporting role for French Forces engaged in
Afghanistan’s hostile environment. Crew training is
an essential aspect for making the most of efficiency
and safety under extreme conditions. Once again the
ALAT and the DGA have placed their trust in Sogitec
Industries, entrusting it with the work of renovating
its SHERPA simulator.
SHERPA is a helicopter simulator for the training and
conversion of pilots and flight engineers on the Puma
and Cougar. It was designed by Sogitec about 15 years
ago for the Army Light Aviation School, EAALAT (Ecole
d’Application de l’Aviation Légère de l’Armée de Terre)
at Luc, in Provence. The design of the SHERPA FFS (Full
Flight Simulator) is unique: it includes full cockpit and 6
axis movement within an 8 m diameter screen sphere
"producing a feeling of total immersion", similar to that
of 360° Géode type cinemas. Changeover from the
Puma to the Cougar configuration is a simple matter of
swapping the equipment panels, while maintaining
total likeness to the real helicopter cabin.
DGA (Délégation Générale pour l’Armement) awarded
the retrofit contract for the SHERPA in Mars 2008. The
work in hand involves adding instructor console functions, introducing new meteorological simulations and
redoing the visual system which will be much improved
thanks to the enormous breakthroughs in the sector
over the last 15 years: Three new 8 megapixel projectors have been chosen, among the most powerful in
the market ! Synthetic images will be generated from
a database covering France, replacing the erstwhile
"Peter Pan" imaginary island …
Outside the Dome, a new instructor station boasting
6 flat screens will allow mission control by generating failures, meteorological changes etc "for the instructor station, we have moved out of the alphanumerical world into one of graphics in a more userfriendly and intuitive Windows environment".
"In addition, several cutting-edge developments
have been brought in to improve the rendition of
some flight phases" explains Annick Lefort, Project
Engineer at BUSY, in the enviable position of overseeing this program from its very outset.
For instance, one feature is micro-aerology which
simulates air turbulence near the mountain crests,
previously impossible. These functions, like the
sequence playback, will be accessible from an auxiliary console that can be used by an on-board instructor in the cockpit. Sogitec is also taking this
opportunity to weed out the obsolescent features that
have appeared during the 15 years of the Sherpa (for
instance by replacing the computers).
At Luc, this renovation work will last 19 weeks during
the first half of 2009, leading to re-commissioning in
December, after certification by DGAC.
In addition to providing for initial training, this new
system will definitely boost the ALAT training capabilities because the use of SHERPA should soon escalate from 1500 to 3000 hours/year, preserving the
potential of operational helicopters, pending the
arrival of the NH-90.
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“DAUPHIN”
THE
MCC FNPT II
TRAINER TAKES OFF
Sogitec confirms its penetration into the field of
JAR-FSTD certified trainers, with the two Helicopter
FNPT II MCC trainers for the French Navy.
Following the call for bids issued by the DGA (Délégation
Générale pour l’Armement – French Armament
Procurement Agency ), Sogitec was awarded the
contract for the supply of two FNPT II MCC (Flight and
Navigation Procedures Trainer) II type flight trainers to
the French Navy in January 2008. These trainers must
simulate a generic aircraft representative of a twin
engine medium weight (3,500 to 4,500 kg) helicopter
(Dauphin/Panther family). The first unit will be delivered
in June 2009 to the Lanvéoc-Poulmic Naval Air Station
(NAS) in Brittany, and the second will be delivered at the
NAS of Hyères (French Riviera) four months later. Unlike
helicopter FNPTs currently operational in France,
FNPTs for the French Navy are characterised by an
instrument panel equipped with new avionics (similar to
that on the Dauphin N3) to enable initial training in IFR
(Instruments Flight Rules) procedures, with EADI
(Electronic Attitude and Directional Indicator) and EHSI
(Electronic Horizontal Situation Indicator) equipment.
“These trainers are representative of a generic helicopter similar to the Dauphin N (Eurocopter AS 365 N) and
therefore to French Navy Panthers, and in priority will
be used for instrument flight transformations on dual
turbine helicopters (IR ME) including flight procedures
on a single engine (N-1) and for IMC (Instrument
Meteorological Conditions) autorotation exercises” says
Denis Billot, program manager at Sogitec’s Simulation
Systems Business Unit (BUSY).
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The FNPT II MCC trainers will be used principally for
training on flight procedures in the special environment
of the Navy (sea rescue, deck landing on frigate, etc.)
and for training of crews at work (MCC - Multi Crew
Cooperation).
In the context of this contract, in addition to the supply of two
FNPTs each composed of a cockpit with force reproduction,
an instructor operated station and a visual system, Sogitec
will supply the documentation, spare parts and training
necessary for the Navy to provide level NTI 1 maintenance,
as part of an integrated logistic support analysis. Sogitec
will also provide a one-year guarantee combined with an
initial in-service support.
The geographic database is generated automatically
from map data obtained by purchasing IGN (French
National Geographic Institute) licences. In the framework of producing these FNPTs, Sogitec has specifically
enriched the two zones concerning Lanvéoc-Poulmic
NAS andHyères NAS, and has added various mobile
objects useful for training missions (frigate, helicopter).
“Moreover, three types of landing areas have been
added to the database to create specific obstacles
satisfying the Navy General Staff specifications”
confirms Denis Billot.
The image generation uses the Apogée 6 product, which
is a high performance system dedicated to simulation
and developed by Sogitec. The Apogée 6 system can be
used for various features including simulation of clouds
in 3D imagery with unequalled quality, perfectly reproducing feather effects at the boundaries of clouds and
cloud layers. Thus, the Apogée 6 system is capable of
reproducing the “Narrows breaking” manoeuvre well
known to Navy crews. This IFR flight procedure in Brest
Narrows at wave level is used for approaches to
Lanvéoc-Poulmic in case of fog or a low ceiling.
The visual system also allows flight training using
Night Vision Goggles (NVG) meeting JAR-FSTD H
requirements and operational needs of the Navy.
Image generation and videoprojectors are thus compatible for training usingreal NVG.
These FNPT systems for helicopters are obviously simple in use, and provide excellent facilities for training at a
low price compared with FFS (Full Flight Simulators),
and in accordance with the JAR-FSTD H standard applicable since August 1st 2008. After the delivery of two
Grob 120 FNPTs to the Cognac Air Force School, Sogitec
thus confirms its penetration into the very competitive
segment of FNPTs, with no compromise on training quality.
GLOBAL OFFER AT THE
PARIS AIR SHOW
Inheriting from the first Salon de la Locomotion
Aérienne (Air Locomotion Exhibition) staged at the
Paris Grand Palais in 1909, the Paris Air Show will be
celebrating its 1st centenary anniversary between 15
and 22 June at Paris-Le Bourget airfield. As leading
global venue, le Salon du Bourget continues to be the
essential meeting point for all the players in the
aerospace field.
Sogitec Industries will be once again addressing the
event with some conviction, presenting a 160 sq. m
booth introducing the offer company’s full offer, since
this show is this year's major event in terms of
corporate and marketing communication.
"This year, the emphasis is put on promoting all
products and services developed for the support of the
Rafale fighter, with a particular focus on simulation and
training means", insists Xavier Dissoubray, Marketing
and Communication Manager. Filmed testimonial footage shot among the operational French Air Force users
at Saint-Dizier and with the French Navy at Landivisiau
is the highlight to the presentation of this message
aimed at the tens of thousands of professional visitors.
As far as Technical Publications is concerned, experts
will have several opportunities of viewing demonstrations positioning Sogitec Industries not only as software
solutions supplier but also capable of providing overall
prime contracting experience, i.e. support to aircraft
manufacturer teams at every stage of the development
of the support products and services essential to every
aeronautical programme with the implementation of the
most appropriate browsing tools, such as the new
ViewTec 3 on display at Le Bourget.
In addition, the Rafale Maintenance Trainer, presented
simultaneously on the Sogitec Industries and Dassault
Aviation booths, like the visual system of the simulator
presented on the Rafale International booth, are clear
illustrations of just how far pilot and maintenance training means, a crucial link in the operational efficiency of
a combat aircraft, have been taken.
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