Market Trends of Helicopter Simulator Industry
Full Flight Simulators to Dominate Market Share During the Forecast Period
- The technological superiority of full flight simulators (FFS) over their fixed base counterparts is one of the key factors bolstering the adoption of FFS during the forecast period. An FFS can replicate the flight parameters of the respective model it is designed for and uses advanced technology in areas of motion, visuals, communication, and air traffic.
- Driven by increasing demand for trained pilots, several contracts for FFS have been awarded to the major market players, and several others are anticipated to be awarded during the forecast period. For instance, in June 2021, Brunner Elektronik was awarded a contract for the NovaSim mixed-reality (MR) FFS to Switzerland-based Lufthansa Aviation Training (LAT).
- In 2020, FlightSafety and Brunner Elektronik demonstrated the NovaSim MR simulator integrated with FlightSafety's Mixed Reality Flight at the FlightSafety exhibit, configured as an Airbus EC145 helicopter. Similarly, in January 2020, Reiser Simulation and Training GmbH signed the final contract to deliver the first H135/H145 Level D FFS tailored for training pilots in helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) operations.
- Furthermore, with the high number of commercial, general aviation, and military aviation helicopters that are high in demand in the current scenario, the demand for full-flight simulators is expected to witness a positive growth rate. Such developments are expected to propel the growth of the segment during the forecast period.
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Asia-Pacific to Witness Highest Demand During the Forecast Period
- China, India, and a handful of other countries in Asia-Pacific are avid users of helicopters both in the military and commercial sectors. China is one of the largest rotorcraft users in the region, with a Y-o-Y fleet growth of more than 5%.
- The demand for helicopters is expected to increase further in the future due to an increase in demand for civil helicopters for applications such as VIP transportation, search and rescue, and news coverage, among others. Also, due to the regional geopolitical rift, several new models of military helicopters are being inducted into active service. For instance, the country planned to induct 121 Russian-made helicopters by 2020.
- The induction of such helicopters also necessitates the adoption of sophisticated simulator platforms to ensure proper training for the pilots before live operations. On this note, in June 2020, Alpha Design Technologies Limited became the first private company to provide helicopter simulator training to the pilots of the Indian Air Force (IAF). The contract also entails setting up two simulation centers and providing 1,200 hours of training each year to the IAF pilots until 2040. Similar adoption patterns may emerge and be entertained by other countries in the region, therefore driving the demand for helicopter simulators during the forecast period.
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