ITEC 2012: Virtual Maintenance Trainer to Streamline NH90 Training

Vega Space is developing a maintenance simulator that it hopes will streamline the maintenance and the training of maintainers for operators of the NH90 TTH and NFH helicopters


The Virtual Maintenance Trainer (VMT) NH90 uses highly detailed interactive 3D models of the helicopter allowing engineers and maintainers to become familiar with procedures and techniques on the aircraft before they are actually allowed near the real thing.

The VMT has been ordered by France, the Netherlands and Norway who between them will operate five different versions of the NH90.


A basic version of the software which covers the interim variants of the NH90 is already in use, but now Vega Space is developing the software covering each of the variants being adopted by those nations.


'The software will take you through maintenance procedures step-by-step, right from the removal of a display from the cockpit up to the removal of an engine,' said Bernd Höhner, a project manager with Vega Space's training solutions division.

'We have produced a similar solution for the Leopard tank, but this is our first experience of producing a trainer for a helicopter.'


The 3D models are highly detailed and users are given a warning if procedures are carried out in the wrong order. In the cockpit, the maintainer can click two small latches which hold in one of the multi-function displays. This allows a lever to be pulled, dragging out the display. All of these tiny latches are modelled and animated.


The system provides information on the areas of the aircraft which require regular inspection and the procedures of how to deal with the multitude of error codes which can be generated by the aircraft's built-in-test systems.