Canada’s Bluedrop Training and Simulation has received funding from Boeing to develop a next-generation rear crew trainer for the CH-47 Chinook helicopter.
The new financial and technical support from Boeing will also result in a five-year commitment to support development and ongoing international sales.
Under the partnership, Bluedrop and Boeing will develop a rear crew trainer, which will be offered to the existing and future CH-47 Chinook buyers.
Boeing Defense, Space & Security Canada business development director Jim Barnes said: "Building partnerships with small Canadian companies like Bluedrop that merge Boeing expertise in commercial aerospace, defence, advanced research and development and Canadian industry capabilities provides value to Canada.
"Boeing has a proud history of investing in successful partnerships across Canada that promote research and development of unique technologies."
The initial phase will see the development of a full sized virtual reality rear crew trainer based on an intellectual property (IP) licence supplied by Boeing.
Features of the rear crew trainer include winching and hoisting systems, gunnery systems and various mission critical procedural training tools.
In addition, it is expected to interface to Boeing’s cockpit training devices, allowing full interactive crew training and mission scenario training to be carried out.
The Atlantic Canada-based firm will be responsible for developing associated hardware and software from its Bluedrop Training and Simulation Centre (BTSC) located in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Minister of State for Science and Technology Ed Holder agreed to support the initiative under the Canada Investment Framework programme and the new value proposition guidelines.
Support includes a contribution of $2.29m, transfer of certain IP licence and a five-year commitment to support ongoing sales and marketing of the new product.
Image: A Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopter in a training exercise with US Navy Special Warfare. Photo: courtesy of US Navy by mass communication specialist 3rd Class Robyn Gerstenslager.
