Bell launches Tactical Flight Officer course

Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company, announced today, its Bell Helicopter Training Academy (BTA) has launched a new Tactical Flight Officer course.

Designed as a two-part training program including an on-line academic session and resident hands-on training, the Bell Helicopter Tactical Flight Officer course presents officers with the practical skills and active engagement needed for aerial mission success in a safe and controlled environment.

"Bell Helicopter has always strived to provide our customers with products and services that exceed their diverse operational needs and increases their ability to maintain the critical safety margin demanded in the aviation industry," said Trey Wade, director, Bell Helicopter Training Academy. "Bell Helicopter's Tactical Flight Officer course allows our customers to train effective crews in a safe environment without expending valuable department assets or budgeted patrol flight hours."

The online academic session offers Law Enforcement customers a logical and systematic approach to training that is self paced and provides maximum flexibility. Academic course topics include:

· Introduction to Airborne Law Enforcement

· Helicopter Safety and Operations

· Crew Resource Management and Mission Decision Making

· Helicopter Systems

· Basic Helicopter Operations

· Aeromedical Factors

· Aeromedical Knowledge

· Night Operations and Introduction to Patrol, and

· Tactical Procedures.

Conducted at the Bell Helicopter Training Academy in Fort Worth, Texas, the resident portion of the course uses a FILR equipped Flight Training Device (FTD) to provide realistic, action-based scenarios in a various environmental conditions. The benefits of using an FTD include allowing for Tactical Flight Officer and Pilot coordination training in confined area approach, obstacle clearance, inadvertent IMC procedures and instrument approach procedures.

"This new course was created with the Tactical Flight Officer in mind, providing them with aviation and mission-specific training that compliments their existing law enforcement skills and greatly enhances flight safety and mission success," said Wade.

Source: Bell