The simulator allowing airmen to practice evacuation from a sunk chopper will be upgraded. Its construction is intended to correspond to fresh types of machines purchased by the Polish Army. Planned works are part of the extended renovation and expansion of the training base at the Training Centre for Divers and Plenipotentiaries in Gdynia.
The compartment is lowered to the pool and turned upside down. The interior is filled with water. Inside the airship, they must break out of the safety belts, push the door out and sail to the surface. That's how they go. exercise with METSThe Modular Immersion Simulator. The device is located in a large swimming pool of Gdynia Training Centre for divers and fins of the Polish Army and is utilized almost all the time. No wonder. all military pilot, navigator and on-board technician must pass the sea self-save course erstwhile all 5 years. In addition, between compulsory training, airmen are required to have a short training course. And METS is always an iron part of the curriculum. “We organize on average 2 courses for flying staff each period at the resort. This includes two–three training courses for peculiar military operators or BOA police units. In a word: we have something to do – admits Mr. Michał Drabarczyk, OSNiP spokesperson.
However, classes on the simulator were temporarily suspended. Reason? Modernisation, which will shortly pass through the system. The main part of METS imitates the W-3 chopper cabin. Meanwhile, the Polish Army already buys newer kind machines. “We want the airmen coming to us to be able to train in the cabin, whose form corresponds to the parameters of the AW-101, AW-149 or Black Hawk helicopters,” said Lieutenant Drabarczyk. However, this does not mean that W-3 will go into oblivion. – The simulator after conversion will be based on modules. So if necessary, it can be redesigned. It will just become more universal – the officer says. Meanwhile, the modernization of the METS will not end in the cabin. – Computers liable for strategy control will be transferred to another room. This will aid defend them from moisture. On the another hand, instructors who conduct the course will be able to leave, rotate and lift the cab straight from portable desktops – explained kmdr ppor. Drabarian.
The work around the simulator has just begun. The compartment itself has already been dismantled, but as the OSNiP spokesperson reserves, modernization is simply a complicated process. – METS is coupled with devices that let you to make a wave, wind, simulate rain. So the work does not boil down to moving the server and replacing the cab. The full thing will should be re-tuned with 1 another – noted Lt. Drabarczyk. The modernisation of the simulator is financed by the Head of method Affairs of the Maritime Support Inspectorate, and the task should be completed in the mediate of the year. This joint initiative of STM and OSNiP is simply a way to meet the changing training needs of the Polish Army.
Kmdr Lt Sebastian Bąbel, aircraft pilot SH-2G, through sea-based self-rescuing courses passed respective times. He considers the experiences of these to be priceless. – erstwhile the chopper falls into the water, the lives of the crew begin to decide seconds. There's no time for analysis here. The muscle memory must work. What has been trained – he emphasizes. He found this most prominently in January 2006 during global exercises in the North Sea. “We have interacted with the Canadians. During 1 of their landings, their chopper fell into the water. However, crew members managed to leave the deck on their own. Then the Canadian commander told me that if it wasn't for earlier trainings, they most likely wouldn't have survived it," said Lt. Bąbel. The officer believes that upgrading the METS is good news, although even in the current form the simulator fulfills its task. – Besides, OSNiP itself is unique. In my life, I have seen respective specified centres, specified as Spain or Greece. However, no of them were as well equipped as the facility in Gdynia – noted Mr.Bąbel.
But upgrading the simulator is just 1 of the features of a large-scale venture. Over the last fewer months, the most crucial of the training facilities of OSNiP has undergone thorough renovation. – We replaced the filtration strategy and refreshed the main swimming pool, locker rooms, sanitary facilities. The work here has already been completed, informs Mr Drabarczyk. Thanks to cooperation with the Head of Maritime Technology, alleged spitters were besides renovated. This is an OSNiP-owned unique complex where submarine crews train emergency boarding. On 1 of the swimming pools, sailors can practice leaving the ship through torpedo launchers, on another exit to the surface in an escape suit. Spitters were built even during the German occupation. The last renovation was 10 years ago. – Now we have painted swimming tents, we have supplemented the cavities, replaced the fittings or bulls utilized to observe the trainers. Thanks to these works, swimming pools look like fresh ones – the OSNiP spokesperson notes. The last chord will be the exchange of water filtration systems. This will happen in the next fewer months.
OSNiP thus trains pilots and submariners. Above all, however, as the only facility in Poland, he prepares for military service divers of various specialties and dive managers. About a 1000 students pass through the hotel each year. – We even continued any of the classes during renovations. We utilized the back of the 3rd Fleet Ship. Soon, however, we will return to our swimming pools – concludes Mr. Drabarian.
