More online trg, simulator shooting coming to RCAF

[The Bread Guy]

This, from the RCAF Info-machine - highlights mine:

Maintaining small arms qualifications has always been challenging for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) due to the limited availability of live fire ranges and trained personnel as well as Canada’s often inclement weather.

It was clear that improvements needed to be made in how the training was delivered and to increase the number of personnel who achieve their annual small arms qualification. The RCAF has found a solution in innovative simulation technologies.

“The RCAF will now adopt a blended strategy for annual small arms training. Our airmen and airwomen will qualify annually by completing a weapon familiarization portion online and then move on to a small arms simulator to achieve their annual qualification. However, anyone who is scheduled to deploy during the year will fire weapons on a live-firing range before their deployment,” explained Colonel Colin Keiver, who is the director of air simulation and training within the RCAF headquarters staff.

“This will improve the number of personnel who are trained annually, reduce the impact on the environment, and reduce overall costs without diminishing the standard for this essential training.

“For the RCAF, this is a win-win situation.”

1 Canadian Air Division Readiness Training Flight, located at 8 Wing Trenton, Ontario, determined that a solution that blended electronic, simulated and live training had the potential to generate substantial savings.

A more in-depth study by Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) considered more detailed cost items, such as personnel throughput, food, ammunition usage and transport requirements.  This study confirmed the first evaluation and determined that the RCAF could improve the number of personnel it qualified and save more than $1.3 million annually.

The new RCAF Small Arms Training System, a virtual training system, will pay for itself in approximately four years and, over a 20-year span, the system has the potential to save the Canadian tax payer more than $30 million.

The road to improved small arms training began with the development of electronic learning virtual task trainer models of the C7A2 rifle and the Browning 9 mm pistol by NGRAIN, a Vancouver company.

These models were transformed into computerized lessons and incorporated into the Air Force Integrated Information Learning Environment (AFIILE) – a web-based initiative that combines traditional instruction with e-learning and virtual environments. AFIILE gives all RCAF members the ability to familiarize themselves with the weapons using the internet or National Defence intranet.

The project’s second phase involved determining which weapon simulation system would improve the delivery of training.

The RCAF conducted an option analysis and found out that National Defence’s Materiel group was in the process of upgrading more than 160 small arms training systems on behalf of the Canadian Army. Collaboration with the Army made good sense from a cost perspective and provided common simulators for weapons training across the Canadian Armed Forces.

As a result of the analysis, the RCAF purchased small arms training simulators from Meggitt Training Systems Canada, based in Montreal, which is a business unit of the multi-national aerospace and defence corporation Meggitt PLC.

The company will install the simulators and be responsible for service support and training the operators of the equipment.

“The research and staff work required to determine a viable solution was laborious, but extremely interesting,” said Colonel Keiver.

“RCAF personnel got a first-hand look at the most innovative technologies on the market today. The real pay-off comes in knowing that everyone involved in this project has contributed to better training for our personnel who may deploy into harm’s way around the world.”

As a result of this project, RCAF members will soon see state-of-the-art small arms training ‘gaming’ consoles coming soon to RCAF wings across Canada.

 

[Jungle]

Our airmen and airwomen will qualify annually by completing a weapon familiarization portion online and then move on to...

Weapons famil online ?? I'd like to see this... most RCAF people I worked with had a relationship that sat between "uncomfortable" and "terrified" with their personal weapon(s). I don't think this new approach will help that.

 

[Sub_Guy]

Looks like I will have to dust off Duck Hunt and get a head start!

 

[PuckChaser]

Can it replace the SAT that we have for the Army? Maybe its just Kingston, but everytime we go to use that damn thing its N/S again. Would be nice to see what new technology can deliver for small arms training, vice the 1993 era SAT.

 

[DAA]

Now that makes me scratch my head.  I know of one AF Wing that has been employing FATS for several years now, like since 08-09.  Classroom training, exactly the same as you would get prior to attending a live range, followed by a FATS session.

Problem was, as soon as you threw FATS into the mix without the live range, attendance suddenly jumped by a huge "X" factor and RTF couldn't meet the demand.

I can't see how they can say this is something new.  More like a spin on, we can save money by eliminating live ranges by recognizing simulator training in lieu of.

 

[Zoomie]

Can it replace the SAT that we have for the Army? Maybe its just Kingston, but everytime we go to use that damn thing its N/S again. Would be nice to see what new technology can deliver for small arms training, vice the 1993 era SAT.

The article states that the FATS system is undergoing an upgrade and the RCAF is tagging along for cost savings and buying into the program.

14 years in the RCAF and I've fired the C-7 four times.  Training - no required.  SAR - not required.  Instructing - not required. USAF - not required.

 

[DAA]

Inquiring minds who want to know.......

The previous SATS or FATS, whatever you wish to call it, have been around for sometime.  Most of the current systems are "tethered" (ie; weapon has cabling attached) but some locations are now just upgrading to the BLUEFIRE technology where this is possible.  It's nothing more than cutting the cable and using "BlueTooth" technology or un-tethering, which makes the training slightly more life like.

See for yourself........

http://www.baytoday.ca/content/news/details.asp?c=60692

 

[PuckChaser]

From the article, I google'd the company. Here's a small fact sheet:

http://www.meggitttrainingsystems.com/Portals/6/PDFs/Bluefire_Weapon_Simulators_PUB2.pdf