Pete Domenici: “This amendment will authorize $9 million to equip the Air Force Theater Air Command Control and Simulation Facility with…”

“This amendment will authorize $9 million to equip the Air Force Theater Air Command Control and Simulation Facility with a UH-1N simulator. The USAF has no simulator for the UH-1N aircraft, yet most aircraft in the DOD routinely acquires simulators to provide initial qualification and continuation--recurring--training of crews. There are several reasons why this simulator is necessary: Pilots and flight engineers qualifying in the UH-1N are the youngest and most experienced in the USAF. The UH-1N is one of the oldest helicopters in the USAF inventory and may be prone to increased failure of components. The simulator creates safety risks allowing trainees to practice emergency procedures in the aircraft for the first time. In many instances missions are flown single pilot, which requires increased knowledge and proficiency that the simulator can provide. The UH-1N mission requirements have increased to include the use of night vision goggles which is a more demanding initial training requirement that can be handled in the simulator. On some missions, crews support strategic missile convoy escorts; This support demands high qualification and judgment, which the simulator can provide. Convoy tactics are classified and cannot be practiced in the aircraft at Kirtland AFB. The simulator would allow hands-on practice in a secure environment.”