MAF selects Euramec to build flight simulator for Cessna Caravan training
NAMPA, Idaho - Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), a humanitarian air operator based in Nampa, Idaho, announced it has partnered with Euramec in Hamme, Belgium, to develop a next-generation flight simulator for the Cessna C208B Caravan. The simulator will be located in the Netherlands and aims to reduce training-related flight hours, contributing to MAF's goal of cutting carbon emissions by 30% by 2035.
"We are very excited and proud to officially announce our partnership with Euramec for our next-generation Flight Sim solution of the Cessna C208B Caravan," said Rene Don, Flight Simulator Project Lead at MAF International. "Investment in this simulator will also bring cost and environmental benefits because it significantly reduces the number of hours in the air during training."
Euramec’s Flight Training Device (FTD) will be certified at the EASA FTD2 level and feature a six-degrees-of-freedom motion system for realistic flight dynamics. The simulator includes a high-fidelity visual system tailored to MAF’s unique operating environments, including remote airstrips not covered by standard databases.
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Euramec CEO Bert Buyle explained, "Euramec worked out a unique concept that caters exactly to the training needs for MAF pilots."
The project will also incorporate a virtual reality (VR) part-task trainer using eye tracking and advanced tools, developed in collaboration with Multisim in the Netherlands.
The simulator is scheduled to be operational at Teuge International Airport by late 2025, with a second unit planned for Australia. It will feature animations to prepare pilots for challenges like runway obstructions, a significant safety risk for MAF operations.
