Australian Super Hornet Trainers Delivered

The Australian Super Hornet Integrated Visual Environment Maintenance Trainer (ASH IVEMT), shown above, is one of two training devices delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) at Amberley Air Force Base, Ipswich, Australia in October . The IVEMT encompasses all training aspects of the RAAF FA-18E/F maintenance technician specialties. (photo : U.S. Navy)

NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, Md. – Naval Aviation Training Systems program office (PMA-205) delivered two Super Hornet Integrated Visual Environment Maintenance Trainers (IVEMT) to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) at Amberley Air Force Base, Ipswich, Australia in October.

The IVEMT is a 3-D visual trainer which allows military personnel to virtually navigate through multiple aircraft systems. It provides maintainers training on ground operation, maintenance, and testing. It also offers troubleshooting procedures for the F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft including avionics, environmental control, electrical, flight control, fuel, engines, landing gear, and hydraulic systems.

The IVEMT was designed exclusively for RAAF and is the first Super Hornet maintenance trainer to be delivered to a foreign military. The design is an upgraded version of the U.S. Navy’s Visual Environment Maintenance Trainer (VEMT).

“We are excited to provide our allies with advanced training capabilities which will enhance our joint mission execution,” said Capt. John Feeney, Naval Aviation Training Systems program manager.

The device, built by Boeing, St. Louis, Mo., and DiSTI, Orlando, Fla., includes cockpit and instructor operator stations, as well as student/aircraft interface trainer stations and a cockpit/trainer equipment station. The aircraft functionality is displayed through touch screen interactive panels.

“With the realistic look and feel of the aircraft, as well as state-of-the-art technology, the IVEMT capabilities allow for training of all RAAF FA-18E/F maintenance technician specialties,” said Peter Schroeder, PMA-205 Australia training systems team lead. Instructors can integrate various faults into the system for increased situational awareness training.

The IVEMT will support simulation training for Australian maintenance personnel in support of the 24 F/A-18F Super Hornets recently procured from the U.S. Navy. The aircraft will progressively arrive in Australia through 2011.The IVEMTs will be ready for training late 2010.

(US Naval Air Systems Command)