Rheinmetall Upgrades A400M Cargo Training Simulator for Royal Air Force Enhancements
Rheinmetall and Airbus Deliver Cutting-Edge Cargo Hold Trainer to the RAF
On October 20, Rheinmetall and Airbus Defence & Space proudly handed over the Cargo Hold Trainer – Enhanced (CHT-E) for the A400M transport aircraft to the Royal Air Force. This significant milestone was celebrated during a formal ceremony.
The advanced training system is situated in the National Training Centre at the RAF station in Brize Norton. During the event, Air Commodore Stephen Lushington, commander of the RAF Air Mobility Force, was present along with other distinguished representatives from both the armed forces and the defence sector. Doris Lilkendey, head of the flight simulation product unit at Rheinmetall Defence Electronics, presented the station commander, Group Captain Timothy T. Jones, and the commander of No. 24 Squadron, Wing Commander Daz Rawlins, with a lasered, illuminated model of the cargo hold simulator.
In June of this year, Rheinmetall achieved a “ready for training” milestone for the CHT-E, pleasing both the customer and Airbus.
During the handover ceremony, Ms. Lilkendey expressed gratitude for the exceptional collaboration with Airbus and the RAF throughout the commissioning process of the CHT-E. “With the Cargo Hold Trainer Enhanced, we are enhancing the operational safety of future A400M crews. We take immense pride in this achievement, and we extend our appreciation to all those involved for making today’s milestone possible through their excellent cooperation,” she stated.
Airbus has partnered with Rheinmetall to provide training simulators to various European air forces for the A400M transport aircraft. The primary mission of the CHT-E is to facilitate realistic training for cargo hold and ground personnel without the need to use actual aircraft. Training capabilities include mission-specific cargo hold reconfiguration, preparation for loading and unloading, standard operating procedures during flight and on the ground, and effective teamwork among multiple crews.
The CHT-E is a precise replica of the A400M cargo hold, featuring all operator interfaces, control stations, and technical specifications of the original equipment. Additionally, it is equipped with an instructor control station for planning, monitoring, and evaluating training exercises, making it suitable for initial and advanced training as well as refresher courses. Complex maneuvers, such as airdrop procedures, can be safely practiced.
Just over a year ago, in July 2015, Rheinmetall also transferred a CHT-E to the German Air Force. The initial CHT-E has been operational at the Airbus International Training Centre in Seville, Spain since September 2013.
In addition to the CHT-E, Rheinmetall has also supplied complementary equipment, including the Load Master Work Station Trainer (LMWST). This system has been in use at the ITC in Seville since November 2012 and has been operational at France’s national A400M training centre in Orléans since September 2013. Another LMWST was delivered to the Royal Air Force National Training Centre in Brize Norton in the third quarter of 2014.
