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For more than eight years the US Navy's PMA-205 in conjunction with Stottler Henke
has developed/deployed/updated a flexible, low-cost PC-hosted crew trainer for the
Navy’s new MH-60S (Sierra) and MH-60R (Romeo) helicopters called the Operator
Machine Interface Assistant (OMIA).
The core OMIA is a standalone Java program that operates under any standard
Windows XP/Vista/7 or Linux computer that includes a Java Runtime Environment. The
standalone OMIA is a part-task trainer for the Common Cockpit, including the Mission
Display, Flight Display, Center Console’s Fixed Function and Programmable Keys,
and the CMP & RCU units. A powerful naval environment symbol controls the
platforms visible outside of the helicopter, configurable via a scenario authoring tool.
OMIA also supports integration with flight simulator software to provide an optional
‘out the window’ view. The core OMIA supports three training configurations: Sierra
Pilot, Romeo Pilot, and Romeo Sensor Operator.
There are two additional training areas currently supported by OMIA: FLIR and
Acoustic. These areas add functionality to the core system described above.
The FLIR functionality allows OMIA to function as a FLIR trainer. The FLIR user mainly
controls the FLIR operation via a Hand-Control Unit (HCU). OMIA can interface with a
Navy-developed portable HCU that uses the actual helicopters HCU via USB, with a
lower-cost HCU developed from simulator-grade components via USB, or with a
software version of the HCU.
The Acoustic functionality supports in-depth acoustic systems training. In this
configuration OMIA connects to the helicopters acoustic processor and realistically
plays back recorded sonar data. Currently, this configuration is directed at the dipping
sonar only, with sonobouy support planned in the near future.
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