A simulator for remotely manned air crafts that was revealed Thursday marked the first time in Colombia’s history that a high level simulator has been designed in Colombia, by Colombians.
Through a collaboration with the government of central department of Meta and the Corporation of High Level Technology for Defense (CATD), the simulator was built over the past year and a half by a professional group of engineers, mechanics and technicians working in the city of Villavicencio, Meta, where the new technology will be presented on Thursday.
As well as signaling a new era of technological development in Colombia, the simulator could make significant changes to the way the Colombia army goes about training its ‘new race’ of pilots.
General Julio Gonzalez from the CATD told newspaper El Tiempo that this type of unmanned airplane will initially be used only for reconnaissance purposes and that the main advantage of this simulator will at first be apparent in the reduction of time and costs in the training of such pilots.
According to Gonzalez, the simulator could save the state between 70% and 80% on training costs which will consequently free up more funds for technological projects or equipment.
After Thursday’s presentation, at which Defense Minister Juan Carlos Pinzon will personally examine the technology, the simulator will go into the final stages of adjustment before the 31 July when it can be certified by the Colombian Air Force and subsequently entered into commercial competition with international companies who create similar models.