Leonardo Helicopters has opened a new building dedicated to flight simulator production at its training academy in Sesto Calende in northern Italy. According to the company, this facility augments the simulator design and manufacturing activity already at the site and “further establishes Sesto Calende as a development and production hub for simulation systems across the company’s rotary-wing business.”

Leonardo said the new 6,000-sq-m (64,358-sq-ft) facility will bring together simulator design and production specialists currently working elsewhere around the site, including engineers, software developers, assembly technicians, pilots, and program managers. The first simulators to be manufactured in the building are destined to serve operators in Italy and Asia.