Official U.S. Navy Photo The Tactical Operational Readiness Trainer includes stations for the tactical coordinator, navigation⁄communications officer, acoustic and non-acoustic operators, as well as a fully functioning flight deck for two pilots. There are also stations for debrief and instructor⁄control.

NAVAIR’s Aviation Training Systems Program (PMA-205) at Pax River delivered the final training simulator to NAS Jacksonville, Fla., in mid-January of this year. The delivery process began in Sept. 2008.

The Tactical Operational Readiness Trainer, also known as TORT, is a computer-controlled, real-time training device that accurately simulates all airborne equipment installed on the P-3C anti-surface warfare improvement program (AIP) aircraft. The simulator includes crew stations for the tactical coordinator, navigation⁄communications officer, acoustic and non-acoustic operators as well as a fully functioning flight deck for two pilots.

‘‘With TORT, we now have the ability to train aircrews in a realistic and robust environment across all P-3C mission areas,” said Capt. Richard Fite, former Patrol Squadron 30 (VP-30) commanding officer, NAS Jacksonville.

The new simulators have been installed at NAS Jacksonville, NAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, and NAS Whidbey Island, Wash. Prior to the arrival of this new training system, AIP aircrews used the P-3C Update III weapon system trainer which did not include the primary acoustic and non-acoustic systems used on the P-3C AIP aircraft.

‘‘There are only a few Update III aircraft left in the Fleet. Most have been modified to the AIP configuration,” said Lt. Cmdr. James Keating, Commander Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 10 (CPRW-10) training officer, NAS Whidbey Island. ‘‘For the first time since AIP aircraft were introduced to the P-3 community in 1998, patrol squadron aircrews have a training device that provides the feel, realism and training fidelity in our primary mission areas — anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.”

The new simulator immerses the entire P-3C crew in the training environment. The enhanced flight station provides operational flight trainer modeling, satellite imagery based visual databases and fully audible cueing.

‘‘The majority of the aircraft on station are AIP. The TORT accurately represents what we fly in the Fleet,” said Lt. Justin Jennings, VP-30 Fleet projects naval flight officer. ‘‘This trainer will carry the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft community through the transition from P-3 to P-8.”

In addition to allowing instructors to provide more advanced training to Fleet combat aircrews, the TORT will soon allow P-3 participation in Fleet Synthetic Training exercises. P-3C aircrews will be able to plug into the virtual arena and interact with other system trainers across the country.

(Article Submitted by Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft Program Office.)