Boeing Funds Bluedrop to Develop Rear Crew Trainer for Chinook Helicopter

HALIFAX, NS / ACCESSWIRE / July 8, 2015 / Bluedrop Training & Simulation Inc. a subsidiary of Bluedrop Performance Learning Inc. (“Bluedrop”) (TSX-V: BPL) and The Boeing Company (Boeing) today announced a commitment to develop the next generation rear crew trainer for the CH-47 Chinook (Chinook) helicopter along with a five year commitment to support development and ongoing international sales. The Honourable Ed Holder, Minister of State for Science & Technology announced support for the initiative under the Industry Canada Investment Framework program and the new Value Proposition guidelines.

The commitment includes a contribution to Bluedrop of cash amounts totalling $2.29 million; transfer of certain Intellectual Property (IP) licence associated with the specific technical characteristics of the Chinook platform, engineering support from the Boeing training and simulation group during the development phase, and a five year commitment to support the ongoing sales and marketing of the new product within the Boeing global supply chain.

“I could not be more pleased with the support we have received from both Industry Canada and Boeing. The Boeing team has clearly taken a longer term view of the potential for future sales as the main objective of the commitment announced today. With their worldwide market reach and the fact that the Chinook is the most popular heavy lift helicopter in the world we see this as a major new revenue opportunity for Bluedrop. Industry Canada’s Investment Framework program, along with the value proposition, was perfectly suited to support this project. It is the ideal scenario for Bluedrop.” – Derrick Rowe, Executive Chairman, Bluedrop.

The initial development phase is expected to take between 18 and 24 months to build a full sized virtual reality rear crew trainer based on IP supplied by Boeing. The rear crew trainer will be designed with a high fidelity immersive environment and enhanced specific user training tools. Advanced features include: winching and hoisting systems, gunnery systems and various mission critical procedural training tools. The new rear crew trainer is expected to interface to Boeing’s cockpit training devices to allow full interactive crew training and mission scenario training to be conducted either onsite with full flight training device integration or remotely, allowing networked constructive training.

Bluedrop will develop the associated hardware and software from its Bluedrop Training and Simulation Centre (BTSC) located in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The team of software and hardware engineers will be headed by Jean-Claude Siew, Bluedrop’s Vice President of Technology and Simulation.

“Having the Boeing engineering support, their knowledge of the real world training requirements as well as the intellectual property for the Chinook platform is exactly what we need to build a product that meets the global customer demands. We will build a unique, world class product, that will fit the training and simulation requirements of Chinook users around the world that allows for full crew training and mission rehearsals at a fraction of the current costs.” – Jean Claude Siew, Vice President of Technology & Simulation, Bluedrop.

The Chinook is used by the U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserve, National Guard and more than 19 counties including Canada, the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Japan, Italy, Greece, Spain, South Korea, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Bluedrop currently has 210 employees, 135 in the Training and Simulation division of the company including 90 in Halifax. As a result of today’s announcement, along with other recent defence related contracts, Bluedrop expects to hire 10 additional people over the next year.

Bluedrop Training & Simulation

Bluedrop Training & Simulation Inc. designs and develops advanced training systems and state-of-the-art simulation products to safely train operators and maintainers of complex equipment. Our approach leverages innovative technology to provide cost-effective blended-media training content, from classroom instruction and computer-based training (CBT) through to high-fidelity training devices. Bluedrop Training & Simulation is a small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) providing a strong value proposition offering 100% Canadian designed and developed solutions. For more information about Bluedrop, visit www.bluedrop.com.

Link to Industry Canada News Release & Backgrounder 

Halifax’s Bluedrop Facility Wins Contract on Chinook Helicopter Trainer
http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=997539

Link to Archived Web Cast 
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bluedroplive

Media contacts

Lynn Hammond
Director of Corporate Communications
Bluedrop Performance Learning Inc.
lynnhammond@bluedrop.com
709-570-5691
709-330-1260

Erin Densley
Sales & Marketing Coordinator
Bluedrop Training & Simulation
erindensley@bluedrop.com
902-454-1731
902-818-3254

This news release may contain “forward-looking information” as defined in applicable Canadian securities legislation. 

All statements, other than statements of historical fact included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the impact of the operational restructuring and future plans and objectives of Bluedrop, constitute forward-looking information that involve various risks and uncertainties. Forward looking information is based on a number of factors and assumptions which have been used to develop such information but which may prove to be incorrect, including, but not limited to, assumptions in connection with the operational efficiencies associated with the integration of technological and financial systems and general economic and market conditions. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information.

Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Bluedrop’s expectations include general global economic conditions. For additional information with respect to risk factors applicable to Bluedrop, reference should be made to Bluedrop’s continuous disclosure materials filed from time to time with securities regulators, including,but not limited to, Bluedrop’s Management s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition For the Year Ended September 30, 2014. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date of this release and Bluedrop does not undertake to update publicly or revise the forward-looking information contained in this release, whether as a result of new information,future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Bluedrop Training & Simulation Inc.

ReleaseID: 430443