Why Primes Choose Simtek for CH-47 High-Fidelity Simulated Avionics
- ccowley
- Jan 12
- 3 min read
Why CH-47 Fidelity Matters
The CH-47 Chinook is built for demanding missions—heavy lift, sling load operations, shipboard and austere environments, NVG operations, and complex crew coordination. When a training device doesn’t feel right, crews notice. Small mismatches in switch feel, annunciation behavior, lighting, or panel layout can undermine training value and increase integration risk.
Prime contractors aren’t just buying parts—they’re buying fidelity, schedule confidence, and a partner who understands how simulator programs succeed.
That’s where Simtek comes in.
What Primes Need From a Simulated Avionics Partner
When primes evaluate a simulated avionics supplier for CH-47 programs, the questions are consistent:
Will the hardware look and operate like the real cockpit?
Will it integrate cleanly with our host computer, software model, and I/O?
Can the supplier execute at scale with consistent quality across shipsets?
Will configuration control and documentation hold up under program scrutiny?
Can we trust schedule, communication, and long-term support?
Simtek is built to answer “yes” to every one of these.
1) High Fidelity That Shows Up in Training Outcomes
CH-47 simulation demands more than “close enough.” Crews train to muscle memory—locations, lighting, guard behavior, detents, labeling, and response timing.
Simtek’s approach emphasizes:
Form/fit/finish realism so cockpit layouts match expected crew workflows
Switching and control feel that supports habit formation and procedural training
Lighting and readability designed for real-world cockpit conditions (including NVG considerations where applicable)
Consistency across panels and shipsets so training devices don’t drift from one another
The result is simulated avionics that support believable training—not just functional integration.
2) Program-Ready Integration Support
Primes care about integration risk because integration risk becomes schedule risk.
Simtek delivers simulated avionics designed to interface cleanly with simulator architectures—supporting defined electrical interfaces, pinouts, and signal interpretation aligned to host requirements. That means:
Clear interface definition early
Predictable behavior under the host software model
Smooth system-level integration with fewer surprises late in the program
When integration goes well, everything downstream goes better: acceptance testing, customer confidence, and long-term supportability.
3) Repeatable Quality and Configuration Control
CH-47 programs often involve multiple devices, upgrades, and variant differences. That’s exactly where configuration control matters.
Simtek supports prime expectations with disciplined production practices, including:
Revision control to protect baseline integrity
Build repeatability across multiple shipsets
Traceability for components, assemblies, and changes
Documentation that supports customer reviews and program audits
In short: primes get hardware that’s stable, consistent, and supportable.
4) Scale Without Losing Attention to Detail
Simtek pairs high-fidelity craftsmanship with the ability to deliver across program quantities. Whether a program requires a single device or multiple shipsets, primes want a supplier that can scale while maintaining the details that make fidelity real.
Simtek’s team is built for that balance—engineering-driven manufacturing that stays aligned to the training objective.
5) A Partner Mentality (Not Just a Vendor)
The best programs run when suppliers think like program owners—communicating early, flagging risks, and solving problems before they become schedule hits.
Primes choose Simtek because we show up like a partner:
Direct communication
Practical engineering support
Predictable execution
Long-term sustainment mindset
The Bottom Line
Prime contractors choose Simtek for CH-47 simulated avionics because we deliver the combination that matters most: high fidelity + program-ready execution.
If you’re building or upgrading a CH-47 training device, Simtek is ready to support your program with rugged, realistic simulated avionics hardware built for serious training.
Learn more on our website and contact us to discuss your CH-47 requirements.
