L-3 Communications MAPPS (L-3 MAPPS), a subsidiary of L-3 Communications, announced today that the Hartlepool Simulator was taken over by British Energy Generation Ltd. (BEGL) on March 1, 2007. It had been used by BEGL for training staff since January 2007. The simulator was delivered to BEGL for operations personnel training at Hartlepool Power Station on the northeast coast of England. The simulator training facility was inaugurated today in a ceremony attended by Bill Coley, Chief Executive of BEGL.
Until recently, Hartlepool was the only station in British Energy’s fleet without its own dedicated local simulator facility. Hartlepool operators were receiving training on a simulator located at the Heysham site on the northwest coast of England, serving both the Heysham Stage 1 and Hartlepool Power Stations.
To improve several aspects of performance, the shared simulator’s software was rehosted to PC/Windows-based computers running L-3 MAPPS’ modern simulation environment with advanced instructor station capabilities. In addition, a replica control room was built for the Hartlepool simulator.
The project was especially challenging as the control room development for the simulator resulted in extensive sourcing and manufacturing of replacement equipment for original plant instrumentation. The project also involved a great deal of coordination between L-3 MAPPS’ Montreal (Canada) and Burgess Hill (UK) facilities and other suppliers in Germany and in the UK.
“Despite the hurdles presented by the Hartlepool Simulator project, L-3 MAPPS is proud to have delivered another successful simulator project,” said Michael Chatlani, Vice President, Marketing & Sales, L-3 MAPPS Power Systems and Simulation. “British Energy had high expectations – and we delivered the quality product that they were expecting.”
“L-3 MAPPS offered innovative technical and commercial solutions to meet our demanding needs, and we are pleased that the company has once again contributed to our training facilities,” said Derek Bamber, Head of Nuclear Information Systems at British Energy. “Coupled with the company’s performance on the Sizewell B simulator, it was a pleasure to work with L-3 MAPPS’ professional team again on the Hartlepool simulator project.”
As a follow-on effort, L-3 MAPPS is currently in the process of modernizing the Heysham Stage 1 Power Station simulator. The modifications involve a platform computer re-host and changes to the simulator control room panel-mounted instruments to make it Heysham 1 specific.
The Hartlepool Power Station, in service since August 1983, is made up of two Advanced Gas-cooled Reactors (AGRs) generating 1,210MW. The Heysham Stage 1 Power Station, also with two AGRs with an electrical output of 1,150MW, started generation in July 1983. AGRs are unique to the UK.
British Energy Group plc is the UK’s largest producer of electricity, generating around one-fifth of the nation’s electricity with a dedicated workforce of about 6,000 skilled professionals operating eight nuclear power stations and one coal-fired power station in the UK with a combined capacity of almost 12,000MW.
L-3 MAPPS has over 20 years of experience in pioneering technological advances in the marine automation field and over 30 years of experience in delivering high-fidelity power plant simulation to leading utilities worldwide. In addition, the company has more than three decades of expertise in supplying plant computer systems for Canadian heavy water reactors. L-3 MAPPS also provides targeted controls and simulation solutions to the space sector.
Headquartered in New York City, L-3 Communications employs over 63,000 people worldwide and is a prime system contractor in aircraft modernization and maintenance, C3ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) systems and government services. L-3 is also a leading provider of high-technology products, subsystems and systems. The company reported 2006 sales of $12.5 billion.
Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
Except for historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this news release are forward-looking statements. Statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to events or conditions or that include words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates” and similar expressions are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements set forth above involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any such statement, including the risks and uncertainties discussed in the company’s Safe Harbor Compliance Statement for Forward-looking Statements included in the company’s recent filings, including Forms 10-K and 10-Q, with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and the company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.