A master’s degree in Aerospace engineering and a glider pilot licence might “seem a bit dull,” says Claudio Emmanuele, who has turned his passion for flying into a career, “but working for Leonardo at the Sesto Calende site for almost 20 years is perfectly consistent with the aspirations of my youth”.
Claudio, who has been with the Group since 2006, is currently Manager of the Simulation, Learning and Support Services organisational unit, which designs flight, mission and maintenance training systems and creates and supports mission and diagnostic planning systems. A sector that requires an almost ‘fanatical’ attention to customer care.
Proud of his work, Claudio explains how market evolutions over the past fifteen years have made the use of simulation in flight training a reality, something that would have been considered impossible in the past. In fact, “from the two or three simulators we originally had at the Sesto Calende Training Academy, we now have six, and that’s not counting all of the other ones around the world.” One of the latest developments in simulation technologies is also the use of virtual reality, which originated in the world of gaming but has now reached such a level of sophistication that it can be used for professional training. “Our entire technical team has been working on this challenge for several years now […], delivering a series of projects that satisfy the training requirements of our Training Academy”, these include MITHOS (Modular Interactive Trainer for Helicopter Operators), a simulator specifically designed and developed by Leonardo for training helicopter rescue operators, which physically and virtually replicates dangerous and complex interventions, preparing the crew to react promptly in an emergency situation.
“My entire career has been a series of ever-changing challenges, from the technical side, right the way through to management, economics and finance.” In fact, the skills required to achieve these goals have been the common denominator throughout his professional growth, right from the very first projects he worked on at the company, which all involve constant improvement and the ability to build on experience. A career based on skill, motivation and a passion that began when he was still at university, which also responds to that certain curiosity he has for a number of disciplines in the world of simulation.
This is why, based on his own experience, Claudio recommends Leonardo as a place for young people to work, because: “it’s a company that allows you to do, a place where you can learn, grow and gain experience in a variety of areas, from strictly technical aspects to management, communication, and customer relations, in an environment that is international by its very nature”.