INDIAN ARMED FORCES CHIEFS ON
OUR RELENTLESS AND FOCUSED PUBLISHING EFFORTS

 
SP Guide Publications puts forth a well compiled articulation of issues, pursuits and accomplishments of the Indian Army, over the years

— General Manoj Pande, Indian Army Chief

 
 
I am confident that SP Guide Publications would continue to inform, inspire and influence.

— Admiral R. Hari Kumar, Indian Navy Chief

My compliments to SP Guide Publications for informative and credible reportage on contemporary aerospace issues over the past six decades.

— Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari, Indian Air Force Chief
       

Leading Flight Simulators

Issue: 01-2023By Rohit GoelPhoto(s): By CAE, FlightSafety, Frasca, TRU Simulation, ELITE Simulation Solutions, Precision Flight Controls, ECA Group, ASE, Indra, Thales Asia / Twitter

Modern full-flight simulators are so realistic that a student pilot can learn to fly from scratch in the virtual world and step directly into an aircraft for real-world, leave-theground checkout flights.

A flight simulator is any device that recreates the environment of flying an aircraft. Full Flight Simulators (FFS) replicate a specific type, make, model, or series of aircraft. It includes the equipment and computer programs necessary to represent aircraft operations in ground and flight conditions, a visual system providing an out-of-the-flight deck view and has the full range of capabilities of the systems installed in the device for a specific FFS qualification level (Basic Level A to Highest Level D).

Simulator Technology Advances particularly in computer technology during the last twenty years has a major impact in flight simulation. Virtual reality advancements have allowed flight simulators to become even more immersive. More immersive simulators include motion, and can mimic how an aircraft would react to things like turbulence, changes in wind direction and air density, visibility issues, and night operations. The top-of-the line simulators provide official training for aspiring pilots, all the way up to commercial.

Flight simulation continues to evolve, and with advances in virtual reality, some of these simulators are incredibly realistic. However, simulators require frequent updates, so going for a simulator that frequently releases new versions may be a better option.

Growing up in the digital age, raised on handheld computers, immersive video games and the Internet, younger pilots learn differently than the methods employed by many, traditional pilot training programmes. Therefore, to make that training more efficient, it is important to tailor training to individual students.

THE CAE 7000XR Series full-flight simulator (FFS) is ideally suited to meet specific requirements of operators and surpass Level D regulatory requirements. CAE’s FFS have earned global recognition as the “gold standard” for their high fidelity and reliability. It offers Improved Training Efficiency, Advanced Training Capability and Increased Operational Efficiency. Built for lower ownership costs and increased reliability, it features:

  • CAE Tropos™ 6000XR for extreme visual realism
  • Next-generation instructor office
  • Upset Prevention Recovery Training

FLIGHTSAFETY full flight simulators feature advanced instructional capabilities and are designed for maximum reliability, ease of maintenance and support. The new FlightSafety FS1000 full flight simulator’s new light weight and highly robust modular design offers added configuration flexibility and ease of systems integration. This enables the company to respond quickly as new aircraft and advances in technology are introduced and will serve to increase reliability and reduce maintenance time. This top-of-the-line training device uses highly evolved, sophisticated software drivers to replicate with the greatest possible fidelity all of the flight characteristics of the aircraft. FlightSafety simulators include a full range of flight conditions and malfunctions to ensure the best training outcome.

FRASCA’S Full Flight Simulators combine high fidelity with value. Their experience with Full Flight Simulators includes both fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft. Programmes include FFS deliveries for CJ1+, King Air, Cessna Caravan, Bell 412, Bell 407, S92, S76, and EC225 aircraft. The company builds Level B, C and D Full Flight Simulators with all the technology, sub-systems, bells and whistles required. Features like motion bases, visual systems, control loading, sound simulation and others are engineered with the highest attention to detail, realism, reliability and customer satisfaction.

TRU’S line of full flight simulators offer advanced, high-fidelity training at the lowest life cycle cost available. They achieve this through purpose-built technology, simplified maintenance requirements, low spare parts investment and remarkably low power consumption. H ere is what makes TRU simulators truly exceptional:

  • High-fidelity professional simulation software based on original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and vendor data.
  • Tailored solutions allowing you to choose between a fully incorporated aircraft panel and avionics, or a more extensively simulated equipment suite with a smaller footprint and reduced energy costs.
  • Ability to support multiple aircraft configurations in one device.
  • Simplified maintenance requirements.
  • Reliability exceeding industry standards.

PRECISION Flight Controls offers the most versatile reconfigurable FAA approved flight training devices in the industry. The DCX MAX is the newest Advanced Aviation Training Device (AATD) cockpit system on the market. The functionality rivals most flight training devices and full flight simulators. The system boasts an impressive list of standard and optional features that make it the most advanced trainer in its class. The DCX MAX represents the ultimate value for flight schools or universities that require maximum versatility, functionality and fidelity within a budget. The DCX MAX is deployed on six continents and is fast becoming one of the most popular cockpit AATD systems in the world.

An ELITE FAA-approved system – the iGATE series of Advanced Aviation Training Devices (AATD) – provides the owner tremendous savings on their flight training. The iGATE ADVANTAGE features the latest digital technology and crystal clear LCD displays. These cutting-edge devices utilise precisely modelled flight dynamics with no Analog instruments to calibrate, wear out, or break. Train with accurate cockpit detail for maximum training transference from aircraft systems and avionics to navigation and flight procedures. Multiple aircraft models for training on simple, high performance or twin engine aircraft. On a single trainer, train on advanced avionics such as H SIs, RMIs, flight directors and GPS. Separate graphical instructor’s station with print and record capability, comprehensive failure modes & weather modelling. Great for flight schools, FBOs, college flight labs and corporate flight departments.

ECA GROUP’S Exail Touch Screen Trainers feature type-specific cockpit replicas represented on touch screens with hardware integration of the most training-relevant 3D-replicated panels, placing trainees into an immersive, but not stressful, environment. Dedicated to flight – and also maintenance – crew training, the solutions offer the following training capabilities:

  • Pre-flight procedures
  • Surface operations (pre-take-off and post landing)
  • In flight manoeuvres
  • Instrument Approaches and L anding (normal, abnormal and emergency)
  • Any flight phase – normal, abnormal and emergency procedures

Full-Flight Simulators from ASE provide high-fidelity training solutions with a cost-sensitive philosophy to help combine value and training efficiency. The ASE 2000 Series FFS are the business jet solution that provide for excellent flexibility in training of normal, abnormal, and emergency procedures as well as flight manoeuvres for initial training, recurrent training, and type rating certification. For instance, this series, up to Level D, is built to the highest quality and certification standards providing all equipment and software support necessary for ground and flight operations training.

In addition, this full motion package has all of the equipment and computer programmes necessary to represent the environment on the ground and in-flight. Moreover, this product line utilises an electric motion system for a cost-effective solution to a full motion experience.

THALES has announced the Level D qualification of the very first EC135 full-flight simulator (FFS) by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). The Thales Reality H helicopter flight simulator is already in service around the world because it provides operational efficiencies and high quality mission-oriented training to pilots. This high-fidelity FFS features an extended visual display of 240 degrees x 80 degrees field of view, combined with high-resolution geospecific imagery from the ThalesView image generator and an efficient and user-friendly instructor operating system (IOS). Its unique and revolutionary all-electric motion system, H exaline provides the most realistic motion cues while requiring less power and very low maintenance. These innovative modelling technologies create a completely immersive environment that makes Reality H the most realistic and efficient training tool on the market to support helicopter operators’ key priorities of safety and mission success.

INDRA’S Full Flight Simulators meet Level D EASA (formerly JAA), CAAC and FAA certification requirements and are renowned for their accuracy, detail and realistic flight performance on aircraft types like A320, B737-700/800, A330 and ATR72-500. Indra Full Flight Simulators main features are:

  • Full cockpit replica
  • Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) for sensitive parts
  • Real, retarget, rehosted and simulated avionics
  • Maximum fidelity flight models
  • User-friendly I nstructor O peration Station (IOS)
  • Proprietary visual solution:
    • Indra InVis2 IG
    • 200x40 field of view DS
    • LCOS/LED
    • Wide range of airports
  • 100 per cent electric Motion System
  • Air traffic control (ATC) with speech recognition.