Level D Full Flight Simulator
APS integrates CAE Level D Full Flight Simulators for professional pilots flying multi-engine business jets or transport category aircraft. The CAE ERJ FFS has proven to fulfill the role of a generic jet trainer for the delivery of quality Loss of Control In-Flight mitigation strategies.
Of critical importance in skill-building upset recovery training accomplished in a full flight simulator is its proper use under the guidance of expert flight instructors. These instructor pilots must clearly understand and identify both the capabilities and limitations of the FFS during its use as a training platform in this capacity.
Under the direct in-person guidance of the authors of the Airplane Upset Recovery Training Aid, APS has developed a compliant 4-hour training module to fully indoctrinate any pilot or flight crew into the world of procedural upset recovery training.
APS uses the simulator as a procedure trainer to develop a disciplined approach to upset recovery techniques to enhance situational awareness with focus on the development of effective measured action by the pilot to recognize, avoid and, if necessary, recover from an upset. For a crew, the value of practicing the Crew Resource Management (CRM) in the full flight simulator is tremendously valuable as long as core recovery skills are established before CRM and startle/surprise factors are introduced in the training session.
Flight Simulator Limitations:
- Fidelity Limitations: Flight beyond critical angle of attack
- Fidelity Limitations: High sideslip angles
- Inability to present G-awareness cues both physiologically and tactilely,
- Inability to simulate low-angle of attack (sustained unload) flight conditions critical to effective upset recovery training, and
- Inaccurate spatial disorientation cues in comparison to a real upset.
With these limitations known and clarified to participants, a measure of effective training can be accomplished in a full flight simulator to mitigate the Loss of Control In-Flight threat. APS continues to strongly recommend upset recovery training be accomplished in combination with real aircraft training under the guidance of expert instructors specially trained in APS-approved upset recovery methods and techniques.
