Montreal, Canada and Mesa, Arizona, March 20, 2012 – (NYSE: CAE; TSX: CAE) – CAE and Aviation Performance Solutions (APS) today announced a new web-based tool designed to help standardize full-flight simulator (FFS) instructor knowledge for loss of control in-flight (LOC-I). LOC-I is defined as flight that occurs outside of the normal flight envelope in which the pilot is unable to control the aircraft, and is the leading cause of aviation crash fatalities over the past decade.
“This new online tool provides a way to effectively deliver a standardized level of theoretical knowledge to a large number of instructors efficiently and quickly,” said Lou Nemeth, CAE’s Chief Safety Officer. Nemeth is chairman of the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aviation Rule Making Committee (ARC) which has made recommendations to the FAA on how pilots can better manage stall situations. He is also a member of the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) International Committee for Aviation Training in Extended Envelopes (ICATEE). “The objective is to provide an analysis tool for pilots and instructors to recognize the conditions contributing to an LOC-I upset situation and a fundamental core strategy for recovering control and flying the airplane.”
“LOC-I events are often unexpected, high-stress situations which can develop very rapidly. Business aircraft and commercial pilots who have not experienced comprehensive upset prevention and recovery training or advanced military jet training have probably never been exposed to such abnormal areas of the flight envelope,” said Paul BJ Ransbury, President of APS, who is a former airline and military fighter pilot. Ransbury is also a co-leader of the RAeS ICATEE group. “By addressing this important area with an easily accessible online training tool, we can help mitigate the serious threat posed by aircraft loss of control situations.”
The CAE-APS instructor training tool is based on FAA guidance in the Airplane Upset Recovery Training Aid (AURTA), Revision 2. Key components of the training are an online multimedia presentation powered by CAE Flightscape flight data analysis software, guidance by training experts, and detailed APS upset recovery training options which are integral to instructor assessment and teaching of LOC-I risk mitigation.
The initial CAE-APS training scenario features an aircraft upset event in which a pilot-in-training is attempting to recover from a nose-low, high-bank upset condition in an FFS for the Boeing 737 aircraft. The presentation uses high-definition video, graphic representations of avionics displays and aircraft controls, and a stealth view animation of the aircraft in flight. The aircraft displays and animation are provided through CAE Flightscape software, which captures the data from the simulator event much as a flight data recorder captures information for aircraft in flight.
CAE and APS are making the initial LOC-I scenario available for aviation industry participation and comment through April 28, 2012. A goal of the project is to establish a global standard for training simulator instructors on how to teach fundamental LOC-I and upset recovery.
About CAE
CAE is a global leader in modelling, simulation and training for civil aviation and defence. The company employs more than 7,500 people at more than 100 sites and training locations in more than 25 countries. Through CAE’s global network of 34 civil aviation, military and helicopter training centres, the company trains more than 80,000 crewmembers yearly. CAE’s business is diversified, ranging from the sale of simulation products to providing comprehensive services such as training and aviation services, professional services and in-service support. The company aims to apply its simulation expertise and operational experience to help customers enhance safety, improve efficiency, maintain readiness and solve challenging problems. CAE is now leveraging its simulation capabilities in new markets such as healthcare and mining. www.cae.com
About Aviation Performance Solutions (APS)
Aviation Performance Solutions’ Emergency Maneuver Training at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (Mesa, Arizona) has trained thousands of pilots in fully comprehensive upset recovery skill development, more than any other training organization. For 15 years, APS has been committed to giving professional pilots and private pilots of all skill levels the highest quality upset recovery training available. APS offers comprehensive LOC-I solutions via industry-leading web-based, on-aircraft, and full-flight simulator upset recovery training programs. APS is the only Part 141 Flight School currently certified in the delivery of upset recovery, stall / spin and instrument recovery training courses worldwide. All APS upset recovery training courses are in full compliance with the Airplane Upset Recovery Training Aid – Revision 2. www.apstraining.com
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APS contact:
Faye Hamilton, APS Marketing and Public Relations Manager, (480) 797-0752, faye.hamilton@nullapstraining.com
CAE contacts:
Nathalie Bourque, Vice President, Public Affairs and Global Communications, (514) 734-5788, nathalie.bourque@nullcae.com
Trade media – civil aviation:
Rick Adams, Senior Manager, Marketing Communications – Civil Aviation, (214) 864-5409, rick.adams@nullcae.com
Investor relations:
Andrew Arnovitz, Vice President, Investor Relations and Strategy, (514) 734-5760, andrew.arnovitz@nullcae.com
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