Simulators/FTD’s in Primary Flight Training Rick Todd CFII, MEI, AGI, FAASTeam Rep Director National Association of Flight Instructors

First the burning question Does this count towards my rating?

It doesn’t matter!!

This is about proficiency & Competency! ▪ Proficiency: A high degree of competence or skill ▪ Competency: The ability to do something successfully or efficiently.

What we will be discussing today ▪ History of Flight Training Devices ▪ Current products on the market ▪ Ways to utilize these products ▪ Home based PCATD’s ▪ Comments from students.

Where we began… ▪ WWI Trainer ▪ Circa 1909

Where we began… ▪ Link Trainer

The Link Trainer ▪ Produced from early 1930s – early 1950s ▪ Used as a key trainer in WWII ▪ Link was a former organ builder ▪ More than 500,000 pilots trained on it ▪ Designated as a Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark ▪ Link Simulation & Training is now a division of L-3 Communications

Next up… ▪ FRASCA Simulator

Frasca Simulator ▪ Rudy used the Link trainer during the Korean War ▪ Introduced in 1958 ▪ Used mechanical computers in design ▪ Built his own in his basement because, “There had to be a better way!”

Skip forward a bit ▪ Level D simulators

Level D simulators ▪ Duplicates relevant aspects of the aircraft and its environment, including motion. ▪ Full Motion is obtained by electric, pneumatic or hydraulic jacks. ▪ Extremely realistic ▪ $1M+ ▪ Used by training facilities like Simcom, Flight Safety and Boeing.

Current Products on the market

So What are all these devices used for? Proficiency training!

It is not just about logging hours. Save your students money!!!

Now that we have that off our back, Lets talk about how to do it.

Step 1: Find a flight training device Step 2: find a NAFI instructor Step 3: Lets fly!

There are a number of great books on the subject. Here are just a few.

Sporty’s has a 10 lesson book the goes with their private pilot training course.

Ways to utilize these items ▪ Start with one of the books ▪ Get a basic setup that should only cost around $300 ▪ Follow the books step by step ▪ Ask a local flight instructor if you have questions ▪ Remember this is about proficiency not just earning time towards a rating.

Ways to utilize these items ▪ Go to for Bruce Williamswww.bruceair.com ▪ Earn Wings credit! ▪ Keep a log of the time you spent and what you did ▪ Do a preflight brief and post flight debrief with yourself

I’m a more visual learner, is there any resources for me? Absolutely!.

Go to for a complete video training course.

Advantages of Aviator 90 course ▪ Visual in nature ▪ Typically people learn faster ▪ Program is by pilots for sim enthusiasts and real world pilots. ▪ Does an excellent job of Preflight briefing ▪ First lesson explains the aerodynamics with visual references

So how do I start? Get basic PC Flight Training Components

What else can I get? A LOT!!!

Eventually you can build this… For half the price of a certified device!

There are even more advanced options! Use your mobile device for training!

FSXFlight

Purchase many of these items from Amazon ▪ Start at

Purchase many of these items from Amazon ▪ Start at

Quotes from customers ▪ “ Make flight simulator scenario based training part of your learning schedule!” ▪ Hands on experience is valuable and necessary but recency and currency on procedures is just as important ▪ With Scenario based training you can practice before you get into an aircraft and pay for those hours.! ▪ THE FAA RECOMENDS SCENARIO BASED TRAINING!

How do I market this? Well as David Armbrust, Chief Flight Instructor at Cirrus Aviation, Inc. stated on a post from our redbird user group Assume ▪ According to AOPA hours for PPC ▪ That leaves 22.5 hours that can be done in a FTD or airplane. ▪ If done in an FTD that yields a savings of $2,250 per student if assuming $100 difference in cost.

What does Chicago Premier do? ▪ Maintain 2 FTD’s – Certified Redbird BATD – Non certified unit built with Saitek products. ▪ Maintains 2 levels of club dues. Standard rate at $30 per month and unlimited simulator rate at $60 per month. ▪ We have an RFID system for students to get in 24/7 ▪ This gives the students the flexibility to practice. ▪ Students do not always need a flight instructor to operate the sim. ▪ Airplane costs 350k even the top redbird is 96k

Log your time! ▪ Log the time so students have an idea of the time they have spent. ▪ Only the minimums are log-able for the certificate, but you are still logging time which is the question everyone asks. ▪ Finally the FTD is a component of the flight training experience. Those that don’t use it just end up costing the customer more money.

NAFI Education Foundation’s Learn to Fly Tour ▪ Converting a 53’ cargo container into a mobile aviation classroom. ▪ Equipped with 12 BATD and 1 Full Motion. ▪ Completely self powered. ▪ Brought to High schools and aviation events across the country. ▪ This brings aviation to the students instead of asking them to come out to the airport.

NAFI Education Foundation’s Learn to Fly Tour ▪ You can help us by starting at smile.amazon.com and select: National Association of Flight Instructors Education Foundation ▪ You can also contribute at

Questions…

Simulators in Training Rick Todd CFII, MEI, NAFI Director