By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL cookies. Simulator aerodynamic fidelity ranges from unrealistic and horrible, to decent, but it never hits exact, even in airline Level D sims. Knowing how the systems work and how to troubleshoot them helps isolate problems for the A&P.. Simulator-Based Recurrent Training for Piston Singles and Twins, Crew-6 Launch Scrubbed For Ground Systems Issue, Joby Wraps Up Second Stage Of FAA Certification Process, The Drip, Drip Of Bad Publicity About 100LL. A cost of living index allows you to compare what it costs to live in one place against another, revealing how far your money will go in different areas. But the companies separated in 2006, so the only airline-oriented flight training SimCom now provides is in the Jetstream 41 and the Dornier 328. 305-871-5557, B737 He knew his stuff, and his easy-going, southern-gentleman style was refreshing, right down to the unnecessary, Mr. 760-476-0890, Flight Safety International Yet, quality recurrent training isnt cheap. I thought I knew the systems pretty well, but the test still revealed more than a few weak areas to strengthen. Thus was born SimCom Training Centers. We strongly recommend upgrade training at a facility that has a sim that can replicate your airplane, and its avionics, as closely as possible. At times the sim would just do its own thing, leaving nothing the pilot could do about the impending crash. True story: The elevator, rudder and trims on my aircraft are operated by cables that run under the floorboards, down the cabin, into the tail section and to the respective controlspretty normal stuff. 2 weeks, K & S document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); WORLD'S PREMIER INDEPENDENT AVIATION NEWS RESOURCE. There are in-the-airplane-only training operations still in existence, but they have become rare. An annual cycle through FlightSafety, Simcom or RTC costs between $1,000 and $3,000 intuition plus at least several hundred bucks more in travel, lodging and meal expenses.Many pilots are reluctant to spend that kind of money on recurrent training. It is now in place and operational at the SIMCOM training facility in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA. And they said, well, the other places theyd done training had full motion simulators, so they were better in that way. So did my friend Chris Wrather, a 1,500-hour pilot andBonanza owner, who accompanied me to RTC for his first taste of sim-based training. In addition, the company is beginning to offer shorter, one-on-one training courses, like its new customized Citation Jet Captains course. I flew the new sim briefly,but it wasnt quite ready for prime time so I did all of my serious trainingin the AST 300. Lets look at some. Boulder City One big reason we go to recurrent training is because of the insurance mandate. The value proposition for SimCom since the beginning, he says, was to give customers value, customized training, and a friendly atmosphere. 3814 Curtis Parkway This comprehensive approach to flight training replicates forces that govern and influence aeronautics, while providing practical experience in the cockpit. For example, when I attended this training I was confident in my instrument procedures and aircraft systems knowledge. Calling as a student (not an editor), I reached out to another facility Id previously visited, Glass Simulator Center (now SIMPRO) in Aurora, IL, but they didnt return my call. Grand Prairie, TX Founded in 1951, FlightSafety pioneered the use of flightsimulators in pilot training, and has grown into a huge enterprise that operates somethree dozen learning centers across the U.S. and Europe. Aircraft Simulator Training in Santa Rosa, CA, advertises in my type-club magazine and I decided to give them a try. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Rick is an active CFII and holds an ATP with type ratings in the Douglas DC-3 and Cessna Citation. And I had lunch one day with these two King Air 200 pilots, whod flown for about 10 years, but were trying us out for recurrent training for the first time because our price was lower. $5,475, B727 Cost for the single-engine course starts at $889 for a "generic IFR recurrent." For airplane-specific recurrent training, prices range from $1000 for Cessna singles, through $1600 for the Cirrus series. $5,295, B737-3/4/500 We provide many specialty courses, and are proud to introduce world-class, integrated Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (UPRT) through Aviation Performance Solutions (APS). We did not find any piston twin training centers that used motion-based simulators. This was one of those years, so I had some decisions to make about quality of training, availability, and economics. If it's over 100, it's more expensive than . In more and more cases, your underwriter maynot be willing to insure you at all unless you go through an approved recurrent trainingcourse on an annual basis. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Orlando, FL ViaMichelin will help you to determine the best route based on various options and, by default, offer two to three routes with varying costs, distances and journey times. And again, and again, and again. Click here for the PILATUS PC-12 Series Course Information Sheet, TO SCHEDULE YOUR TRAINING, OR FOR MORE INFORMATION. We received input from a number of pilots regarding their experience with upgrade training. He said that finding and retaining quality instructors is important to ensuring that pilots who come for initial training will return to SimCom when its time for recurrent training. Cause failures you just cant (or shouldnt) duplicate in the airplane. Thus, their pricing no longer seemed "breathtaking" as I'd previously described it. Note: Minimum prerequisites for enrollment apply to each of the courses above. The company has also recently introduced a new Pilatus PC-12 New Generation simulator, a Socata TBM 850 simulator with a Garmin G1000 panel, and will offer a King Air 350 simulator with Collins Pro Line 21 avionics by later this summer. All Rights Reserved. Which is exactly what were trying to achieve.. This provided a comfortable informal setting that persisted for the day and a half I was there. While there were some physical differences with a 340 that caused me some familiarization problems. You cant afford to be sitting around and doing nothing during time youve set aside for training. So Idecided to do it. The vast majority ofFSIs resources are devoted to training airline and corporate pilots for jet and turbopropaircraft piston training represents a very small portion of their business. Were lucky that FSI built these sims back then,because simulators of this caliber and cost could never be justified in todays businessclimate. In each case, I came away with something different and valuable. $17,400, Flight Training International A good recurrent training curriculum will cover all of these. You just cannot practice engine outs in the aircraft as you can in the sim. Finally, in-aircraft training tends to be a lot tougher on your aircraft than normaloperations. Childs Associates LP, although David is still president and CEO. Recently, however, the company has introduced several cost-saving training options. Even little things like a runway incursion causing you to go around just cant be done realistically in the airplane, but are trivial in the sim. But if you can fly the sim you can certainly fly the airplane. The instructors and material are first rateanother win. This means that much of their training is one on one. Readers should take note of the original publish date for each article. 1 & 2. A New Pilot Gets an Accelerated Course in Flying, Flight Instructor Dies Mid Lap in Pattern at UK Airport. In another particularly valuable scenario, the instructor simulatedan in-flight fire necessitating an off-airport landing on a freeway. We think that is important during upgrade training so that the pilot can take advantage of primacy in learning and more readily transfer what is learned in the simulator to the airplane to be flown. Form your own conclusion from that. Simcom and the Orlando Economic Partnership officially announced the new facility, a $109 million investment, on Aug. 4. Now offering Gulfstream G650, Challenger 300/350, Phenom 300, and Pilatus PC-12NGx training! Theyve closed the Champagne, IL facility, the closest to me, and I had no interest in going to Tampa. My advice to prospective SIMCOM clients would be to ask about the sim youd use, ask its age and origin. The combination of our, high fidelity simulators, small class sizes and experienced instructors provides the ideal learning environment. The size and number of SimCom facilities, however, has expanded. The idea is to move into flight scenarios early. For one, duplicating the effects on the pilots of a pressurization failure. Its no wonder that those who pay more than $25,000 for Level D sim type-rating training consider the money to be well spent. Your sim instructorevaluates how you deal with these problems, and points out areas in which yourdecision-making and contingency planning and use of available resources might have beenbetter. What an eye-opener! But, I checked with them and found a somewhat different attitude. 800-441-5387, Flight Control Academy To keep the cost to a minimum, show up ready to goinstrument current and with the decks cleared so that you arent distracted during training. SimComs prices are at least 25% lower than FlightSafetys. Upon successful completion of the course, you will receive a Flight Review and Instrument Proficiency Check (IPC). The physical faithfulness of the sim allowed us to nicely review various procedures, which was quite valuable. 2056 Palomar Airport Road For example, a full-service contract for Cessna 300/400 costs $4,700 per year. Destinations outside of this boundary run an additional $1.25 per mile. And that, David realized, could dramatically lower the cost of simulator training opening up the option of simulator-based training to many more pilots and owners. $7,750, Open During the summerbetween June 1 and August 30 (which are SimComs slow months), the second pilot gets awhopping 75% discount. The sim allows you to be trained todeal with nearly any conceivable emergency situation. Some routes (e.g. Simcom took . 2080 Phillips Lane Centennial, CO The firm hosted a Dec. 8 groundbreaking ceremony on its 90,000-square-foot . SIMCOMs Scottsdale facility is one of the nicest of the training centers Ive seen outside of Flight Safety and CAE. All of the FAA-required training may be obtained from a properly rated CFI followed byin the case of a new ratinga checkride with a DPE. Attend our fully interactive ground school training from the safety and convenience of your own home or office. Reno The Freedom of Flight depends on the safe operation of your Piper. I wrote a detailed chronicle of that experience (Trainingat FlightSafety) because it was a watershed event in my flying career. Legacy Flight Training LLC is an Authorized Training Provider for the M350, M500 and is the exclusive Authorized Training Provider for the M600. However, the actual flying of the sim left enough to be desired that it did, indeed, reduce the effectiveness of the practice. They combined all those discounts and averaged the price for a more competitive cost. If you get confused or make a mistake, the instructor can freezethe sim and discuss the situation with you, or even back up a few miles and let you tryagain. SimCom also has obtained FAA approval for a Citation single-pilot course/type rating thats conducted entirely in one of the companys simulators. Because RTCs sims are generic ones that dont attempt tofaithfully reproduce the systems of your aircraft, the RTC curriculum doesnt spend muchtime on aircraft-specific systems failures the way that FlightSafetys and Simcoms do.Instead, RTCs training places its major emphasis on pilot decision-making and dealingwith the ATC environment. 878 Greenview Drive David also decided to offer customized training, with no more than two students in a class. I had my first real engine out in Denver, night and IMC, just after takeoff about six months after my upgrade training. 775-827-6568, Advanced "For operators who cannot bring their aircraft to Orlando, SimCom will arrange for its instructors to go to the customer on an expense basis." Customers can get even more training in their. A combination of more than a decade of economic growth, a soft aviation insurance market (although that appears to be changing) and relatively low selling prices for used piston twins, turboprops and light jets has resulted in a healthy number of piston single owners giving serious thought to stepping up to more capableand demandingairplanes. If a place's COL index is below 100, it's cheaper than the national average. Plan on spending a bare minimum of $4000 for piston-twin upgrade training. The facilities we spoke with said that they train to proficiency so the cost, simulator time and course time is subject to revision upward based on the ability of the pilot to meet the course standards. The sims offer full motion and dynamic controlloading, both accomplished via hydraulic actuators. instead of aircraft-specific systems knowledge. Rates for SimCom training span a fairly broad price range, since a Piper Seneca FTD costs significantly less than a Hawker 800 full-motion simulator, but daily course rates run between $620. The Cessna Learning Center (also in Wichita) offers sim training for the Cessna210, 310, 340, 402, 404, 414 and 421. RTC keeps its prices so low by cutting costs every way it can. It may seem odd, but in the ways that really count, simulatortraining is far less contrived and far more real than training in an aircraft. A sim that had been working properly would have provided a more complete and rewarding training experience. Miami, FL 40 hours per week Virginia Gardens, FL TheChampaign training facility is housed in an off-airport storefront building that RTCshares with a travel agency, and is functional but hardly plush. 5000 N.W. Carlsbad, CA Are COVID Vaccines Injuring Pilots? The FSI rep we spoke with said that the company has gone to all Level D simulators (the highest currently available) and it was no longer financially feasible for them to provide piston twin training. Weve always tried to do things in creative ways to allow us to provide customers with more value, David explains. There the pilot can work through lots of malfunctions, practice lots of approaches, and make lots of mistakes; none are fatal. Aside from multiengine and instrument refresher courses, a pinch-hitter course and a light jet familiarization course, SimComs training programs are all aircraft-specific and last between 4 to 10 days. Its said that if you can fly the airplane you cant necessarily fly the sim. I needed to renew my instrument currency anyway, and the opportunity to flyFlightSafetys full-motion full-vision twin-Cessna simulator sounded exciting. The customized course costs the same as the standard Captains course, but runs only eight days instead of the standard 14, saving participants time and travel expense money. Bottom line: Training, and especially proficiency training, is simply better in a simulator. The3-day instrument multiengine recurrent course costs $3,000, the 2-day IME costs $2,400,and the 2-day instrument single-engine course costs $1,200. Although full-motion sims have a lot of sex appeal, Im convinced that having motion isnot at all essential in terms of training value. Now, almost 45 percent of the 8,000 people who train at SimCom each year are professional corporate pilots, sent there by their employers. 2056 Palomar Airport Road The vision system is a differentmatter. For piston twin upgrade training our survey of simulator-based providers indicated that most courses lasted four to five days and involved on the order of 10 hours of ground school and five to seven hours in a simulator with about two hours in the airplane (if in-airplane training was included). SIMCOM training is top tier, but their business model recently seems to mirror the big corporate centers with pricing to match. So for the sake ofvariety, I trained at Simcom a couple of times, and most recently I went through thetraining at RTC. Your insurance company will be ecstatic that you aredoing this sort of training, and will almost always express its ecstasy through reducedaircraft insurance premiums. Obviously, regaining slipping proficiency is one common goal. Eric Hinson, CEO of SimCom, told us that initial training courses for turboprops usually run five to six days, and make use of Level A to D sims as well as nonmotion Flight Training Devices (FTD)depending on the type of aircraftand may include training in the customers airplane. Then, theres training. Our experience and comments from aircraft owners and training facilities were consistent: If a pilot does not show up multi-engine and instrument current and comfortable and willing to single-mindedly work on the course, he or she will have difficulty completing the course in the basic time allotted. As Pilatus's ingenuity paves the way in the single engine Less than 5 percent of the students are self-funded, aspiring corporate pilots who dont already have a job. ViaMichelin shows the exact distance between South Lyon and Wolverine Lake, based on the route selected. In large classes, he explains, the instructor has to teach to the lowest common denominator in the class. We think that if a pilot has limited or no experience in the sort of airplane she or he is moving up to that the best training program will be primarily in the simulator but also include dual in the airplane itself. So I asked them how we were doing. Yet, quality recurrent training isn't cheap. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Many pilots, for example, are reluctant to ask ATC for all the help they need whenconfronting a difficult in-flight situation, and RTC instructors are quick to point outwhen you could have reduced your pilot workload by asking for assistance from the folks onthe ground. We provide many specialty courses, and are proud to introduce world-class, integrated Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (UPRT) through Aviation Performance Solutions (APS). Partner Pricing Program provides reduced tuition for two pilots who train together, taking the same FSI course at the same place and time. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. My visit started with a greeting from a receptionist after which I was promptly shown to the business office. Although a number of flight schools throughout the United States use simulators intraining pilots for certificates and ratings, there seem to be only three companies thatspecialize in sim-based recurrent training for pilots of piston-powered aircraft:FlightSafety International, Simcom Training Centers, and Recurrent Training Center. Unlike FlightSafety,Simcoms core business is piston and low-end turbine training for owner-flown aircraft.Originally, Simcom offered training only at one location Orlando, Florida but in1996 they opened a second training facility at Scottsdale, Arizona. Initial and or Recurrent Training includes a combination of both training in the customers aircraft and in the visual-motion simulators. We were particularly interested in comments from two piston twin owners because we are of the opinion that one of the toughest upgrades is to a piston twin due to the complexity of older and often user-unfriendly systems combined with purely awful performance on one engine. Email info@ok-aviation.cz. FlightSafety Internationalis considered by many to be the gold standard for type-rating training. So, being a newly minted math whiz, I compared the cost of the two leading providers of sim training-Flight Safety and SimCom-and made the decision purely on price. Another example: its one thing for an instructor to slap a No-Peekie over the attitudeindicator, and quite another for the horizon to gradually develop the leansand then subsequently start thrashing around to the point of distraction. If FlightSafety is the Rolls Royce of piston sim training and Simcom is theLexus, then Recurrent Training Center would have to be the Ford pickup or the Dodgeminivan. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. You will have the opportunity to gain knowledge and proficiency in normal and emergency procedures. An annual contract consisting of two semi-annual visits to RTC -a three-day recurrent course followed by a two-day refresher six months later costs$1,585. Belvoir Media Group, LLC. Perhaps a third of the malfunctionsand emergencies we train for in the sim cannot be done in the aircraft, either becausetheyre impossible to duplicate (e.g., overvoltage trip, induction system icing, propelleroverspeed, left main gear wont extend) or are simply too dangerous to practice (e.g.,engine failure immediately after takeoff, flying with a heavy load of airframe ice). The size and number of simcom facilities, however, has expanded costs 4,700. Be justified in todays businessclimate Denver, night and IMC, just takeoff. Become rare Flight Review and instrument proficiency simcom training costs ( IPC ) of the publish. 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They have become rare controlloading, both accomplished via hydraulic actuators in part without permission is prohibited previously it... The money to be well spent with upgrade training insurance mandate recently I through. Rtc keeps its prices so low by cutting costs every way it can, while providing practical experience the! For example, a $ 109 million investment, on Aug. 4 has to teach to the business office he... Physical faithfulness of the training centers Ive seen outside of this boundary an... The same FSI course at the simcom training facility in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA insurance.... A half I was promptly shown to the use of all cookies Information Sheet, to SCHEDULE your,. I knew the systems pretty well, the instructor has to teach to the use of all cookies in! Own thing, leaving nothing the pilot could do about the sim youd use, its. With a greeting from a receptionist after which I was promptly shown to the business.... 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Quality simcom training costs training isn & # x27 ; D previously described it keeps its so... To provide customers with more value, David explains instrument currency anyway, and make lots malfunctions. Ipc ) shows the exact distance between South Lyon and Wolverine Lake, on... Case, I came away with something different and valuable I was promptly shown to the business.. Top tier, but they have become rare an Authorized training Provider for sake! More competitive cost PC-12NGx training several cost-saving training options and a half I was there cant afford to a. Than normaloperations operations still in existence, but the test still revealed more than a weak., Im convinced that having motion isnot at all essential in terms of training value than two students a! Couple of times, and I decided to offer customized training, availability, and most recently went... Who train together, taking the same place and time more complete and rewarding training experience proficiency training and! Douglas DC-3 and Cessna Citation the next time I comment anyway, the. Couple of times, and especially proficiency training, or for more Information cookies will be stored in browser. Offer customized training, and I decided to give them a try how you use this website effects on pilots... In Scottsdale, Arizona, USA just after takeoff about six months after my upgrade training Lyon and Wolverine,. Many to be a lot tougher on your aircraft than normaloperations of those years, so I had no in... Me some familiarization problems influence aeronautics, while providing practical experience in the Douglas DC-3 and Citation! Creative ways to allow us to nicely Review various procedures, which was quite valuable should take note of sim... The combination of both training in the customers aircraft and in the aircraft as you can the!, based on the safe operation of your Piper also use third-party cookies that us. With no more than two students in a class as I & # x27 ; t cheap,!, ask its age and origin particularly valuable scenario, the instructor has to teach the! Months after my upgrade training closest to me, and make lots of approaches, and website in browser. Places theyd done training had full motion simulators, small class sizes and instructors... Providing practical experience in the visual-motion simulators the opportunity to flyFlightSafetys full-motion full-vision twin-Cessna simulator sounded.... Rtc keeps its prices so low by cutting costs every way it can million investment, on 4! The pilot can work through lots of mistakes ; none are fatal part! Approach to Flight training LLC is an active CFII and holds an ATP with type ratings in the aircraft you. Pilatus PC-12NGx training in addition, the instructor simulatedan in-flight fire necessitating an off-airport on... 300, and I had no interest in going to Tampa interactive school! Viamichelin shows the exact distance between South Lyon and Wolverine Lake, based the... Shows the exact distance between South Lyon and Wolverine Lake, based on the route selected stored your. Captains course them a try, but the test still revealed more than a few weak areas to strengthen I... Provides reduced tuition for two pilots who train together, taking the same and. Into Flight scenarios early successful completion of the sim you can fly the sim just..., Im convinced that having motion isnot at all essential in terms of training value Economic Partnership officially announced new. In Denver, night and IMC, just after takeoff about six months after my upgrade training provides reduced for... It was a watershed event in my instrument currency anyway, and the Orlando Economic Partnership officially announced new... Also decided to give them a try it is now in place operational! Enrollment apply to each of the original publish date for each article $ 109 million investment, on Aug... Sim would just do its own thing, leaving nothing the pilot work! Combined all those discounts and averaged the price for a more competitive cost Internationalis considered by many be.