Simulation Technology, Not Just for Airlines

Save time and money—and maybe your life—with some simulator experience.

Meg Godlewski

Friday, March 24, 2023 at 03:36 PM ET

Verified

[Courtesy: Frasca International]

Key Takeaways:

Flight training devices (FTDs) are critical for mitigating aviation risks by enabling pilots to practice procedures and emergency scenarios in a safe, controlled environment, thereby building good habits and addressing errors without real-world consequences.
The technology behind FTDs has dramatically evolved from the early mechanical Link Trainer to modern, advanced simulators from companies like Frasca, Precision Flight Controls, and Redbird, offering performance-accurate and immersive, scenario-based training experiences.
FTDs provide cost-effective, accessible training that reduces learner anxiety, and their value is increasingly recognized by regulatory bodies, with the FAA now allowing significant flight hours toward certification to be acquired in these effective simulation devices.

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“Aviation in itself is not dangerous. But to an even greater degree than the sea, it is terribly unforgiving of any carelessness, incapacity, or neglect.” —Alfred Gilmer Lamplugh

While many pilots wouldn’t know who came up with Lamplugh’s famous quote, most pilots would agree with it. There is risk in just about every facet of life, but in aviation the inability to manage that risk—because of overconfidence, a lack of preparation, or rusty skills—can be deadly.