Flight Level Aviation

Richard L. Collins

Sunday, June 06, 2004 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Rich Kaplan's Flight Level Aviation offers unique, intensive flight training in Waynesburg, PA, combining a full-motion flight training device (FTD) with instruction in actual aircraft.
The FTD, while not high-end, provides a challenging workout for instrument pilots, simulating turbulence and systems failures.
A standout feature of the training is the FTD's integration of actual Garmin GNS 530 and other navigators, offering pilots unparalleled hands-on GPS proficiency.
This personalized, comprehensive training program, priced at $500 per day, is highly valued for recurrent or initial training in high-performance single-engine aircraft, attracting students from far and wide.

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A training hurricane in western Pennsylvania

I had been flying the full-motion flight training device (FTD) for a few minutes and was lining up for an ILS to Runway 4 at New York La Guardia when I asked Rich Kaplan, proprietor of Flight Level Aviation, the name of the hurricane in which we were flying. The motion system was grunting, groaning and pitching like a rutting hog, and the instruments were dancing around like crazy.