FlightSafety International has secured interim Level C validation from the US Federal Aviation Administration for the first Pilatus PC-24 full-flight simulator. The approval comes less than a week after the superlight business jet received European and US type certification after a 30-month flight test campaign involving three aircraft and over 2,200 flying hours.
European approval for the FS1000 simulator – which is based at FlightSafety's Dallas, Texas facility – is expected early next year, while training on the device should start in January. Pilots from fractional ownership company and PC-24 launch customer PlaneSense will take up the first positions.
FlightSafety International
The Portsmouth, New Hampshire-based operator has an order for six of the Williams International FJ44-4A-powered jets, and is gearing up to take delivery of the first example in January.
FlightSafety says its simulation engineers and courseware developers have worked closely with Pilatus to develop the PC-24 simulator and training programmes. The device is equipped with the "latest advances in technology" including the VITAL 1100 visual system, electric motion and control loading, and a new instructor operating station.
Pilatus Aircraft
The pilot and maintenance technician training programmes will also use FlightSafety's integrated training system called Matrix and its graphical flightdeck simulators for what it calls "instructor-led and self-paced learning".
Source: Flight International
