GRAHAM WARWICK / WASHINGTON DC
Thales Training & Simulation has selected Quantum3D's AAlchemy image generator for an Airbus A320 full-flight simulator ordered by Iberia Airlines. This will be the first commercial airline flight training application of the US company's PC-based visual system.
The three-channel AAlchemy on the Iberia simulator will receive daylight Level C approval, says Ross Smith, executive vice-president marketing, because the system does not have calligraphic display capability, which is needed to provide the lightpoint brightness and resolution required for full Level C or Level D approval.
"We have a working raster/calligraphic prototype, but we are waiting for a business case to develop the system," says Smith. Prototypes have been installed on AAlchemy-equipped Lockheed Martin C-130 and Northrop Grumman EA-6B flight simulators produced by Lockheed Martin.
Because of the fast pace of PC graphics development, Quantum does not plan to certificate a calligraphic capability for AAlchemy, which is now four years old. Instead, the San Jose, California-based company is focusing on its latest Independence image generator.
"Any new raster/calligraphic visual would be based on Independence," says Smith.
Quantum3D has sold visual systems for a wide range of military devices since it was set up in 1997. "We were very interested in the commercial market, and started the calligraphic project; then there was the downturn," says Smith. "Now we are working on technologies that could replace calligraphic."
Source: Flight International
