Bombardier Aircraft Services has received US Federal Aviation Administration certification for its Level D Global Express full flight simulator. The Canadian manufacturer was faced with the prospect of having no simulator facility for the new ultra-long-range business jet as an FAA-imposed expiry date for the Level C interim simulator approached.
The simulator was certificated by the FAA last month. Tim Gabriel, Bombardier general manager for training, says the large number of last-minute modifications to the aircraft meant it was impossible to compile the flight performance data in time for the aircraft's 1999 launch.
The Global Express simulators at its training site at Montreal Dorval Airport had been certificated to Level C, which means it can be used to train pilots on around 85% of procedures, but is considered by the FAA as an interim status. Bombardier had been granted a one-year extension to the original Level C certification, but this would have expired in May if the manufacturer had not provided full flight data.
The Canadian manufacturer has sold more than 50 aircraft and is providing flightcrew training for most, says Gabriel.
FlightSafety International has received Joint Aviation Authorities certification for its Dassault Falcon Jet training centres in Teterborough, New Jersey, and Dallas, Texas. The organisation has 105 pilots acting as examiners for Joint Aviation Regulations Flight Crew Licensing (JAR-FCL) training, the largest concentration outside Europe. "We need 150, but it's difficult to find pilots who qualify," says FlightSafety's head of JAA training, Mark Chapman. FlightSafety will establish a business jet training centre in Europe, possibly at its London Luton Boeing FlightSafety facility, when there is sufficient demand.Source: Flight International
