FlightSafety International has received the first US Federal Aviation Administration Level D certification of a commercial flight simulator with electric motion system, as the industry begins to move away from traditional hydraulic motion bases.
The first simulator with electric motion to receive FAA Level D approval is a Cessna Citation Sovereign machine at FlightSafety’s Orlando, Florida training centre. All future simulators built by the company for its own use will have electric motion, and it will be an option for customers, says marketing manager Richard Lofton.
CAE and Thales are offering the technology as an option, but electric motion is expected to become standard as it offers cost savings and environmental advantages over hydraulic motion. CAE and FSI use all-electric motion bases, while Thales uses a hybrid electric-hydraulic system and others use electric-pneumatic.
The next simulation technology hurdle to be overcome is Level D approval of a PC-based visual system using flat-panel projectors. Several simulators are in build that will use commercial LCOS projectors, which offer low cost and long life, but lack the high-brightness calligraphic lightpoint capability of CRT projectors.
FlightSafety plans to certificate its new Vital X PC-based visual with LCOS projectors by year-end.
Source: Flight International
