Many things have changed in the three years since L-3 Link Simulation & Training UK acquired its Crawley-based business from Thales, according to managing director Alan Crawford – “not least how we build simulators”.
The West Sussex facility has a total of eight bays, two of which are currently occupied with simulators for the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737-700, respectively to support the operations of British Airways and Norwegian.
L-3 Link employs a modular architecture – dubbed Reality Seven – for its devices, which all share the same docking, motion and visual systems.
“The cockpit module is the only bit that’s different,” says Crawford. “Ten years ago, every simulator we built was unique – that’s not the case anymore. Most changes the customer wants now are in the software configuration.” Airlines also can specify whether to acquire real or simulated cockpit equipment for their devices, he adds.
Simulators in-build at the site in late July included an A320 device for China’s Hainan Airlines, and a 787 unit for Virgin Atlantic – which has signed a 12-year training deal with the company.
In addition to providing other systems for Airbus and Boeing types, L-3 Link has also produced simulators for the ATR 72 and four devices for the Sukhoi Superjet. Crawford says it is also currently talking to China’s Comac about potentially supporting training for its C919 narrowbody.
L-3 Link’s current production capacity at the Crawley site is set at 10-15 commercial simulators per year, but this could be increased if demand dictates. “We are looking to grow that part of the business,” Crawford confirms, citing an annual output of 20 as achievable, given to the high modularity and reliability of its products.
The latter quality means that customers can perform early shakedown tests at the site ahead of delivery, saving time over a traditional full build and strip-down prior to introducing the equipment at their own training centres.
Source: Flight International