I was amazed to read in "Virtual Change" (Flight International, 10-16 February) that NASA should claim that "FutureFlight Central (FFC) is the only 'live action' simulation supporting all interacting functions - approach control, tower, ramp and pilots".
At the ATC Maastricht 2004 exhibition in February, I saw nearly a dozen firms displaying air traffic management simulation technology with equivalent capabilities. The Deutsche Flugsicherung tower simulator in Langen, Germany also provides a 360° digital photo realistic simulation of several real airports with the features described at FFC.
Richard Arnold
DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung Langen, Germany
Source: Flight International