Category B Flight Simulators. Assessing operations on the runway

[Tee Emm]

Would appreceiate expert advice on the operation of Category B simulators. Advice received is that Cat B means the simulator is not designed to have fidelity for on the runway operations and thus by design, fails to represent the handling characteristics of the real aircraft. There may also be other limitations leading to a simulator being categorised to Cat B which is why some manoeuvres must be completed in the real aircraft before the endorsement is signed.

In other words, would it be correct to say the simulator is designed to have fidelity only at the actual airborne phase of take off and only before the aircraft touches down on the runway during the landing?

This suggests that pilots should not be assessed during conversion flying or recurrent training, whenever the aircraft (simulator) is operating on the ground. To do so, risks exposing the pilot to ground manoeuvres (eg the take off run, landing run, rejected take offs, crosswind handling, taxiing with or without nosewheel steering actuated) for which the simulator is not designed to the required fidelity, and possibly leading to wrong piloting techniques

In turn, this could lead to candidates being unfairly assessed on their ability to handle a computer rather than a real aircraft. Has any reader struck this problem during simulator training?

[peterc005]

This CASA document outlines the requirements for different Simulator Categories.

Operational Standards and Requirements - Approved Synthetic Trainers (FSD-2)

http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=casa%20simulator%20certification&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&ved=0CEIQFjAD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.casa.gov.au%2Fmanuals%2Fregulate%2Ffsd% 2F085r01.pdf&ei=6KRjUcDYAoLprQeL6YFg&usg=AFQjCNFdartg5Jpf29XVzi1Sj3Bz_B6UGA&sig2=rgvW583XTyVpj2IhSpGWBw&bvm=bv.44990110,d.bmk

[VH-FTS]

Once again Peter you're out of your depth talking about something you know nothing about. Cat B simulators are not synthetic trainers...

[peterc005]

@Tee Emm - it's an interesting question.

Even the some of best synthetic trainers/simulators don't really give you the "thud" on touch down and the feel of the struts/shocks compressing under load.

Microsoft Flight simulator X has now become Lockheed Martin "Prepar3d" and this is an area LM has been working on to make FAA certification of simulators based on this software easier.

BTW, you can download an "Academic" version of Prepar3d for $50, it's a lot of software for the money, but you need Windows 7 or later and a fairly high-end video card.

[LeadSled]

Tee Emm,
Consult CASR 60 and the associated ACs. FSD 2 is just a little out of date, simulators that are qualified under FSD 1 or 2 ( and some even with exemptions to those dated publications) should have long since been scrapped or to relegated to fun parks, they are no fun for the poor sods who have to try and demonstrate "competence" on such boxes.

Unfortunately, CASA is in the habit of giving approvals to certain flight simulator training devices ( that title now eliminates the frequent confusion between Flight Training Devices of old, and similarly Flight simulators, particularly when a FTD has been effectively approved as a Flight Sim ---- any bets on how long before CASA catches up with ICAO --- it is some years since the new ICAO standards were published).

The final arbiter is the CAR 217 approval fine print (or the fine print of whatever system you are working under) that applies to what you are doing.

Tootle pip!!

[Tee Emm]

Thank you very much for your helpful replies. Seems I have some detailed reading to do!