Cost of flight simulator
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: UK
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Cost of flight simulator
Hi All,
Can anyone please give an informed opinion on the rough ballpark cost of a rotary Class B flight simulator? A109 or similar type. By how much do the costs vary as you move from FFS to FTD? (I'm happy with the costs of a FNPT2 device).
Thanks,
SBW
Can anyone please give an informed opinion on the rough ballpark cost of a rotary Class B flight simulator? A109 or similar type. By how much do the costs vary as you move from FFS to FTD? (I'm happy with the costs of a FNPT2 device).
Thanks,
SBW
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: South Ridge
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A reasonable price range for a FTD3/LevelB sim is $5-8 million. The exact price will have a large dependence on the amount of "stimulated" versus "simulated" equipment and the source for the validation data. For most complex twin engined aircraft, the aircraft type does not have a big impact on sim price.
Going to an aircraft manufacturer like Agusta or Eurocopter for the validation data is likely to raise the price of the sim by ~$1 million. If possible, you're better off supplying an aircraft to the sim manufacturer for flight testing. You'll end up with better quality data tailored exactly to your aircraft and how you want to train, and you'll retain the rights to the data so you can build a 2nd sim if needed at an even lower cost.
Depending on the size of the motion base you choose (36in - 60in) the price can fluctuate by several hundred thousand $. Visual system projector count/selection will also impact the price, but those costs are smaller.
You'll then have the costs associated with spares, employing a sim tech, paying for the certification process (does not apply in the US), etc. I don't have an estimate for these costs other than saying that the UK CAA charges 16k pounds for certifying the sim.
Most people don't realize it, but owning a sim is a big deal. Fortunately, they pay for themselves in short order in terms of improved safety, reduced aircraft operating costs, and additional revenue obtained by selling time on the sim when you are not using it.
Going to an aircraft manufacturer like Agusta or Eurocopter for the validation data is likely to raise the price of the sim by ~$1 million. If possible, you're better off supplying an aircraft to the sim manufacturer for flight testing. You'll end up with better quality data tailored exactly to your aircraft and how you want to train, and you'll retain the rights to the data so you can build a 2nd sim if needed at an even lower cost.
Depending on the size of the motion base you choose (36in - 60in) the price can fluctuate by several hundred thousand $. Visual system projector count/selection will also impact the price, but those costs are smaller.
You'll then have the costs associated with spares, employing a sim tech, paying for the certification process (does not apply in the US), etc. I don't have an estimate for these costs other than saying that the UK CAA charges 16k pounds for certifying the sim.
Most people don't realize it, but owning a sim is a big deal. Fortunately, they pay for themselves in short order in terms of improved safety, reduced aircraft operating costs, and additional revenue obtained by selling time on the sim when you are not using it.
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Philadelphia PA
Age: 73
Posts: 1,835
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Why do you want a Class B sim? Motion doesn't really add much to the training value.
There's a whole new set of training criteria coming out in the near future from the Royal Aeronautical Society's Rotorcraft simulator working group - this will change things significantly.
There's a whole new set of training criteria coming out in the near future from the Royal Aeronautical Society's Rotorcraft simulator working group - this will change things significantly.
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: South Ridge
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I agree about motion not being a requirement for a useful training device. However, the new regulations we are setting out through the IWG (RAeS) are likely several years off, so if you want checking credits now you're pretty much forced into going with a full flight sim over an FTD... and that requires motion.
If you just need training credits, then an FTD is the way to go.
If you want both training and checking credits, an FTD3/LevelB device is the most cost effective.
If you just need training credits, then an FTD is the way to go.
If you want both training and checking credits, an FTD3/LevelB device is the most cost effective.
