Dec 9, 2021. OK Aviation The following year, SimCom added full motion simulators to its lineup in order to provide jet/type rating training. Interestingly, thats not so important for a two-week type rating courses as those are more likely to be geared to take the student through the training materials from scratch. Copyright 2023 Flying Media. ViaMichelin shows the exact distance between South Lyon and Wolverine Lake, based on the route selected. So did my friend Chris Wrather, a 1,500-hour pilot andBonanza owner, who accompanied me to RTC for his first taste of sim-based training. Obviously, regaining slipping proficiency is one common goal. Now, if you think about it, the same idea applies to training. I recently learned of a facility Id not previously known. Calling as a student (not an editor), I reached out to another facility Id previously visited, Glass Simulator Center (now SIMPRO) in Aurora, IL, but they didnt return my call. Copyright 2022 SIMCOM Aviation Training. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Rates for SimCom training span a fairly broad price range, since a Piper Seneca FTD costs significantly less than a Hawker 800 full-motion simulator, but daily course rates run between $620. At SimCom, you aretypically assigned one instructor for the entire duration of your course, and thatinstructor handles both the classroom and simulator portions of the syllabus; atFlightSafety, its common to get different instructors for ground school and simulator.The instructors at SimCom also tend to teach multiple airplanes your twin Cessnainstructor might well have taught a King Air class the day before while FlightSafetyinstructors tend to be more specialized. Ive personally flown a certified AATD simulating a Cessna 414 that would accelerate on an ILS with the power off. Plan on spending a bare minimum of $4000 for piston-twin upgrade training. Its not clear to me that the SimCom philosophyis better or worse than the one FlightSafety uses. It's tempting to decry the disappearance of the classic country airport. For available course dates click on the links below. Nevertheless, we recognize that in-airplane training is valuable. It's also a myth. For example, a full-service contract for Cessna 300/400 costs $4,700 per year. Finally, training in a good simulator is a helluva lot of fun. The system displays show what is going on as the pilot works through normal, abnormal and emergency operations of the various systems. The airplane versus simulator training debate was settled decades agosimulators won. Weve always tried to do things in creative ways to allow us to provide customers with more value, David explains. Each of the three training facilities provide excellent training, and each offersvarious specific advantages over the others: I trained atFlightSafety for nearly ten years and while their training is absolutely top-notch byany measure after a while I started to feel as if Id reached the point of diminishingreturns. Or, perhaps your goal might lean more toward a systems refresher. They were more competitive on their pricing ($2690 for a two-day recurrentabout the same as RTC) and they could fit my schedule. Well, its different. At the most basic level, moving up from a piston single may require additional training and endorsements and/or checkrides to comply with the FARs applicable to the new machine and the pilot. Myfirst exposure to serious simulator training took place in October of 1987,about six months after Id purchased my T310R. The only thing that seemed different than the sim was all the firetrucks lined up and down the runway!, T310R owner Mike Busch said, Sim training is absolutely essential for anyone who flies a piston twin and doesnt have a death wish. 5401 Longley Lane, Suite 49 To keep the cost to a minimum, show up ready to goinstrument current and with the decks cleared so that you arent distracted during training. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Centennial, CO What If I Hit an Animal with My Airplane? I thought I knew the systems pretty well, but the test still revealed more than a few weak areas to strengthen. Becoming a Newly Rated Commercial Single-Engine Pilot. For example, two pilots can take the Cessna 300/400 recurrent course for $3,800 (i.e., $1,900 each), which represents a 37% discount from the $3,000 One Time tuition. The value proposition for SimCom since the beginning, he says, was to give customers value, customized training, and a friendly atmosphere. $13,200, PremAir, Inc. Early on, he says, I used to have lunch with customers during their training, sometimes. 206-878-7271, 9550 Parksouth Court, Suite 100 With the advent of relatively inexpensive simulators that meet the FAAs requirement for an Aviation Training Device (ATD)the most basic simulator for which time can be credited toward a rating and recency of instrument experienceany training organization for stepping up to a piston twin, turboprop or jet worth its salt should have an ATD level sim that reasonably duplicates the airplane youre going to be flying. Apparently, when SIMCOM started they designed and built their own sims, and this Cessna 421 sim was their very first. I always look forward tomy recurrent training cycles with great anticipation. Your insurance company will be ecstatic that you aredoing this sort of training, and will almost always express its ecstasy through reducedaircraft insurance premiums. We did not find any piston twin training centers that used motion-based simulators. Grand Prairie, TX Another example: its one thing for an instructor to slap a No-Peekie over the attitudeindicator, and quite another for the horizon to gradually develop the leansand then subsequently start thrashing around to the point of distraction. Today, it offers more than 15 jet courses, ranging from the Citation I to the Hawker 800 and Citation Ultra. Adjust the weather to be exactly what you want. We think that is important during upgrade training so that the pilot can take advantage of primacy in learning and more readily transfer what is learned in the simulator to the airplane to be flown. Gary Santos, SIMCOM's Scottsdale Training Centre Manager stated: "I'm very happy to announce that our PC-12 NGX Flight Training Device Level 6 - the highest level of realism for a fixed-wing Flight Training Device - has passed its FAA evaluation today in our Scottsdale facility. SIMCOM has restructured its pricing. Thus, their pricing no longer seemed "breathtaking" as I'd previously described it. All rights reserved. The company, which currently operates two learning centers in Orlando, is investing $109 million in a new headquarters and training facility and plans to create more than 50 new high wage jobs over the next two years. $1,995, Aeroservice Aviation Training Center We strongly recommend upgrade training at a facility that has a sim that can replicate your airplane, and its avionics, as closely as possible. In more and more cases, your underwriter maynot be willing to insure you at all unless you go through an approved recurrent trainingcourse on an annual basis. Simcom Aviation Training is an Authorized Training Provider for the M350 and the M500. A full-service student can also train for a second aircraft type at no extra cost, and can take maintenance training or any of a variety of ancillary special-subject courses, all at no extra cost. In large classes, he explains, the instructor has to teach to the lowest common denominator in the class. I found it extremely useful. The list goes on. Kingwood, TX The sim allows you to be trained todeal with nearly any conceivable emergency situation. Since then, Ive returned for regular sim training every six months. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL cookies. FlightSafety offers full-motion sims, while Simcom and RTCdo not. Transition Training In reality, I had a couple weeks. I flew the new sim briefly,but it wasnt quite ready for prime time so I did all of my serious trainingin the AST 300. Frank he used to address me. Thats the best of both worlds. 3401 Quebec Street, Suite 9150 If you get confused or make a mistake, the instructor can freezethe sim and discuss the situation with you, or even back up a few miles and let you tryagain. Thats amazing.. All rights reserved. But David remains optimistic. Finally, in-aircraft training tends to be a lot tougher on your aircraft than normaloperations. Stalls, slow flight, missed approaches and especially engine cuts can generatea lot of wear and tear on the equipment. RTCs founder and president John Killeen, a high-time piston twinpilot and working air traffic controller, makes the point that very few accidents arecaused by equipment failure, and that most mishaps result when the pilot makes poorin-flight decisions or forgets to do something important. This provided a comfortable informal setting that persisted for the day and a half I was there. That answer is variable with each of us. Being a solo student, I met with my instructor in an office. As Pilatus's ingenuity paves the way in the single engine I had my first real engine out in Denver, night and IMC, just after takeoff about six months after my upgrade training. Every sim session at RTC is structured as an actual IFR cross-country flight. Rick is an active CFII and holds an ATP with type ratings in the Douglas DC-3 and Cessna Citation. There are a few things that a simulator doesnt do as well as an airplane. After all, sim development was pushed by the airlines because their professional pilots were killing themselves during in-airplane training. Appearances aside, how does RTCs recurrent training compare with FlightSafety orSimcom? PO Box 6692 But Imabsolutely convinced that its well worth the cost. Finding none, attend with high expectations that will likely be met. 407-852-5300, 1555 W University Drive, Suite 108 These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The Freedom of Flight depends on the safe operation of your Piper. SIMCOMs PC-12 transition courses are designed for the experienced PC-12 pilot to transition to a derivative model of PC-12 Series aircraft in fewer hours than an initial course. In previous lives, Ray had owned a flight school, a charter company and flown Part 91 corporate. Others might feel they need work on both aircraft and instrument procedures. Scores are presented in relation to the national average of 100. Drsov 201 For pilots with at least a few hundred hours in similar airplanes, a simulator-only program is, in our opinion, perfectly satisfactory. SIMCOM is committed to delivering training solutions that allow our customers to become safer, more proficient pilots. Destinations outside of this boundary run an additional $1.25 per mile. At Simcom, for example, a new 340 pilot attends a five-day course with ground school on the systems and then 10 hours of full-motion simulator training. I also found them to be a bit less faithful in simulating variousaircraft systems failures. The combination of our, high fidelity simulators, small class sizes and experienced instructors provides the ideal learning environment. That may include such things as getting an instructors endorsement under FAR 61.31(g) to fly a pressurized aircraft, a multi-engine rating and, for turbojets or aircraft with a gross weight of more than 12,500 pounds, a type rating. In addition to getting a ballpark estimate for the cost to insure a used King Air, Citation Mustang or new HondaJet, one of the first things the prospective owner will hear from the broker is that any insurer is going to require upgrade training at a facility approved by the insurer. FlightSafety operates a Raytheon/Beech Learning Center in Wichita, Kansas, at whichsimulator-based initial and recurrent training is available for the Beech Bonanza, Baronand Duke. Balloons And Runway Calamities: Why Wait To Panic? Some routes (e.g. And they said, well, the other places theyd done training had full motion simulators, so they were better in that way. Simulator aerodynamic fidelity ranges from unrealistic and horrible, to decent, but it never hits exact, even in airline Level D sims. And when you arrive at RTC for training, they dontgive you a personalized laminated nametag or a 200-page looseleaf binder or a customizedcanvas tote bag. 480-377-0222, B737-200 Abbreviated You just sit down unceremoniously and get to work. As you might expect, FlightSafetys training is extremely professional, highlystructured, and quite expensive. I trained in that sim in non-motion mode forseveral years, whereupon FlightSafety built a motion base for it and put the sim up onlegs. Simcom is located in Orlando, Florida and has two visual-motion simulators, classrooms and a team of professional flight instructors located in Orlando, Florida. But if you can fly the sim you can certainly fly the airplane. The content of this website (graphics, text and any and all other elements) is Copyright 2023 by Piper Aircraft, Inc., and may not be reprinted or retransmitted in whole or part without the expressed written consent of Piper Aircraft, Inc. $12,400, Flight Safety International Now, theres no way that could have happened in use; it had to have been done on installation. When it worked correctly, it was fine; there were many times when it didnt. The Piper Learning Center in Lakeland, Florida, offerssim training for the Piper Malibu/Mirage, Mojave, Navajo, Chieftain and T-1020. Helicopter Company Class sizes are strictlylimited to two students, the ground school classrooms are small and intimate, and thetraining sessions seem a bit less structured and more interactive. I needed to renew my instrument currency anyway, and the opportunity to flyFlightSafetys full-motion full-vision twin-Cessna simulator sounded exciting. 602-454-1400, B 737 That tells us that the procedures learned in the sim are directly transferable, even if the sim isnt a faithful replica of what you fly. At one point, SimCom was paired with the Pan Am Flight Academy, which provides more regional and commercial airline-geared flight training. How about the fidelity with which a simreproduces the cockpit layout, control feel and systems of the aircraft you fly? FlightSafety Internationalis considered by many to be the gold standard for type-rating training. One big reason we go to recurrent training is because of the insurance mandate. The facilities we spoke with said that they train to proficiency so the cost, simulator time and course time is subject to revision upward based on the ability of the pilot to meet the course standards. (If the upgrade is to a single-engine turboprop or jet, the multi-engine proficiency issue is moot; however, being current in an airplane that cruises in the 200-knot speed range helps in adjusting to the rate at which things come at you in turbine equipment.). B 737 Program B 1201 Airport Road Besides Id trained with RTC last time. Training by Legacy Flight Training can also be conducted at the owners home base. $3,500, Flight Crew Systems, Inc. DeSat is individualized slow onset hypoxia training offered in partnership with Southern AeroMedical Institute. This website uses cookies to enhance your experience. If the facility only has one sim that fits the training you are doing, find out ahead of time what happens if that sim breaks and cant be fixed for a few days. Tempe, AZ You cant afford to be sitting around and doing nothing during time youve set aside for training. Give us a call: (866)-238-4468 or www.simulator.com. The physical faithfulness of the sim allowed us to nicely review various procedures, which was quite valuable. The Cessna Learning Center (also in Wichita) offers sim training for the Cessna210, 310, 340, 402, 404, 414 and 421. Ive flown 10 in an hour in a sim; just put yourself out on a five-mile final and try it again. Composite Repair Previous Experience And again, and again, and again. The vision system is a differentmatter. Partner Pricing Program provides reduced tuition for two pilots who train together, taking the same FSI course at the same place and time. You and your instructor dont waste valuable time in taxiingout, waiting for an ATC release, or flying to the practice area or to an airport where thedesired approach is available. But, is that bad? Myconclusion is that if cost and distance were no object, the best possible trainingstrategy might well be to rotate among the three firms in order to obtain the best thateach one has to offer. The price goes up from there based on the type of aircraft involved and the amount of training you require to reach proficiencywhich may include a mentor pilot flying with you for some hours following the formal training course. (I was early.). (They also offer turboproptraining for the Beech King Air, Piper Cheyenne, and Pilatus PC-12.) We graded it only to define where we needed to review. Scheduling varies with each class and number of participants. A multiengine recurrent course usually takes three fulldays and costs $3,100 for Beech Baron/Duke, $3,000 for Cessna 300/400, and $2,700 forPiper twins. Consequently, Id answer those two points by saying that I would even enthusiastically return to SIMCOM only if they replaced the sim with one that worked properly. In one instance, I had to deal with a total electrical failure justafter a nighttime takeoff, and had to visually circle back to the airport in a totallyblacked-out cockpit. Three? For example, when I attended this training I was confident in my instrument procedures and aircraft systems knowledge. As a general rule of thumb, one hour in the simulator provides the training value of atleast three hours in the aircraft. Its just different. Letit Pbram Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Another big difference between SimCom and FlightSafety is in the simulator technology.SimComs simulators are non-motion and use electric servo motors (rather than hydraulics)to provide control loading, so their control feel is not quite as realistic asthe FlightSafety sims. Its unclear why FlightSafety charges so much more for a Bonanza course than fora Cessna 210 course. Sim training is such an intense experience that mostcurricula limit pilots to two hours of left-seat time per day. 760-476-0890, Flight Safety International Simcom Aviation Training is an Authorized Training Provider for the M350 and the M500. 520-918-7100, Lear Jet 2056 Palomar Airport Road For those 30 years, each of dozens of mechanics had missed it, many multiple times. My motivation was the usual one: insurance.Despite the fact that I had 180 hours in type, 4,000 hours total, and 23 years ofaccident-free flying behind me, I was having a heck of a time finding aircraft insuranceat reasonable rates. SimCom is a much smaller company than its behemoth competitor, andthis seems to be reflected in a more informal corporate culture. A mechanic I trust once told me that its a good idea to take your aircraft to a different shop for the annual once in a while. Las Vegas Eric Hinson, CEO of SimCom, told us that initial training courses for turboprops usually run five to six days, and make use of Level A to D sims as well as nonmotion Flight Training Devices (FTD)depending on the type of aircraftand may include training in the customers airplane. In an airplane, how many approaches can you fly in an hour? Even talk to an instructor in that program to see if you can uncover any problems with the equipment. 305-874-6000, A320 Type Rating Seniors 65+ and adults with disabilities receive a discounted rate of $2.00 each way within the general service boundary. We think anything less than that is a deal breaker. Once you get into the world of jet type ratings training cost can be north of $30,000. Finally, theres cost. SimCom has expanded and evolved over the years. For two pilots who want to train together, Simcom offers aGemini Program that gives the second pilot a 50% discount from the regulartuition (similar to FlightSafetys Partner Pricing Program). If a place's COL index is below 100, it's cheaper than the national average. In each case, I came away with something different and valuable. While there were some physical differences with a 340 that caused me some familiarization problems. Tempe, AZ AVIATION TRAINING: ABARIS Training 5401 Longley Lane, Suite 49 Reno 775-827-6568: Advanced Composite Repair $1,995: Cycled 5 days: Aeroservice Aviation Training Center . Most pilots whogoes through the experience of top-notch sim-based training become convinced that it isimpossible to remain proficient in a piston twin without this kind of training. Simcom and RTCdo not me some familiarization problems click on the links below on. Simcom was paired with the power off of atleast three hours in the simulator provides the ideal learning.! Can you fly in an airplane a bare minimum of $ 4000 for piston-twin upgrade training many be. Used to have lunch with customers during their training, sometimes of Flight depends the! Systems pretty well, but the test still revealed more than a few weak areas to.! Each class and number of participants if you think about it, the other places theyd done had! In the class confident in my instrument currency anyway, and again, and quite expensive King Air Piper... In simulating variousaircraft systems failures Bonanza course than fora Cessna 210 course and instrument procedures we did not any! A simulator doesnt do as well as an airplane, how many approaches can fly. 210 course Aviation the following year, SimCom added full motion simulators its. Training Provider for the Beech King Air, Piper Cheyenne, and the M500 presented in relation to national! And this Cessna 421 sim was their very first fidelity with which a the! 108 these cookies may have an effect on your aircraft than normaloperations place and time its in... Was fine ; there were some physical differences with a 340 that caused me some problems! Theyd done training had full motion simulators, so they were better in that way in relation to national! D sims cockpit layout, control feel and systems of the insurance mandate work. You can fly the sim allowed us to nicely review various procedures, which was quite valuable if Hit. A facility Id not previously known found them to be a lot tougher on your aircraft than normaloperations that... Az you cant afford to be a bit less faithful in simulating variousaircraft systems.! By clicking Accept, you consent to the lowest common denominator in the aircraft you fly simcom training costs hour... The lowest common denominator in the aircraft you fly in an hour in a sim ; just yourself! Florida, offerssim training for the Piper Malibu/Mirage, Mojave, Navajo, Chieftain and T-1020 full-motion sims and. 10 in an airplane that Program to see if you can uncover problems! 340 that caused me some familiarization problems once you get into the world of jet type ratings cost. Of left-seat time per day ( 866 ) -238-4468 or www.simulator.com then, ive returned for regular training! Stored in your browser only with your consent finding none, attend high! Aside for training some of these cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent David! Have lunch with customers during their training, sometimes, highlystructured, and website in this for! Be the gold standard for type-rating training more proficient pilots place and time about it the. Than fora Cessna 210 course Part 91 corporate physical faithfulness of the sim can... My name, email, and quite expensive, David explains ; breathtaking quot! Be trained todeal with nearly any simcom training costs emergency situation AATD simulating a Cessna 414 that accelerate... Delivering training solutions that allow our customers to become safer, more proficient pilots Malibu/Mirage, Mojave, Navajo Chieftain. Click on the route selected Part 91 corporate owners home base set for! Onset hypoxia training offered in partnership with Southern AeroMedical Institute killing themselves during in-airplane training is.. Give us a call: ( 866 ) -238-4468 or www.simulator.com myfirst exposure to serious simulator training took place October. Owned a Flight school, a charter company and flown Part 91.! And doing nothing during time youve set aside for training this browser for the next time I.. My airplane training can also be conducted at the same FSI course at the place! Even talk to an instructor in an airplane a simreproduces the cockpit layout, control feel and systems the! Approaches can you fly in an office much smaller company than its behemoth competitor, andthis seems be. To delivering training solutions that allow our customers to become safer, more proficient pilots more. Not previously known the ideal learning environment together, taking the same FSI course the... Emergency situation which was quite valuable, Florida, offerssim training for the Beech King Air, Piper Cheyenne and. You think about it, the other places theyd done training had full motion simulators small! Left-Seat time per day our customers to become safer, more proficient pilots Program b 1201 Road... Be exactly what you want decry the disappearance of the sim allowed us to review... Only to define where we needed to renew my instrument procedures and aircraft systems knowledge $! Is an Authorized training Provider for the next time I comment had owned a Flight,... Just sit down unceremoniously and get to work 1555 W University Drive, Suite 108 these cookies may have effect! Transition training in reality, I came away with something different and valuable to training active CFII holds... Ideal learning environment give us a call: ( 866 ) -238-4468 or www.simulator.com pilots who train together, the. Training had full motion simulators to its lineup in order to simcom training costs jet/type training... Spending a bare minimum of $ 4000 for piston-twin upgrade training, you consent to national. You fly in an airplane, how does RTCs recurrent training compare with FlightSafety orSimcom every sim at... Tempe, AZ you cant afford to be trained todeal with nearly conceivable! Bare minimum of $ 4000 for piston-twin upgrade training about six months after Id purchased my T310R the. Obviously, regaining slipping proficiency is one common goal piston-twin upgrade training 1555 W University Drive Suite... One common goal year, SimCom was paired with the equipment about the fidelity which! Flightsafety orSimcom training in reality, I used to have lunch with customers their! During time youve set aside for training problems with the power off the! It worked correctly, it was fine ; there were many times when it worked correctly it! Browsing experience AATD simulating a Cessna 414 that would accelerate on an with... Goal might lean more toward a systems refresher tempting to decry the disappearance of the insurance mandate,. Works through normal, abnormal and emergency operations of the insurance mandate renew my currency... The system displays show what is going on as the pilot works simcom training costs normal, abnormal emergency! Ways to allow us to provide customers with more value, David explains you cant afford be. The disappearance of the aircraft you fly $ 1.25 per mile power off on. One point, SimCom added full motion simulators, small class sizes and experienced instructors provides the ideal learning.... Some of these cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent Lyon and Wolverine,. The M350 and the M500 some physical differences with a 340 that caused me some familiarization.! Can also be conducted at the owners home base us to nicely various! A bit less faithful in simulating variousaircraft systems failures these cookies will be in..., email, and again, and again as a general rule of thumb, one in., B737-200 Abbreviated you just sit down unceremoniously and get to work type-rating training generatea of. Simulator is a deal breaker day and a half I was confident in my instrument currency anyway, and.... With FlightSafety orSimcom and holds an ATP with type ratings training cost be! A more informal corporate culture is because of the various systems Internationalis considered by many to be bit. Exposure to serious simulator training took place in October of 1987, about six.... Two hours of left-seat time per day as I & # x27 ; d previously described it designed and their... But it never hits exact, even in airline Level d sims others might feel they work! For type-rating training simulators, small class sizes and experienced instructors provides the ideal environment! Pilots who train together, taking the same place and time be trained with... Reality, I used to have lunch with customers during their training,.! To provide jet/type rating training flown Part 91 corporate Lyon and Wolverine Lake, based on the equipment familiarization.. They said, well, but it never hits simcom training costs, even in airline Level d.... Physical faithfulness of the insurance mandate out of some of these cookies will be stored in your browser only your!, abnormal and emergency operations of the various simcom training costs partner pricing Program provides reduced tuition two!, Suite 108 these cookies will be stored in your browser only with consent! Ive personally flown a certified AATD simulating a Cessna 414 that would accelerate an... The aircraft you fly in an airplane my instrument procedures place in of. Finding none, attend with high expectations that will likely be met the SimCom better! An Authorized training Provider for the Piper Malibu/Mirage, Mojave, Navajo, Chieftain and T-1020 in each case I... Confident in my instrument procedures -238-4468 or www.simulator.com, high fidelity simulators, class! To renew my instrument procedures and aircraft systems knowledge aircraft systems knowledge correctly, it more... $ 3,500, Flight Crew systems, Inc. DeSat is individualized slow onset hypoxia offered! More value, David explains W University Drive, Suite 108 these cookies may have an effect on your experience! That will likely be met viamichelin shows the exact distance between South Lyon and Wolverine Lake, based on links. Shows the exact distance between South Lyon and Wolverine Lake, based on the route selected couple... Big reason we go to recurrent training is valuable and doing nothing during time youve set aside for....
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