Purdue University has placed an order for a Phenom Level 6 Flight Training Device (FTD). The FTD will include Garmin Prodigy avionics, TruSound™, TruVision™ 220 visual display system, Graphical Instructor Station (GISt™) and more. (July 23, 2010)

Mentor™ Delivered to Air Hawkes Bay

Air Hawkes Bay (AHB) Flight Training, Bridge Pa, NZ has taken delivery of a Mentor™ AATD configured as a Cessna 172. The AATD will include Garmin G1000, GISt™ and Frasca TruVision™. AHB has fifteen experienced instructors to operate aircraft fleet that includes Piper Tomahawks and Cherokees, Cessna 172s (glass cockpit), Rockwell Commander and Twin Engine Piper Senecas. (June 18, 2010)

Bristow Academy, Titusville, FL will soon acquire a Frasca TruFliteH™ Helicopter General Simulation Device (GSD) housed in a portable trailer. The device will feature TruVision™ visual system with a helicopter database, Graphical Instructor Station (GISt™) and more. Bristow operates two Frasca Full Flight Helicopter simulators at their facility in Aberdeen, Scotland. (June 7, 2010)

New 429 Flight Training Device Unveiled at Bell Training Academy

Bell Helicopter Training Academy (BTA), Ft Worth, TX has placed into service its new Frasca built 429 Flight Training Device (FTD). The FTD was built to Level 7 specifications and is slated for FAA Level 6 certification by early 2011.
"The 429 is an incredible aircraft that combines functionality with cutting edge systems making the aircraft both sophisticated and extremely easy to operate. To help better prepare pilots operating the aircraft, a heavy emphasis was placed on the simulation of these cutting edge systems," said Scott Westbrook, senior simulation specialist. "We incorporated any failures that can occur in flight. If there is a normal or emergency procedure in the Flight Manual, it's in the FTD. This is a substantial feat to have accomplished."

Two years of construction have delivered the finest FTD the Bell Training Academy (BTA) has ever employed. The FTD was built using actual flight controls and a representative cockpit enclosure. Frasca was able to update the device in conjunction with modifications made throughout construction and certification of the actual aircraft. As a result of their diligence, all the functionality found in the actual aircraft is available to customers training in the device.

The BTA began training for the first customer on the 429 FTD during the week of May 10.
"This is a significant step forward in supporting Bell's newest airframe, the 429. This FTD completes our industry leading suite of Bell training devices. The BTA now has simulation support for training on every Bell commercial model in production, as well as some popular models no longer in production," said Trey Wade, director of the academy. "We are committed to providing our customers with a definitive one-stop shop for training on Bell products, the addition of this FTD helps make that commitment a reality."

Located at Alliance Airport in Fort Worth, Texas, the Bell Training Academy takes pride in delivering the finest helicopter training in the world with highly skilled professional pilot and technical instructors. Training at the BTA incorporates the latest technological advancements into its aviation training programs and continues to invest in the development of new, industry-leading initiatives to promote helicopter safety.

The Academy provides comprehensive training courses on Bell products. For a complete schedule of all courses, call 1-800-368-2355, visit the Bell Helicopter Training Academy (BTA) site or contact BTA Administration directly at BTAAdmin@bellhelicopter.textron.com.

For complete results visit the SAFECON website. (May 24, 2010)

Frasca will be present at the Rotor & Wing Training Summit (June 8-9, Denver, CO). For more information, visit Rotor & Wing Training Summit.  (May 21, 2010)

Frasca will once again sponsor the IFR and Ground Trainer events at this years NIFA/SAFECON Air Meet being hosted by Indiana State University. Good luck to all competitors! (May 14, 2010)

The University of North Dakota (UND), Grand Forks, has placed an order for a Frasca Cessna 172R Flight Simulation Training Device (FSTD) with TruVision™, Garmin G1000, Graphical Instructor Station (GISt™) and more. UND uses dozens of Frasca simulators at their facility in Grand Forks and at satellite locations. (April 21, 2010)

Frasca International has received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Level 7 qualification on its 206B Flight Training Device (FTD) installed at FlightSafety International’s (FSI) Learning Center in Lafayette, LA. This is the highest level of qualification for Flight Training Devices and only the second FTD qualified to the Level 7 standard, the first being Frasca’s AS350 which received approval in August of 2009 and is in use at FSI’s facility in Tucson, AZ.
The FTD is fixed based with a vibration platform which provides tactile cues related to both normal and emergency operations and is integrated to Flight Safety's Vital X visual system using Frasca's spherical display screens to provide a 200 X 70 field of view. Other features include Frasca's Graphical Instructor Station (GISt), Frasca’s next generation ECL 2.0 Digital Electric Control Loading system and more.

“Level 7 FTD’s are very complicated devices. Many of the tests are the same as required for a Level D Full Flight Simulator. Frasca undertook a significant investment to develop the capability to collect aircraft data and develop quality aerodynamic models. Receiving the FAA’s Level 7 qualification is a significant validation of Frasca’s engineering processes.” commented John Frasca, Vice President of Frasca International, Inc.
A third FTD for the Bell 407 is nearing completion by Frasca for FlightSafety and will also undergo FAA Level 7 qualification. It will be installed at the Lafayette facility next month. (March 29, 2010)

Pilot Training Network has placed an order for a TruFlite™ Piper Seminole FNPT II STD. The devices will feature TruVision™ Global with custom database, TruFeel™ and TruSound™ technology. (March 17, 2010)

Mentors™ for Auburn & Florida Memorial University

Florida Memorial University, Miami Gardens, FL and Auburn University, Auburn, AL have both placed orders for Frasca Mentor™ AATDs configured as Cessna 172 aircraft. Both units feature Garmin G1000, Graphical Instructor Station (GISt) and TruVision™ visual systems. The Mentor™ is a popular training device in flight schools worldwide due to it's realism and affordability. (March 5, 2010)

Frasca Built S92 Full Flight Simulator Gets Dual Qualification

Frasca is proud to announce that Bristow Academy, Aberdeen, Scotland has received dual qualification for their Frasca Built S92 Full Flight Simulator (FFS). The S92 FFS is the first certified helicopter device under JAA with both Level B FFS and Level III FTD approval.

The S92 FFS is being used at the Bristow Academy in Aberdeen to support training requirement for Bristow’s global fleet of S92 aircraft. A second FFS for the EC225 helicopter will be delivered in mid 2010 and will also be dual certified to the same level. Both units feature 6 axis electric motion base, TruVision™ Global visual system with custom databases and wrap around display system.

With these devices, Frasca demonstrates the ability as an industry leader in simulation, to provide cost effective, value added solutions to meet training needs in a demanding environment. This project involved thousands of man hours of intensive research, gathering of aerodynamic system data, programming and manufacturing a high-fidelity replica of the cockpit.

“We are confident that helicopter industry leaders, such as Bristow, will be able to use similar devices to meet their training needs in a cost-effective manner. This product demonstrates our ability to build such devices and provide a complete training solution for modern advanced helicopters in use around the world,” stated Mike Phillips, Senior Manager, Helicopter Business Development, Frasca International, Inc.

"Frasca is an industry leader in flight simulation and has been able to obtain qualification for several flight training devices over the years," said John Frasca, VP Frasca International, Inc. "Our success in the helicopter market is in part due to our ability to collect our own simulator data packages. Airframe manufactures are frequently not able or willing to offer simulation data packages. As result Frasca has invested and developed its own flight test capability. This allows us to offer a turn-key simulation solutions at a very competitive price." (Feb. 19, 2010)

Frasca Mustang Jet Simulator Will Enable FAA/NASA Research

The Federal Aviation Administation (FAA) has chosen Frasca International, Inc., Urbana, Illinois to supply a second Flight Simulation Training Device (FSTD) for the Cessna Citation Mustang light jet. This device will be built to the same FAA Level 5 FTD standards as the FAA’s existing Frasca Mustang, and will be operated in fulfillment of a NASA research grant by the Aerospace Human Factors Research Lab (AHFRL) at the Civil Aerospace Medical Institute in Oklahoma City.

The Frasca FSTD will feature an accurate Mustang jet flight deck with actual Garmin G1000 avionics, plus TruFeel2™ digital electric control loading, TruSound™ digital surround sound, and Frasca’s intuitive Graphical Instructor Station (GISt®). Aerodynamic performance and control forces were measured by Frasca’s Flight Test Department, and will be validated before experiments by an integrated auto-test utility. This high level of fidelity for a prevalent aircraft model will minimize the burden of simulation orientation, and allow researchers to focus on natural pilot behaviors.
With automated scenario execution and enhanced data recording, this Frasca FSTD will generate detail-rich reports for post-flight analyses. Flights can be replayed on both the FSTD and remote Debrief Station, including playback of audio communications and cockpit video. Time-stamped event logs will include aircraft configuration, control inputs, attitude, location, and weather conditions. These tools will enable researchers to study complex circumstances in precise detail and identify meaningful trends.

Research will focus first on pilot interaction with, and behavior related to, Traffic Avoidance System (TAS) and XMWX satellite weather information. With Frasca’s Traffic Wizard, the operator will design conflicting traffic to be depicted on both the G1000 Traffic Avoidance System (TAS) and visual display system. XMWX satellite weather services will also be available on the G1000, and potentially synchronized with the external visual environment.
FAA contract requirements included proven experience with Mustang jet aircraft and G1000 avionics. Frasca’s previous Mustang device with G1000, operated by the FAA’s Regulatory Standards Division, achieved Level 5 FTD qualification in 2009. Frasca has the most G1000 experience of all simulation companies, having delivered well over 100 G1000-equipped devices, twelve of which were qualified as FAA Level 6 FTD, another twelve qualified as FAA Level 5 FTD, and the rest as Level 1 FTD, AATD, FNPT I, and FNPT II. (Feb. 3, 2010)

Seneca College of Applied Arts & Technology. Ontario, Canada has ordered a Cessna 172S Flight Training Device (FTD) which will be built to Transport Canada level 5 standards. The FTD will also feature TruVision™ Global visual system with custom visual databse and conflicting traffic module. Seneca College is one of many long term customers with multiple Frasca devices in use. (Jan 18, 2010)

The University of North Dakota (UND), Grand Forks has placed an order for two Frasca Piper Seminole Flight Training Devices (FTDs). The FTDs will be designed to meet FAA Part 60 Level 5 standards and will accurately replicate the flight deck of a new Piper Seminole including Avidyne Entegra Avionics suite and TruVision™ visual system with reconfigurable database. UND has used Frasca simulators in their aerospace program for over 20 years. Frasca simulators are installed at UND satellite locations in addition to the main campus in Grand Forks. (Dec. 28, 2009)

Middle Georgia College Adds Frasca Sim

Middle Georgia College (MGC), Easton, GA has ordered a Frasca TruFlite™ configured as a Piper Seminole/Warrior. Features include TruVision™, TruSound™, GISt and more. MGC is a longtime customer of Frasca and one of many colleges using Frasca equipment in their flight training programs. (Dec. 14, 2009)

Frasca Gets R&W Editors Choice for Training article

Finnish Aviation Academy Orders Frasca Phenom Training Devices

The Finnish Aviation Academy has contracted with Frasca International, Inc. for two Embraer Phenom Synthetic Training Devices (STDs) and an avionics trainer. The two STDs will meet the JAR FSTD Level 2 and FNPT II MCC requirements and will each include a 220 degree visual system, TruVision™ Global, manufactured by Frasca. The avionics trainer will be a desktop design featuring Embraer’s Prodigy Flight Deck. All three devices will be installed at the Finnish Aviation Academy training facility in Pori, Finland. The first device is scheduled for delivery in late 2010. The Finnish Aviation Academy currently has several Frasca simulators in service including an EC-135 FNPT II helicopter device, four Bonanza STDs, a Mentor™ and a KingAir B300 FNTP II MCC.

“The Finnish Aviation Academy has been a customer of ours for over 20 years. During this time we have learned a lot about each other and as result we understand their expectations and they understand our capabilities. Frasca has benefited from the exacting demands of the Finnish Aviation Academy. These demands have pushed us into increasingly complicated levels of simulation as well as improving our product reliability and ease of use. Frasca is proud to have been selected by the Finnish Aviation Academy as the supplier of their Phenom FTD’s,” stated John Frasca, VP, Frasca International.

“Frasca has provided training devices for us since 1986. All these years Frasca has successfully followed the evolution of technology in synthetic training. The trainers have provided us with considerable training advantages enabling our students to achieve the required training levels within the planned training schedules. The quality of the trainers has made the transition into the aircraft smooth and has helped the students in this step into reality. The long and strong experience combined with innovative design and production gives us good value for the money and strong basis for future. We look forward to start our next step in training with Embraer Phenom 100 aircraft and Frasca simulators,” stated Juha Siivonen, Managing Director, Finnish Aviation Academy.

About The Finnish Aviation Academy:
The Finnish Aviation Academy is a vocational special purpose school located in the City of Pori, Finland. The purpose of the school is to train professional pilots for the Finnish professional aviation’s needs. The training provided is vocational adult training. The Finnish Aviation Academy is jointly owned by Finnair, the national airline of Finland, the State of Finland and the City of Pori. The Finnish Aviation Academy training meets both the JAA and Finnish aviation regulations for pilot training. In addition to training new pilots, the Finnish Aviation Academy offers commercial services, such as the sale of training services and lease of its simulator and training devices for operators. Visit their website at: www.finaa.fi

Russia will soon have their first Frasca simulators! Frasca has received an order for two Cessna 172 FNPT II devices for St. Petersburg State University of Civil Aviation (SPSUCA). The school will be the first to use Frasca devices in Russia. The order was facilitated through Jet Transfer SARL, the Cessna aircraft representative in Russia. The school has also ordered 12 Cessna 172S Skyhawk aircraft. The two STDs will be the first Frasca devices sold to and installed in Russia. They will feature Frasca’s newest technology including TruVision™ Global visual system, Graphical Instructor Station (GISt™), Electric Control Loading, Digital Sound and more. They will be outfitted with Jeppesen Navigational Database and Garmin G1000, GFC700 Autopilot, Garmin Audio panel, Garmin Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) and more to simulate the C172 aircraft. They will be qualified as FNPT II STDs (Simulated Training Devices).

"Jet Transfer company is very proud that the Saint Petersburg State University of Civil Aviation has selected the Cessna 172S aircraft and two Frasca FNPT II simulators to upgrade their flight training equipment. We are certain that having these new modern aircraft and simulators will make the University a leading pilot training center not only in Russia, but in Eastern Europe as well," commented Sergey Filatov, Aircraft Sales & Management, Jet Transfer.

“Frasca is thrilled to have Saint Petersburg State University as our first customer in Russia. We are looking forward to working with the University to provide the best flight training equipment to meet their needs,” said John Frasca, VP, Frasca International, Inc.

About Saint Petersburg State University of Civil Aviation (SPSUCA)
SPSUCA is a federal, state-owned higher education institution in St. Petersburg whose history dates back to 1909. At any given time, there are about 7,500 students enrolled from 25 countries studying all areas of aviation. (Oct. 23, 2009)

Era Training Center LLC (Era Training Center) announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Agusta Westland for the construction of two AW139 Flight Simulator Training Devices (FSTDs).  The first FSTD will be installed at Era Training Center’s facility in 2011 and will meet the certification requirements defined by FAA Part 60, Level 6. AgustaWestland, as prime contractor, has partnered with Frasca International, Inc. (Frasca) to support the development and production of the FSTDs, with work being carried out at Frasca’s facilities in the USA and at Agusta Westland’s facilities in Sesto Calende, Italy.

Frasca Helicopter FTD Gets Level 7 Approval

Frasca is proud to announce it has received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Level 7 qualification on its AS 350 B2 Flight Training Device (FTD) installed at FlightSafety’s Helicopter Learning Center in Tucson, Arizona. This is the highest level of qualification for Flight Training Devices and the first FTD qualified to the Level 7 standard.
The FTD is fixed based with a vibration platform which provides tactile cues related to both normal and emergency operations and is integrated to Flight Safety's Vital X visual system using Frasca's spherical display screens to provide a 200 X 70 field of view. Other features include Frasca's Graphical Instructor Station (GISt), Frasca’s next generation ECL 2.0 Digital Electric Control Loading system and more.

Aerodynamic data required to support the FTD’s Level 7 qualification was collected by Frasca’s flight test department. This involved instrumenting the aircraft with dozens of sensors and flying hundreds of very specific maneuvers. This data was used by Frasca’s Aero engineering department to precisely model the aircrafts performance.

“Level 7 FTD’s are very complicated devices. Many of the tests are the same as required for a Level D Full Flight Simulator. Frasca undertook a significant investment to develop the capability to collect aircraft data and develop quality aerodynamic models. We flight tested the aircraft to FAA Level D standards and then developed the Aerodynamics model to meet Level 7 standards. Receiving the FAA’s Level 7 qualification is a significant validation of Frasca’s engineering processes.” commented John Frasca, Vice President of Frasca International, Inc.

Two additional FTDs are being completed by Frasca for FlightSafety and will also undergo FAA Level 7 Qualification. A Bell 206B/206L reconfigurable FTD is installed at FlightSafety’s Learning Center in Lafayette, LA and a Bell 407 FTD is nearing completion at the Frasca factory and will also be installed at the Lafayette facility. (August 21, 2009)

S92 FFS Installed at Bristow

Frasca engineers recently completed the installation of a Level B S92 Full Flight Simulator (FFS) at Bristow Groups training operations in Aberdeen, Scotland. The S92 FFS features Frasca’s latest technology, including a TruVision Global visual system with a 200-degree horizontal by 70-degree vertical display system, six-axis electric motion base, flight test validation data, auto-test utility, blade element modeling, automatic certification testing, exact cockpit replication, electric control loading, multi-channel sound simulation and NVG compatibility. Bristow Group Inc. is the leading provider of helicopter services to the worldwide offshore energy industry based on the number of aircraft operated.  Additionally, the Company is a leading provider of production management services for oil and gas production facilities in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. A second FFS for an EC225 Helicopter is under construction at the Frasca facility. (August 19, 2009)

The Aero Club of India has ordered a Frasca TruFlite™ Flight Training Device configured as a G58 Baron with Frasca TruVision™ visual system with custom airport database. The FTD will be installed at the Delhi Flying Club at Safdarjung Airport in New Delhi, India. (July 31, 2009)

Frasca International, Urbana, IL and Era Training Center (ETC), Lake Charles, LA have entered into an agreement for Frasca to design and build a Sikorsky S76 C++ Level 6 Helicopter Flight Simulator Training Device (FSTD). The FSTD will be an exact replica of the Sikorsky S76 C++ Helicopter featuring Frasca’s latest technology including a TruVision™ Global visual system with an extensive, highly detailed database, electronic cockpit displays, flight test validation data, blade element modeling, automatic certification testing, exact cockpit replication, electric control loading and multi-channel sound simulation.

This will be the third Frasca FSTD ordered by ETC. The center currently uses Frasca built EC135 and AS350B2 FSTDs which were delivered in 2008. "Frasca is pleased to continue our relationship with ETC by providing the S76 FSTD," stated John Frasca, VP, Frasca International, Inc. "We are committed to providing the best helicopter devices available. Working with Era Training Center has helped us to succeed in this area." 

"The S76 series provides worldwide support for many different segments of the helicopter industry.  With the C+ and C++ advancements of Integrated Instrument Display System, Digital Automatic Flight Control System, Digital Engine Control Unit,  and mission specific avionic installations, the requirement for cost effective and comprehensive integrated training packages are in high demand." stated Paul White, General Manager, ETC.   "Era Training Center considers Frasca International a leader in Advanced FSTDs; they are able to provide simulation that meets the industry's need for well trained, safe, proficient and competent flight crews.  The addition of the S76 C++ FSTD will complement our existing training programs quite nicely."  (June 26, 2009)

EC-135 Gets Dual Certification

The German Police have received dual certification for their Frasca EC-135 helicopter device as a JAR-FSTD H FTD 2 and FNPT III MCC. The device was modeled after an EC-135 T2+ helicopter and features a 200° x 70° TruVision™ visual display system with custom database. (June 12, 2009)

Frasca to Demo Mentor™ at CPC Event
Frasca will demonstrate their Mentor™ AATD at the Cessna Pilot Center (CPC) event June 17-18 in San Diego, CA. (June 5, 2009)

NIFA/SAFECON Event Results

The 2009 NIFA/SAFECON flying meet was held at Parks College in St. Louis May 17-23. The top three finishing teams were; University of North Dakota (UND), Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU), Daytona, and Western Michigan University (WMU) - all use Frasca simulators!. Frasca salutes all competitors on a job well done and was proud to sponsor this years event. For complete results visit the SAFECON website. (May 29, 2009)

Frasca Mustang FTD Installed at FAA Facility

Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology, Flushing, NY has ordered a Frasca Cessna 172 FTD. The FTD will feature G1000 avionics and Frasca's TruVision™ 220 visual system. The school also uses a Frasca model 142 FTD. (May 4, 2009)

Frasca to Provide King Air B200GT FTD for RAF Contract

Frasca International has been selected to provide a new King Air B200GT FTD to Serco Group plc ("Serco") as part of the prestigious RAF Cranwell Multi-Activity Contract (MAC). The new Frasca King Air B200GT FTD will feature the Collins Pro Line 21™ fully integrated avionics system, an enclosed instructors station, and Frasca’s Graphical Instructor Station (GISt). Other features include Frasca’s TruVision™ Global visual system with a 220 degree display system and a custom RAF Cranwell visual database. Serco currently operates two additional Frasca B200 FTD’s. (April 24, 2009)

Mentor™ for Utah Valley University

Utah Valley University, Orem, has ordered a Frasca Mentor™ AATD. The AATD will feature TruVision™, GISt™ and many other features and will be configured as a DA-40 aircraft. The college also owns a Frasca 142P and a DA-42 FTD. (April 17, 2009)

Frasca, Embry-Riddle to Debut New Training Device

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Frasca International plan to unveil a new flight training device that uses virtual air traffic control commands. The Synthetic Automated Flight Training Environment with Virtual Air Traffic, or SAFTE/VAT, will be demonstrated at the National Training Aircraft Symposium, NTAS, March 16 through 19 at ERAU’s Daytona Beach, Fla., campus. The system incorporates simulated flight plans with voice recognition technology to allow a student pilot to fly in a simulated situation and receive specific commands from a virtual air traffic controller. (March 13, 2009)

Galvin Flying Services, Seattle, WA, has placed an order for a DA-40 Flight Training Device (FTD) from Frasca. The FTD will feature TruVision™ projected visual system, GISt and more. Galvin is a repeat customer and currently uses a DA-42 FTD and a DA 40 Mentor AATD. (March 4, 2009)

UND Adds 172 FTD

The University of North Dakota (UND), Grand Forks, has ordered a Frasca Cessna 172 FTD to add to their existing fleet of Frasca devices. UND is known worldwide for their aviation program and has used Frasca equipment for over 25 years. (February 25, 2009)

Mountain View College Selects Frasca Mentor

Mountain View College, through the Dallas County Community College District, Dallas, TX, has selected a Frasca Mentor™ AATD with Garmin G1000 avionics package and GFC700 autopilot for their Aviation Technology program.  The school chose Frasca after a competitive RFP, selecting the Frasca Mentor™ for its extensive capabilities and value. The device also includes Frasca's TruVision™ visual system with reconfigurable database, full-size flight controls, GISt, functional standby instruments, and more. The Mentor™ AATD has become popular with flight schools worldwide. (January 21, 2009)