Composite Structures: Limits and Advantages. Its just different. We think anything less than that is a deal breaker. When you train in your actual aircraft, youre polishing every aspect of your proficiency, from buttonology on your equipment to handling the bird in those edge cases your CFI just loves to throw at you. Why Is Area Forecast Discussion Important for Preflight Planning? Simcom was founded about a decade ago to provide alower-cost alternative to FlightSafety for piston twin pilots. Attend a 3-day recurrent course followed in 6 months by 1-day of elective flight training tailored specifically to suit your needs. There the pilot can work through lots of malfunctions, practice lots of approaches, and make lots of mistakes; none are fatal. The vision system is a differentmatter. I was then shown to the break room where I waited for the instructor. But the companies separated in 2006, so the only airline-oriented flight training SimCom now provides is in the Jetstream 41 and the Dornier 328. There are in-the-airplane-only training operations still in existence, but they have become rare. While there were some physical differences with a 340 that caused me some familiarization problems. Copyright 2023 Flying Media. 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. On the other hand, SimCom simulators offer a panoramicprojection-type visual system that permits daytime visuals and allows circling maneuversand other visual-reference maneuvers that are impossible to train for in the FlightSafetysims. A simulator also provides a far more efficient trainingenvironment than an aircraft. I needed to renew my instrument currency anyway, and the opportunity to flyFlightSafetys full-motion full-vision twin-Cessna simulator sounded exciting. 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). SIMCOM training is top tier, but their business model recently seems to mirror the big corporate centers with pricing to match. Finding none, attend with high expectations that will likely be met. A good simulator allows you to train for these and many other real-world challenges ina highly realistic setting. But, thats an exception. All rights reserved. The idea is to move into flight scenarios early. "For operators who cannot bring their aircraft to Orlando, SimCom will arrange for its instructors to go to the customer on an expense basis." Customers can get even more training in their. The system displays show what is going on as the pilot works through normal, abnormal and emergency operations of the various systems. Originally, SimCom focused on training for owner-operators of cabin-class, twin-engine piston aircraft pilots who wouldnt normally have access to simulator training. Being a solo student, I met with my instructor in an office. Centennial, CO If youve been to the same facility for the last few years, or worse, used the same local instructor, look elsewhere occasionally for a broader base of experience. The Cessna Learning Center (also in Wichita) offers sim training for the Cessna210, 310, 340, 402, 404, 414 and 421. The upgrade world changes a bit when a type rating is required, largely because most training courses increase in sophistication and take at least two weeks. I recently learned of a facility Id not previously known. 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. The cost-effectiveness of the SIMCOM technology means better value for our customers compared to other simulation training environments. In a previous article about recurrent sim training facilities (Sim Training Centers in November, 2016), Id somewhat bashed SIMCOM, saying, SIMCOM training is top tier, but their business model recently seems to mirror the big corporate centers with pricing to match. Because of that conclusion I really didnt want to go to SIMCOM. 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. Note: Minimum prerequisites for enrollment apply to each of the courses above. Upon successful completion of the course, you will receive a flight review through the FAA Wings Program. Reno The students next move into a graphical flight simulator with full-scale displays, touchscreens and, importantly, dynamic graphic system schematic displays at the top. I didnt find that the addition of motion added any significant training value tothat simulator. Childs Associates LP, although David is still president and CEO. Letit Pbram 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. Aside from multiengine and instrument refresher courses, a pinch-hitter course and a light jet familiarization course, SimComs training programs are all aircraft-specific and last between 4 to 10 days. Tucson, AZ 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. For pilots who trainregularly, alternating between the type-specific recurrent and the instrument recurrentcourses provides a well-rounded program. 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 and $2,200. In January 1999 it was acquired by the investment firm J.W. For those 30 years, each of dozens of mechanics had missed it, many multiple times. He said that finding and retaining quality instructors is important to ensuring that pilots who come for initial training will return to SimCom when its time for recurrent training. Simcom is located in Orlando, Florida and has two visual-motion simulators, classrooms and a team of professional flight instructors located in Orlando, Florida. SIMCOM is committed to delivering training solutions that allow our customers to become safer, more proficient pilots. Knowing what to do and when to do it thats the value of simulator training. The pet scenario almost invariably involves flying the airplane at the edge of its abilities and will help you get to know the capabilities of the airplane. The Thinking Pilots Flight Manual or, How to Survive Flying Little Airplanes and Have a Ball Doing It, Vols. In previous lives, Ray had owned a flight school, a charter company and flown Part 91 corporate. 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. In reality, I had a couple weeks. Copyright 2022 SIMCOM Aviation Training. Some routes (e.g. Recently, however, the company has introduced several cost-saving training options. November 2018 Killer Quiz: Emergency Procedures. Yet, quality recurrent training isnt cheap. For the Cessna 300/400 recurrent course, for example, you can purchase 3 VIP certificates for $2,000 each, 4 or 5 certificates for $1,900 each, or 6+ certificates for $1,800 each. Hinson emphasized the importance of using simulators that were as close to replicating a customers aircraft as possible. A combination of more than a decade of economic growth, a soft aviation insurance market (although that appears to be changing) and relatively low selling prices for used piston twins, turboprops and light jets has resulted in a healthy number of piston single owners giving serious thought to stepping up to more capableand demandingairplanes. We graded it only to define where we needed to review. This is the sort of training that the airlines call LOFT (Line-Oriented FlightTraining), and is a significant departure from the sort of recurrent training offered byFlightSafety or Simcom. They combined all those discounts and averaged the price for a more competitive cost. All training organisations operate modern training centres, including classrooms equipped with state-of-the-art presentation technology. Thus was born SimCom Training Centers. You just sit down unceremoniously and get to work. Now, almost 45 percent of the 8,000 people who train at SimCom each year are professional corporate pilots, sent there by their employers. Due to some date confusion on my part, I thought I was beginning this process with a couple months of flexibility. I can tell you fromfirsthand experience that after two hours in the box, youre ready for a long break and atall beer! (I was early.). Adjust the weather to be exactly what you want. During the summerbetween June 1 and August 30 (which are SimComs slow months), the second pilot gets awhopping 75% discount. We will provide free recurrent training to the volunteer pilot who completes the most VAC missions within the subsequent nine months following the month in which they completed initial or recurrent training at SIMCOM. Or, perhaps your goal might lean more toward a systems refresher. Long Beach, CA 305-871-5557, B737 PO Box 6692 SimCom offers simulator-based training for the Beech Baron and Duke,Cessna 300/400 twins, and Piper Aerostar, Mojave and Navajo. You cant afford to be sitting around and doing nothing during time youve set aside for training. And they said, well, the other places theyd done training had full motion simulators, so they were better in that way. One Time Plus is a reduced tuition for pilots who have taken the same course within the previous 12 months, and is between 15% and 25% less than the One Time price (depending on aircraft make). While we agree with a 2012 study published in the International Journal of Aviation Psychology that concluded that there was no evidence that simulator motion improves flight performance in real aircraft, some users did not. 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. You dont have to waste time positioning for multiple approaches and you can more realistically practice emergencies in a sim without putting yourself at the level of risk you would in an airplane. What If I Hit an Animal with My Airplane? Rick is an active CFII and holds an ATP with type ratings in the Douglas DC-3 and Cessna Citation. Nevertheless, it is not a one size fits all affair. Flying may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. 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. What could have been a very difficult situation was not an issue at all. In large classes, he explains, the instructor has to teach to the lowest common denominator in the class. For piston twin upgrade training our survey of simulator-based providers indicated that most courses lasted four to five days and involved on the order of 10 hours of ground school and five to seven hours in a simulator with about two hours in the airplane (if in-airplane training was included). RTC keeps its prices so low by cutting costs every way it can. Aircraft Simulator Training in Santa Rosa, CA, advertises in my type-club magazine and I decided to give them a try. 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