Will Be Unveiled At 2009 National Training Aircraft
Symposium
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Frasca International
announced Monday they will unveil the first integrated flight
training device (FTD) with virtual air traffic control commands,
that will give student pilots more realistic training.
Designed specifically for general aviation pilot training, the
product called SAFTE (Synthetic Automated Flight Training
Environment) with Virtual Air Traffic (VAT) will be demonstrated at
Embry-Riddle's National Training Aircraft Symposium, March 16-19 on
the Daytona Beach campus. The annual event brings together
academics, industry leaders, and manufacturers to discuss and
exhibit the latest trends and equipment in aviation education.
This year's focus will be on future safety management systems
and NextGen performance-based operations.
SAFTE/VAT incorporates simulated flight plans with voice
recognition technology to deliver a real world flight experience,
allowing the student pilot to "fly" in a particular situation or
air space, and receive specific commands from the virtual air
traffic controller. The technology enables the flight
instructor to focus on teaching rather than role-playing and better
trains the student through repetitive, learned behaviors in
scenario-based situations.
"Embry-Riddle is proud to collaborate with Frasca to advance the
state of the art in flight simulation," said Dr. Dan Macchiarella,
associate professor of aeronautical science at Embry Riddle and
project manager for the University. "Our research shows that
students learn more and much faster in a virtual simulation
environment, thereby increasing the cost efficiency of our training
programs."
Embry-Riddle uses FTD training
extensively in its FAA Part 141/142 approved flight training
curricula. "Frasca has worked with varied special requirements over
the years to develop an array of tools that enhance the simulator
environment," said John Frasca, vice president of Frasca
International. "The SAFTE/VAT product puts those tools under
singular control to give the instructor more opportunity to be an
instructor—and the University more control over
standardization. In yet another productive collaboration with
Embry-Riddle, we have identified a reliable source for curriculum
development that complements the powerful tools available on our
products."
SAFTE with VAT will be demonstrated at Embry-Riddle's NTAS
event, as well as in a special presentation by Dr. Macchiarella and
John Frasca, on Tuesday, March 17.
Macchiarella and his team developed the curriculum and
comprehensive program of air traffic controller commands in the new
product, while Frasca developed the software tools. Embry-Riddle
will be the first beta test user (not for student training) of
SAFTE with VAT in its aviation labs to finalize the product before
commercial availability through Frasca, which is anticipated
sometime in the fourth quarter of 2009.