The ATG will be approved after the completion of the initial or upgrade evaluation and all discrepancies in the ATG have been corrected. This document, after inclusion of the FAA witnessed test results, becomes the MATG. The MATG will then remain in the custody of the operator for use in future recurrent evaluations.
A copy of an MATG for each type flight training device (Levels 6 and 7 only) by each manufacturer will be required for the NSPM's file. The NSPM may elect not to retain copies of the ATG for subsequent devices of the same type by a particular manufacturer but will determine the need for copies on a caseby-case basis. Data updates to an original ATG should be provided to the NSPM in order to keep FAA file copies current.
9. RECURRENT EVALUATIONS.
Por a flight training device to retain its qualification, it will be evaluated on a recurrent basis using the approved MATG. Evaluations will normally be accomplished by a representative of the POI or a FSDO inspector for Levels 2 through 5 and must be accomplished by the NSPM for Levels 6 and 7. Each recurrent evaluation will consist of functions tests and at least a portion of the validation tests in the MATG.
The recurrent evaluations will be planned for every 4 months with approximately one-third of the validation tests in the MATG accomplished each time. This will allow all MATG tests to be accomplished annually. However, with appropriate arrangement and understanding between the operator and the FAA, an extended interval recurrent evaluation schedule can be arranged. This decision may be made at the conclusion of the initial evaluation and the operator notified within 30 days.
(1) For Levels 2, 3, and 4, the extended interval may be based on annual evaluations by the FAA with all MATG tests accomplished at each successive evaluation.
(2) For Levels 5, 6, and 7, the extended interval may be based on semiannual evaluations by the FAA with the operator accomplishing quarterly Dates of recurrent evaluations normally will not be scheduled beyond 30 days of the due date. Exceptions to this policy will be considered by the FAA on a case-by-case basis to address extenuating circumstances.
In the interest of conserving training device time, the following Optional Test Program (OTP), applicable to Levels 6 and 7, is an alternative to the standard recurrent evaluation procedure:
(1) Operators having the appropriate automatic recording and plotting capabilities may apply for evaluation under the OTP.
(2) Operators must notify the POI and NSPM in writing of their intent to enter the OTP. If the FAA determines that the evaluation can be acconmodated with 4 hours or less of training device time, recurrent evaluations for that device will be planned for 4 hours. If the 4-hour period is or will be exceeded and the operator cannot extend the period, then the evaluation will be terminated and must be completed within 30 days to maintain qualification status. The FAA will then reassess the appropriateness of the OTP.
(3) Under the OTP, at least one-third of all the validation tests will be performed and certified by operator personnel between FAA recurrent evaluations. Complete coverage will be required through any three consecutive i shout ite recurrent evaluations. These tests and the recording of the results should be accomplished within the 30 days prior to the scheduled evaluation or accomplished on an evenly distributed basis during the 4-month period preceding the scheduled evaluation. This information will be reviewed by the FAA Simulator Evaluation Specialist at the outset of each recurrent evaluation. At least 20 percent of those tests conducted by the operator for each recurrent evaluation will then be selected and repeated by the Simulator Evaluation Specialist along with at least 10 percent of those tests not performed by the operator.
In instances where an operator plans to remove a flight training device from active status for prolonged periods, the following procedures shall apply to requalify the flight training device pursuant to this AC:
(1) The FAA shall be advised in writing. The notice shall contain an estimate of the period that the device will be inactive.
(2) Recurrent evaluations will not be scheduled during the inactive period. The FAA will remove the flight training device from qualified status on a mutually established date not later than the date on which the first missed recurrent evaluation would have been scheduled.
(3) Before a device can be restored to FAA-qualified status, it will require an evaluation by the FAA. The evaluation content and time required for accomplishment will be based on the number of recurrent evaluations missed during the inactive period. For example, if the training device were out of service for 1 year, it would be necessary to complete the entire test guide since under the recurrent evaluation program, the MATG is to be completed annually.
(4) The operator will notify the FAA of any changes to the original scheduled time out of service.
(5) The flight training device will normally be requalified using the FAA-approved MATG and criteria that was in effect prior to its removal from qualification; however, inactive periods exceeding 1 year will require a review of the qualification basis.
(6) If these procedures are not possible, the establishment of a new qualification basis will be necessary.
14 Par 9
10. SPECIAL EVALUATIONS.
Between recurring evaluations, if deficiencies are discovered or it becomes apparent that the flight training device is not being maintained to initial qualification standards, a special evaluation may be conducted by the POI, or NSPM if appropriate, to verify its status.
The flight training device will lose its qualification when the POI or NSPM can no longer ascertain maintenance of the original validation criteria based on a recurrent or special evaluation. Additionally, the POI shall advise the operator and the NSPM, if appropriate, if a deficiency is jeopardizing training requirements, and arrangements shall be made to resolve the deficiency in the most effective manner, including the withdrawal of approval by the POI.
11. MODIFICATION OF FLIGHT TRAINING DEVICES.
a. Operators must notify the POI (and NSPM if appropriate) at least 21 days prior to making software program or hardware changes which impact flight or ground dynamics. A complete list of these planned changes and identification of proposed updates to the MATG must be provided in writing. Operators should maintain a configuration control system to ensure the continued integrity of the device and to account for changes incorporated. The configuration control system may be examined by the FAA on request.
b. Modifications which impact flight or ground dynamics, systems functions, and significant ATO revisions may require an FAA evaluation of the flight training device.
QUALIFICATION BASIS. The FAR require that training devices must maintain their performance, functions, and other characteristics as originally evaluated and qualified. Except as provided for in paragraph 2, all recurrent evaluations of those flight training devices using the acceptable methods of compliance described in this AC for initial or upgrade evaluation (including any visual or motion systems installations) will be conducted in accordance with the provisions herein.
13. DOWNGRADE OF AN AIRPLANE SIMOLATOR TO AN AIRPLANE FLIGHT TRAINING DEVICE.
An operator may elect to have a currently qualified airplane simulator reclassified as a flight training device. This may be accomplished through one of two methods.
Normal. The operator would follow the steps outlined in this AC for the evaluation and qualification of a flight training device irrespective of the device's current status as an airplane simulator.
b. Administrative. The operator would request that the currently qualified airplane simulator be downgraded to a flight training device. This process would not require an on-site evaluation of the device and would be in accordance with the following:
Par 10 15
(1) Conditions.
(i) A Level C or D airplane simulator may be administratively reclassified as a Level 6 or 7 airplane flight training device at the operator's option. A Level A or B airplane simulator may be administratively reclassified as a Level 6 airplane flight training device.
(ii) The existing qualification basis for the simulator will remain the basis for qualification of the flight training device, including all aspects of the MATG, except for those tests applicable to the motion or visual systems. The motion and visual systems should be deactivated, although physical removal from the device is not required. Should the operator wish to have the availability of either the motion or visual systems, those appropriate tests would remain a part of the MATG for the flight training device.
(iii) Frequency and content of recurrent evaluations would remain unchanged except for MATG modifications that may occur under (1)(ii), above.
(2) Procedures.
(1) The operator must notity the ASPH, in writing, through the POI, of the desire to administratively downgrade their airplane simulator.
(ii) This notification must include appropriate page changes to the current MATG indicating, at least, the change in status and the elimination of appropriate tests as described under (1) (ii), above.
(iii) After review of this notification package and concluding that the modified MATG would support the flight training device qualification level sought, the NSPM may iasue a qualification letter.
Situations that may not be addressed by either of the above two methods will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
14. PREVIOUSLY APPROVED FLIGHT TRAINING DEVICES.
Those flight training devices which, for any reason, are not capable of meeting, or it is not desired that they meet, the qualification standards for a specified level as described in this AC, but which have been previously approved for use in accordance with FAR Parts 61, 63, 121, 125, 135, or 141, and/or have been issued an authorization letter from the Flight Standards Service, General Aviation and Commercial Division, APS-800, 800 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington D.C. 20591, will be eligible for qualification under a temporary status. This temporary status will be automatically conferred with issuance of this AC, will remain valid for a period not to exceed a date 5 years after the effective date of this AC, and will allow continued use of the device as authorized for this time period.
96 Par 13
Any such device which is physically modified with the intent of meeting a qualification standard set out in this AC, but which, for any reason, has not demonstrated that it meets the standards for a specific level, will have this temporary status conferred, or continued, only if the following conditions are
(1) The device was manufactured and has been approved prior to the effective date of this AC;
(2) Local FSDO personnel are notified that such a modification is planned; and
(3) The performance of the modified device is determined by local FSDO personnel, in consultation with the NSPM and AFS-800, to meet, or exceed, that of the original equipment. This determination would be solely subjective in nature and would be based on those maneuvers/procedures for which the device had been previously approved. In the interest of information gathering, the FAA would request that the person(s) involved in the design and/or installation of such modifications provide documentation, test results, conclusions, etc., to the FAA.
William J. White Dillame 2 Milete Acting Director, Flight Standards Service Par 14 17 (and 18)
APPENDIX 1. FLIGHT TRAINING DEVICE STANDARDS at Levels 1 through 7. The appropriate FAR, as indicated in paragraph 3 of this AC, must be consulted when DISCUSSION. This appendix describes the minimum flight training device requirements for qualification 2/5/92 → considering particular training device requirements.
appendices 2 and 3 must also be consulted when determining the requirements of a specific level training device. In the following tabular listing of training device requirements, needed statements of compliance and statements of explanation are indicated in the comment column.
LEVEL
2. GENERAL 2 4 5 6 Comments
a. A cockpit which will have actuation Level 3 must be repreof controls and switches which replicate sentative of a single those in the airplane. set of airplanes, and must have navigation controls, displays, and instrumentation as set out in FAR Section 91.33 for operation in accordance with instrument flight rules (IFR).
b. Instruments, equipment, panels, Level 2 must be represystems, and controls sufficient for the train- sentative of a single set ing/checking events to be accomplished must be of airplanes. Levels located in a spatially correct open flight deck 2 and 5 require area. Actuation of these controls and simulated aerodynamic switches must replicate those in the airplane. capability and control forces and travel sufficient to manually fly an instrument approach.
c. Daily preflight documentation. Appendix 1 AC 120-45A
FLIGHT TRAINING DEVICE STANDARDS (Cont'd) LEVEL 2 3 4 5 7 Comments ~ d. Lighting environment for panels and Lighting must be as per instruments must be sufficient for the airplane lighting for operation being conducted. Level 7.
Circuit breakers should function Must be properly located accurately when they are involved in in Levels 6 and 7.
operating procedures or malfunctions requiring or involving flight crew response.
f. Effect of aerodynamic changes for Levels 3, 6, and 7 various combinations of drag and thrust require additionally, normally encountered in flight, including the the effects of gross fast of than, temperala, attitudiguruen. thrust, weight and center of gravity.
sufficient capacity 40 conduct complete opera- Digital or analog computing of tion of the device including its evaluation and testing.
h. All relevant instrument indications involved in the simulation of the applicable airplane entirely automatic in response to control input.
i. Navigation equipment corresponding Levels 3, 6, and 7 must to that installed in the replicated airplane il60 include communicawith operation within the tolerances tion equipment (interprescribed for the actual airborne equipment. phone and air/ground) corresponding to that installed in the replicated aircraft, and, if appropriate, to the operation being conducted, an oxygen mask microphone/communication system. Levels 2 and 5 need have operational 2/5/92 only that navigation equipment sufficient to fly a non-precision instrument approach.
FLIGHT TRAINING DEVICE STANDARDS (Cont'd) LEVEL 2/5/92 2 3 4 5 7 Comments
j. Crewmember seats must afford the Level 7 crewmember seats capability for the occupant to be able to must accurately simulate achieve the design eye reference position for those installed in the specific airplanes, or to approximate such a airplane.
position for a generic set of airplanes.
k. In addition to the flight crewmember These seats need not be a stations, suitable seating arrangements for an replica of an aircraft instructor/check airman and FAA inspector. seat and can be as simple crewmember's panel (s). These seats must provide adequate view of as an office chair placed in an appropriate position.
1. Installed systems) must simulate the Levels 6 and 7 must applicable airplane system operation, both on simulate all applicable the ground and in flight. At least one air- airplane flight, navigaplane system must be represented. System(s) tion, and systems must be operative to the extent that applicable operation.
normal, abnormal, and emergency operating Level 3 must have flight procedures included in the operator's training and navigational programs can be accomplished. controls, displays, and instrumentation for powered aircraft as set out in FAR Section 91.33 for IFR operation.
Levels 2 and 5 must have functional flight and navigational controls, displays, and instrumentation. Appendix 1 AC 120-45A
FLIGHT TRAINING DEVICE STANDARDS (Cont'd) LEVEL Instructor controls that permit 12 3 4567 Comments Appendix 1 AC 120-45A activation of normal, abnormal, and emergency conditions, as may be appropriate. Once activated, proper system operation must result from system management by the crew and not require input from the instructor controls.
n. Control forces and control travel Levels 2 and 5 need which correspond to that of the replicated control forces and conairplane, or set of airplanes. Control forces trol travel only of should react in the same manner as in the sufficient precision to airplane, or set of airplanes, under the same manually fly an instruflight conditions. ment approach.
o. Significant cockpit sounds which result from pilot actions corresponding to those of the airplane.
p. Sound of precipitation, windshield Statement of Compliance.
wipers, and other significant airplane noises precipitable te the pilot during normal, abnormal, or emergency operations, as may be appropriate.
Aerodynamic modeling which, for air- Statement of Compliance.
planes issued an original type certificate Tests required. See after June 1980, includes low-altitude level- appendix 2 for further flight ground effect, Mach effect at high information. The statealtitude, effects of airframe icing, normal ment must address ground lynamic thrust effect on control surfaces, effect, Mach effect, seroelastic representations, and representa- aeroelastic representations of nonlinearities due to sideslip based on airplane flight test data provided due to sideslip. tions, and nonlinearities 2/5/92 Separate tests for thrust effects and demonstration of icing effects are required.
FLIGHT TRAINING DEVICE STANDARDS (Cont'd) LEVEL 2/5/92 2 3 5 6 1 7 Comments I. Control feel dynamics which replicate Statement of Compliance.
the airplane simulated. Free response of the Tests required. See controls shall match that of the airplane appendix 2, par. 3.
within the tolerance given in appendix 2.
Initial and upgrade evaluation will include control free response (column, wheel, and pedal) measurements recorded at the controls.
The measured responses must correspond to those of the airplane in takeoff, cruise, and landing configurations.
(1) For airplanes with irreversible control systems, measurements may be obtained on the ground if proper pilot static inputs are provided to represent conditions typical of those encountered in flight. Engineering validation or airplane manufacturer rationale will be submitted as justification to ground test or omit a configuration.
(2) For flight training devices requiring static and dynamic tests at the controls, special test fixtures will not be required during initial evaluations if the operator's ATG shows both test fixture results and alternate test method results, such as computer data plots, which were obtained concurrently. Repeat of the alternate method during the initial evaluation may then satisfy this test requirement.
Appendix 1 AC 120-45A
an FLIGHT TRAINING DEVICE STANDARDS (Cont'd) LEVEL 2 3 4 Comments Appendix 1 AC 120-45A
s. Aerodynamic and ground reaction Statement of Compliance.
modeling for the effects of reverse thrust on Tests required.
directional control.
t. Timely permanent update of flight training device hardware and programming consistent with airplane modifications.
u. Visual system; if installed (not ¡ X Visual system standards required). set out in AC 120-40, as amended, for at least Level A simulators will be acceptable.
v. Motion system; if installed (not Motion system standards required). set out in AC 120-40, as amended, for at least Level A simulators will be acceptable.
2/5/92
APPENDIX 2. FLIGHT TRAINING DEVICS VALIDATION TESTS 2/5/92 DISCUSSION. Performance must be objectively limited basis, the flight training device evaluated by comparing the results of tests performance and handling qualities. The results of conducted in the training device to aircraft flight test data unless specifically noted otherwise. Test requirements listed in the table may not be applicable in cases in which the flight training device does not include the system or function to be checked. In other cases a system or function may be included and evaluated in the flight training device which would normally not be required for the level of qualification being sought.
these tests for Levels 3, 6, and 7 are expected to be indicative of the device's performance and handling qualities throughout the airplane weight and CG envelope, the operational envelope, and for varying atmospheric ambient and environmental conditions to the extremes authorized for the respective airplane or set of airplanes. It is not sufficient, nor is it acceptable, to program these flight training devices so that the modelling is The ATG provided by the operator must describe clearly and distinctly how the flight training device will be set up and operated for each test.
Use of a driver program designed to automatically accomplish the tests is encouraged for all flight training devices. A manual test procedure with correct only at the validation test points.
Test of handling qualities must include validation of augmentation devices. Plight training devices for highly augmented airplanes will be validated both in the unaugmented configuration (or failure state with the maximum permitted degradation in explicit and detailed steps for completion of each test must also be provided. The tests and tolerances contained in this appendix must be included in the operator's ATG.
The Table of Validation Tests of this appendix generally indicates the test results required.
Unless noted otherwise, tests should represent airplane performance and handling qualities at normal operating weights and centers of gravity (CG). If a test is supported by aircraft data at one extreme weight or CG, another test supported by aircraft data at midconditions or as close as possible to the other extreme should be included.
Certain tests which are relevant only at one extreme CG or weight condition need not be repeated at the other extreme. It should be recognized that the tests listed in the table merely sample, on a very handling qualities) and the augmented configuration.
Where various levels of handling qualities result from failure states, validation of the effect of the failure is necessary. Requirements for testing will be mutually agreed to between the operator and the NSPM on a case-by-case basis.
Appendix 2 AC 120-45A