Daytona Beach Campus - College of Aviation

Embry-Riddle Flight Training Department
Where the Eagles Fly!

Flight Training Devices and Simulation

With performance data from a real plane embedded in their software and 220-degree, wrap-around visual panels, the FTDs replicate the experience of flying an actual aircraft.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has given its top-level approval to Embry-Riddle's Flight Simulation and Training Devices. Flight Simulation and Training Devices (FSTDs) include both Full Flight Simulators (FFSs) as well as Flight Training Devices or FTDs. Unlike Full-Flight Simulators, FTDs do not require a motion platform, or visual system.

The University’s fleet of FTDs is FAA-qualified to LEVEL 6 yet -- unlike other FAA-qualified FTDs -- our single- and multi-engine devices include 220-degree panoramic visual theaters which enhance the sensation of actual flight. Our Regional Jet FTD includes a 180-degree Collimated visual system.

No other collegiate flight training program offers a multi-million dollar distributed simulation network comprised of eleven state-of-the-art Frasca FTDs. Our Advanced Flight Simulation Center houses the following Level 6 FTDs: seven Cessna 172S (Skyhawk), three Piper PA44 (Seminole), and one Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ-200). In addition, our Aviation Building houses Air Traffic Control and Tower simulators, one motion-based disorientation trainer, and six Basic-Aviation Training Devices (B-ATDs).

Students can perform maneuvers they couldn't do as safely in an airplane, such as stalling and going into a spin, and flight instructors can adjust different factors that affect flying, such as hazardous weather conditions, and a crowded airspace.

Quality and safety

Flight simulation enables students to learn aircraft performance, experience aerodynamic effects, and perform flight maneuvers immediately and without risk. Qualified to LEVEL 6, our devices faithfully reproduce Embry-Riddle’s fleet of single and multi-engine aircraft. In addition, our General Aviation (GA) fleet is equipped with 220-degree panoramic visual theaters. These theaters display a satellite-based terrain augmented by an extensive airport database. Our airports include navigation aids, runways, taxiways, towers, hangars, and even lighting systems. Our CRJ-200 FTD includes Collimation technology which introduces a three-dimensional effect to the visual theater.

Flight instructors can adjust different factors that affect flying, such as hazardous weather conditions and crowded airspace.

As a simulation network, our operators can participate in group or mission training. In fleet mode, instructors and students are able to communicate across devices and observe each other on the panoramic displays. In an academic setting our Central Console allows all devices to be controlled by a single instructor or faculty member, while our De-briefing Stations allow the reproduction of training sessions, adding to student feedback and review. Flight simulation in our FTDs enables students to learn more about aircraft performance and aerodynamics earlier in their training and to perfect difficult flight maneuvers without risk.

Time on task

Student pilot and instructor in FTD fly over projected terrain via a 220 degree panorama theater screen

In simulation training, the instructor has the ability to control environmental conditions and traffic loads. Furthermore, they can freeze and reposition each device instantly. These features allow a 100 percent time-on-task which is not possible in actual flight.

Availability

Aircraft availability is limited by periodic mandatory maintenance periods not required for simulation devices. Though our fleet is expertly tested daily prior to release for service, FTDs can easily maintain an availability in excess of 95 percent. Our experienced engineering and support staff, quality assurance and control methods, and yearly FAA evaluations, ensure perfect training all the time, every time.

Cost

The procurement cost of simulation and training devices is quickly offset by low maintenance requirements and high utilization. Operating under FAA Part 142, the flexible and conforming nature of our curriculum -- combined with the high training credit allowed by the Level 6 qualification -- allows us to offer high quality affordable training. In addition, the cost of upgrading visual systems and avionics is NOT passed on to our students. This allows us to continuously improve our training fleet while maintaining a high degree of service and satisfaction.

The combined number of FTDs at both our Daytona Beach and Prescott campuses makes Embry-Riddle the single largest collegiate flight training operator of Level 6 FTDs in the world.