ELEVATING TRAINING TO NEW HEIGHTS

FlightSafety International’s training programmes encompass both physical and virtual settings, with courses offered in traditional classrooms, advanced simulators, and through e-learning and LiveLearning platforms

By AYUSHEE CHAUDHARY

FLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL HAS EMERGED AS A LEADING PROVIDER OF STANDARDISED QUALITY TRAINING IN THE AVIATION INDUSTRY

Training is an essential component of any industry, ensuring efficiency, growth, and safety. In the aviation industry, where precision and preparedness are paramount, FlightSafety International (FSI) has emerged a leading provider of standardised quality training for over seven decades. With a commitment to excellence, FSI offers a wide range of core and advanced master-level courses tailored to the specific needs of aviation professionals.

FSI’s training programmes encompass physical and virtual settings, with courses offered in traditional classrooms, advanced simulators, and e-learning and LiveLearning platforms. The company provides training for pilots, technicians, and other aviation professionals from 167 countries and independent territories. FlightSafety operates the world’s largest fleet of advanced full-flight simulators at Learning Centres and training locations globally.

From fixed-wing to rotary and unmanned systems; from pilots to maintenance technicians, dispatchers, and more, FSI offers a large variety of training options to choose from which is further customised based on the manufacturer and model.

Pilot Training

FSI boasts of empowering its pilots with unwavering calmness and composure needed for all situations, from the everyday to the unusual. Initial, recurrent, advanced, or special operations training, FSI’s goal is to advance missions by offering the specific training support needed, including access to cuttingedge simulator technology, specially designed training environments, and the expertise of professional Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)- and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)-qualified instructors. The emphasis lies on reliability, convenience and flexibility.

FSI focuses on providing comprehensive & tailored training programmes. FSI’s Master Aviator and Advanced Training programmes on select aircraft go beyond the fundamentals, offering deeper knowledge of the aircraft and professional development. FSI also offers United States veterans training on approved programmes at learning centres across the US FSI also offers training for regional airline operators through their global network of training locations.

FlightSafety’s Advanced Training helps develop solid flying skills, swift and accurate decisions, and precise crew communication. FSI designed these courses to enhance the skills with targeted, aircraft-specific training in a controlled environment. Compelling scenarios, coupled with breakthroughs in simulator technology provide aircrews situational awareness tools, decision making tools, performance targets and exceptional hand flying skills well above that required by regulatory training.

Courses are available for both Fixed Wing as well as Helicopter. Fixed wing courses include, Advanced Upset Prevention & Recovery Training (UPRT), Advanced Energy Management, Advanced Rejected Takeoff Go/No-Go, Advanced CRM, Human Factors LOFT while those for helicopter courses include Advanced Energy Management, Advanced Helicopter CRM, and Advanced Helicopter Surviving I/IMC.

One of the critical aspects of FSI’s training methodology is expert, individualised instruction. With real-time insights and proven experience, instructors tailor the training to the specific needs of each individual, ensuring personalised and effective learning. This approach allows aviation professionals to enhance their skills, gain situational awareness, develop effective decision-making tools, and acquire exceptional hand-flying skills.

Another standout feature of FSI’s training programmes is the focus on reality replication. By incorporating the most up-to-date best practices and utilising advanced simulation technology, FSI ensures that its training programmes mirror real-world situations as accurately as possible. The use of patented methods, immersive technology, and countless training scenarios empowers aviation professionals to navigate real-life challenges with confidence and precision.

FSI also has special Corporate Flight Attendant Programmes and Cabin Safety Training Programmes. Unmanned training programmes and those for the government and military are some additional highlights that FSI offers.

GOVERNMENT & MILITARY TRAINING

Apart from business and commercial training, FSI also provides mission-critical training programmes and equipment to military and government flight crews the world over – including every branch of the US armed forces. “With operations at 15 US military bases, we provide instruction on military pilot training, tankers, transport and tilt-rotor aircraft, helicopters, cargo load, and refueling boom operators. More than 40 national governments entrust FSI-trained pilots with the safety of their diplomats and heads of state. We deliver state-of-the-art simulations to leading commercial, government, and military organisations worldwide,” FSI states.

They provide instruction on military pilot training, tankers, transport and tilt-rotor aircraft, helicopters, cargo load, and refueling boom operators. FSI states that its flight simulators feature CrewView All-Glass Mirror Displays that provide superior optical performance, sharper image clarity, longterm reliability, and are night vision capable.

Advances in simulations have significantly improved the effectiveness of government and military training in all phases. Some features of FSI’s simulations include:

• Enhanced computational power generates scene content providing the greatest visual fidelity.

• Superior projectors, glass displays, and sensors work with better modeling for flow fields around military aircraft.

• Training is linked across simulators and devices in different locations.

• An air refueling mission could have tanker pilots training in one location, while boom operators train simultaneously somewhere else, with crews debriefing the mission to improve performance.

• Operators use real equipment such as night vision goggles, to enhance their realism and their skills.

Uas Training

FSI continues to invest into the field of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) training. Leveraging their experience in military training and corporate aviation, FlightSafety offers a variety of advanced drone training solutions. Whether it’s becoming a drone pilot, starting a commercial UAS operation, or enhancing existing UAS operations, FSI provides comprehensive training to ensure safe and efficient flight operations. From implementation to operational standardisation, advanced drone training provides comprehensive solutions to ensure that flight mission objectives are safely achieved.

Recently at the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) 2023, Dronamics, developers of unmanned aerial systems for shipping commercial and special cargo applications, signed an agreement with FlightSafety to develop and deliver initial and recurrent pilot training for Dronamics’ Black Swan aircraft. Future training development opportunities also exist for Dronamics’ by utilising FlightSafety’s long history in providing maintenance, dispatch, and specialty enrichment courses to pilots and technicians around the world.

DATA-DRIVEN TRAINING

FSI has partnered with GE Digital to offer data-based training to business aviation professionals worldwide. This collaboration leverages GE Digital’s data-driven C-FOQA insight to proactively reduce risk by focusing on preparedness for potential threats even before they manifest.

GE Digital’s C-FOQA data, encompassing over 300 operators and 1,000+ aircraft, identifies precursors to aviation accidents and incidents. These real-world insights enable FlightSafety International to tailor their training approach based on risk assessment. Threats such as runway excursions, Loss of Control in Flight (LOC-I), Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT), touchdown point control, and wingtip clearance protection are among the areas addressed. The partnership between FlightSafety and GE Digital ensures that crews gain real-world insight through their training environment, which is further customised to aircraft type, airport location, and operational nature.

“Actual flight data will allow us to tailor training to address safety threats before crews even experience them,” said Brad Thress, President, and CEO, FlightSafety International.