Full Flight Simulator Is In Use By Several Airlines With Operations In The Region

The first full flight simulator for the ATR-600 series aircraft in Latin America has been established by Textron subsidiary TRU Simulation + Training. ATR selected the company's FFS X Level D Full Flight Simulator for its Avianca training facilities in Bogota, Colombia. The FFS X is configured for training on the ATR 72-600 aircraft and is being supported by ATR.

The new flight simulator is now operational and is being used for training by Avianca pilots as well as pilots from Aeromar, LIAT Airline, Uni Air and Caribbean Airlines.

The FFS X simulator selected by ATR features an electric-pneumatic motion system allowing for silent operation and reduced power consumption, and a front projection collimated 200°x40° FOV visual display system. It has recently obtained certification from both the European Aviation Safety Agency and Colombia's Civil Aviation Special Administrative Unit.

"We are pleased to have been selected by ATR to facilitate the set-up of this important Full Flight Simulator for the ATR-600 series in Latin America, and also to see it being embraced for training by a number of airlines operating in the region," said TRU Simulation + Training Vice President and General Manager, Air Transport Simulation, George Karam. "Our growing organization is dedicated to providing the most innovative flight training tools to customers worldwide, by combining great fidelity with unmatched reliability and maintainability."

This is the latest engagement between the two companies, spanning a 10-year period. TRU Simulation + Training was formed in April out of three legacy companies -- Mechtronix Inc. and OPINICUS Corporation that were acquired by Textron late last year -- and a portion of the former AAI Logistics & Technical Services. Mechtronix had supported the entry into service of ATR's -600 series and equipped its worldwide Reference Training Centers with best-in-class simulation technology.

FMI: www.textron.com