At SimCom, you aretypically assigned one instructor for the entire duration of your course, and thatinstructor handles both the classroom and simulator portions of the syllabus; atFlightSafety, its common to get different instructors for ground school and simulator.The instructors at SimCom also tend to teach multiple airplanes your twin Cessnainstructor might well have taught a King Air class the day before while FlightSafetyinstructors tend to be more specialized. 1071 East Aero Park Blvd. Upon successful completion of the course, you will receive a flight review through the FAA Wings Program. The more the industry drags out phasing out 100LL, the more susceptible it is to looking unconcerned about public health risks. Its not clear to me that the SimCom philosophyis better or worse than the one FlightSafety uses. 702-294-0188, 20 hours per The dismal G.A. Accidentstatistics back this up: pilots who get regular sim training are far safer than those whodont. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. In one instance, I had to deal with a total electrical failure justafter a nighttime takeoff, and had to visually circle back to the airport in a totallyblacked-out cockpit. Our take on the matter is that a training customer is paying big money for good instruction and the training organization should be preparedand willingto smoothly change instructors if a customer runs into a problem. We were particularly interested in comments from two piston twin owners because we are of the opinion that one of the toughest upgrades is to a piston twin due to the complexity of older and often user-unfriendly systems combined with purely awful performance on one engine. SimCom is focusing, once again, on general aviation training. In addition to the type-specific courses, FlightSafety offers three genericinstrument refresher courses that concentrate on instrument flying subjects (weather,chart reading, ATC procedures, etc.) Factor in that you do more in an hour in the sim and the sim gives you at least a four-to-one cost advantage. There are a few things that a simulator doesnt do as well as an airplane. The pet scenario almost invariably involves flying the airplane at the edge of its abilities and will help you get to know the capabilities of the airplane. Even talk to an instructor in that program to see if you can uncover any problems with the equipment. A combination of more than a decade of economic growth, a soft aviation insurance market (although that appears to be changing) and relatively low selling prices for used piston twins, turboprops and light jets has resulted in a healthy number of piston single owners giving serious thought to stepping up to more capableand demandingairplanes. ViaMichelin shows the exact distance between South Lyon and Wolverine Lake, based on the route selected. Sim training is such an intense experience that mostcurricula limit pilots to two hours of left-seat time per day. Shooting approaches under the hood is woefullyinadequate preparation for doing the same thing in actual low-visibility conditions. Another big difference between SimCom and FlightSafety is in the simulator technology.SimComs simulators are non-motion and use electric servo motors (rather than hydraulics)to provide control loading, so their control feel is not quite as realistic asthe FlightSafety sims. Cost for the single-engine course starts at $889 for a "generic IFR recurrent." For airplane-specific recurrent training, prices range from $1000 for Cessna singles, through $1600 for the Cirrus series. Right there I made the decision to alternate doing my annual at my local shop with someone else. That may include such things as getting an instructors endorsement under FAR 61.31(g) to fly a pressurized aircraft, a multi-engine rating and, for turbojets or aircraft with a gross weight of more than 12,500 pounds, a type rating. I went around and landed. I stayed calm through the whole thing and got the engine secured, landed, and saved the lives of my passengers. The best aircraft upgrade training is simulator based. I also found them to be a bit less faithful in simulating variousaircraft systems failures. Thats the best of both worlds. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Eric Hinson, CEO of SimCom, told us that initial training courses for turboprops usually run five to six days, and make use of Level A to D sims as well as nonmotion Flight Training Devices (FTD)depending on the type of aircraftand may include training in the customers airplane. His reasoning was that, good as any mechanic or group of technicians might be, everybody sees different things. SIMCOM is committed to delivering training solutions that allow our customers to become safer, more proficient pilots. While thought of as primarily catering to the professional pilot world, it aggressively markets to owner pilots, especially for smaller jets such as the Cessna CJ series and the HondaJet. If you want to stay proficient while at the sametime treating your aircraft with TLC, you should seriously consider doing your recurrenttraining in a simulatoror in someone elses aircraft! RTC keeps its prices so low by cutting costs every way it can. Orlando, Fla. - SIMCOM International, Inc. is expanding and building a new worldwide headquarters in Orlando. Scores are presented in relation to the national average of 100. Seniors 65+ and adults with disabilities receive a discounted rate of $2.00 each way within the general service boundary. Orlando is the companys main headquarters and training location. Some routes (e.g. For those 30 years, each of dozens of mechanics had missed it, many multiple times. The quality of individual instructors was a constant refrain in our conversations with users as they related good and bad training experiences. 2722 Perimeter Road, Suite 107 This comprehensive approach to flight training replicates forces that govern and influence aeronautics, while providing practical experience in the cockpit. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide controlled consent over which cookies are allowed. Frank he used to address me. All Rights Reserved. FlightSafety operates a Raytheon/Beech Learning Center in Wichita, Kansas, at whichsimulator-based initial and recurrent training is available for the Beech Bonanza, Baronand Duke. (PIC Initial) 3814 Curtis Parkway When you train in your actual aircraft, youre polishing every aspect of your proficiency, from buttonology on your equipment to handling the bird in those edge cases your CFI just loves to throw at you. 760-476-0890, Flight Safety International A privately-owned, comprehensive learning institution, SIMCOM utilizes realistic simulator-based training to provide advanced aviation training services to professional pilots, owner-operators, Part 135 operators and maintenance personnel operating in general aviation, regional, military, government and cargo operations around the world. Many insurance companies require their insureds, particularly those flying more complex aircraft, to periodically attend recurrent training. There the pilot can work through lots of malfunctions, practice lots of approaches, and make lots of mistakes; none are fatal. Four if you really push? The vast majority ofFSIs resources are devoted to training airline and corporate pilots for jet and turbopropaircraft piston training represents a very small portion of their business. The reality is that just complying with the FARs will not be enough for your insurance companyit will require that you go through training at a program it approves, and most of those are simulator-based, something we applaud. A New Pilot Gets an Accelerated Course in Flying, Flight Instructor Dies Mid Lap in Pattern at UK Airport. Stalls, slow flight, missed approaches and especially engine cuts can generatea lot of wear and tear on the equipment. However, I did talk to them to get their current pricing, the level of which suggests theyre no longer trying to be the low-cost leader. After nearly ten years of training at FlightSafety, I decided to try SimCom for achange of pace, and have gone through two semiannual recurrent training cycles at SimComsScottsdale facility. He knew his stuff, and his easy-going, southern-gentleman style was refreshing, right down to the unnecessary, Mr. If FlightSafety is the Rolls Royce of piston sim training and Simcom is theLexus, then Recurrent Training Center would have to be the Ford pickup or the Dodgeminivan. Other situations that we do try to practice in the aircraft can beaccomplished only in very unrealistic ways. Boulder City Well, its different. Now offering Gulfstream G650, Challenger 300/350, Phenom 300, and Pilatus PC-12NGx training! SimCom also has obtained FAA approval for a Citation single-pilot course/type rating thats conducted entirely in one of the companys simulators. 972-641-4661, Cycled Give us a call: (866)-238-4468 or www.simulator.com. Aircraft Mentoring Training Rates for SimCom training span a fairly broad price range, since a Piper Seneca FTD costs significantly less than a Hawker 800 full-motion simulator, but daily course rates run between $620. This means that much of their training is one on one. There we quickly completed the necessary paperwork and I paid for the course. Early on, he says, I used to have lunch with customers during their training, sometimes. 520-918-7100, Lear Jet Due to some date confusion on my part, I thought I was beginning this process with a couple months of flexibility. Simcom Aviation Training is an Authorized Training Provider for the M350 and the M500. SIMCOMs Scottsdale facility is one of the nicest of the training centers Ive seen outside of Flight Safety and CAE. Thats amazing.. The prices quoted above are FlightSafetys 1998 One Time tuitions. In previous lives, Ray had owned a flight school, a charter company and flown Part 91 corporate. Ive rehashed my sim time, trying to conclude if the sims deficiencies diminished the training. SIMCOM advertises state-of-the-art simulators. That might be true for other aircraft, but the Twin Cessna was, to be blunt, old, tired, far from modern, and simply buggy. PO Box 6692 After all, sim development was pushed by the airlines because their professional pilots were killing themselves during in-airplane training. Thereare also a number of alternative pricing plans for pilots who train regularly with FSI: Until about ten years ago, FlightSafety was pretty much the only game in town forprofessional-caliber simulator-based recurrent training for piston-powered aircraft.Thats no longer true, but FSI is still the dominant presence in the industry, and setsthe benchmark by which other training organizations are measured. In each case, I came away with something different and valuable. 878 Greenview Drive Bottom line: Training, and especially proficiency training, is simply better in a simulator. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Weve always tried to do things in creative ways to allow us to provide customers with more value, David explains. Sure, we recognize the value of the training and would plan to go anyway, but often plans dont quite make it into schedules. So, without the insurance requirement, we might not go at all or perhaps not as often as we should. November 2018 Killer Quiz: Emergency Procedures. The annual cost is about 60% higher than the One Time tuition, and the minimum contract period is two years. My advice to prospective SIMCOM clients would be to ask about the sim youd use, ask its age and origin. We received input from a number of pilots regarding their experience with upgrade training. Its currently offering a 20 percent discount on both its CJ and Citation Ultra training courses (both relatively new offerings at SimCom). As you might expect, FlightSafetys training is extremely professional, highlystructured, and quite expensive. Initial Type Rating In e-mail discussions I was impressed with the approach that Aircraft Simulator Training took, but we just couldnt get the schedule to work. Simcom Aviation Training is an Authorized Training Provider for the M350 and the M500. For the Cessna 300/400 recurrent course, for example, you can purchase 3 VIP certificates for $2,000 each, 4 or 5 certificates for $1,900 each, or 6+ certificates for $1,800 each. Why Is Area Forecast Discussion Important for Preflight Planning? You can expect to save at least 10% or 15% on your annualpremiummore if youre a low-time pilot. We think it will save you money in the process of getting comfortable in your airplane. Finally, theres cost. Schedule your DeSat training in conjunction with your aircraft training program while at SIMCOM. Its a bit more difficult to fly anon-motion sim (because you receive fewer cues), but one could argue that this results ingreater pilot proficiency rather than less. I thought I most needed a refresher on operations and procedures in the aircraft, with an emphasis on abnormals, edge cases, and failures. Our Jet, Turboprop and Piston simulators will . You have entered an incorrect email address! Form your own conclusion from that. Transition Training The physical faithfulness of the sim allowed us to nicely review various procedures, which was quite valuable. It is now in place and operational at the SIMCOM training facility in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA. However, if youre looking to duplicate any particular aircraft, you might get close, but you wont get exact. I recently learned of a facility Id not previously known. OK Aviation DeSat is individualized slow onset hypoxia training offered in partnership with Southern AeroMedical Institute. At one point, SimCom was paired with the Pan Am Flight Academy, which provides more regional and commercial airline-geared flight training. CAE eLearning courses empower you to take learning and safety into your own hands with more than 80 courses covering General Operating and Bombardier aircraft-specific courses. Sure, many have been plowed up for houses or 2023 Aviation Publishing Group. Flying around the Statue of Liberty and then landing on the 700-foot-long Manhattan Heliport in a jet may sound silly to talk about, but when you do it and discover that you are getting to know the airplane well enough that you can pull it off, youll have made great strides to becoming one with your new flying machine. Carlsbad, CA Idconsidered myself a reasonably proficient pilot, but that initial experience in thesimulator was truly humbling. As multi-type-rated pilot Michel Litalien told us, You can do pressurization failures in a simulator all day long, but until you pressurize the airplane, take it to 14,000 feet, dump the pressurization and feel the effects, you dont have a gut-level understanding of what depressurization in the flight levels would really involve.. Work on aviation training company Simcom International Corp.'s future Orlando headquarters is taking off. Simcom is located in Orlando, Florida and has two visual-motion simulators, classrooms and a team of professional flight instructors located in Orlando, Florida. Recurrent Training The price goes up from there based on the type of aircraft involved and the amount of training you require to reach proficiencywhich may include a mentor pilot flying with you for some hours following the formal training course. Certification Course $25 to $100 million (USD) Competitors: Unknown From our training centers located in Orlando, Florida, Dallas/Ft.Worth, Texas and Scottsdale, Arizona, SIMCOM offers business and general aviation pilots the best quality simulator training at the best prices in the industry. Frank Bowlin is a strong believer in simulator-based flight training. While a light- to medium-piston-twin pilot or even a single-engine pilot will likely find quality offerings at SIMCOM, class pricing can leave the pilot breathless, especially if you're on an annual recurrent schedule. Plus, of course, you can do ever so much more in the sim than in the airplane. If you have difficulty viewing the website, contact us at 1.877.879.0275. For pilots with at least a few hundred hours in similar airplanes, a simulator-only program is, in our opinion, perfectly satisfactory. Ive not yet hadthe opportunity to take this course. Recently, however, the company has introduced several cost-saving training options. Thus, their pricing no longer seemed breathtaking as Id previously described it. This website uses cookies to enhance your experience. The idea is to move into flight scenarios early. $17,400, Flight Training International And that, David realized, could dramatically lower the cost of simulator training opening up the option of simulator-based training to many more pilots and owners. Nothing flies just quite like your aircraft. Orlando, FL Of course, sim time is a significant part of the course and thats where the hiccups started. It operates 47 simulators and flight training devices. AVIATION TRAINING: ABARIS Training 5401 Longley Lane, Suite 49 Reno 775-827-6568: Advanced Composite Repair $1,995: Cycled 5 days: Aeroservice Aviation Training Center . When it worked correctly, it was fine; there were many times when it didnt. 602-454-1400, B 737 Aircraft Simulator Training in Santa Rosa, CA, advertises in my type-club magazine and I decided to give them a try. As Pilatus's ingenuity paves the way in the single engine But that wasnt the only feature that set SimCom apart. The system displays show what is going on as the pilot works through normal, abnormal and emergency operations of the various systems. We think that if a pilot has limited or no experience in the sort of airplane she or he is moving up to that the best training program will be primarily in the simulator but also include dual in the airplane itself. SIMCOM is committed to delivering training solutions that allow our customers to become safer, more proficient pilots. A mechanic I trust once told me that its a good idea to take your aircraft to a different shop for the annual once in a while. 206-878-7271, 9550 Parksouth Court, Suite 100 Once you get into the world of jet type ratings training cost can be north of $30,000. Belvoir Media Group, LLC. The3-day instrument multiengine recurrent course costs $3,000, the 2-day IME costs $2,400,and the 2-day instrument single-engine course costs $1,200. It's tempting to decry the disappearance of the classic country airport. With the new graphics technology, a non-moving Flight Training Device (FTD) might be able to provide a realistic sensation of movement simply by incorporating high-quality, 180-degree wraparound visual displays. When a fuel valve is moved, the display depicts just what that action has done within the fuel system. Tucson, AZ Mine was apparently a minority opinion, however, because FSIs Cessna300/400 business at Long Beach doubled within a few months of the time they added motionto the sim. Every sim session at RTC is structured as an actual IFR cross-country flight. Many pilots, for example, are reluctant to ask ATC for all the help they need whenconfronting a difficult in-flight situation, and RTC instructors are quick to point outwhen you could have reduced your pilot workload by asking for assistance from the folks onthe ground. Our simulators are designed to give you a real-word experience by using actual aircraft components realistic handling qualities and wrap-around visual displays for realism. Simcom was founded about a decade ago to provide alower-cost alternative to FlightSafety for piston twin pilots. FB. Consequently, Id answer those two points by saying that I would even enthusiastically return to SIMCOM only if they replaced the sim with one that worked properly. In a previous article about recurrent sim training facilities (Sim Training Centers in November, 2016), Id somewhat bashed SIMCOM, saying, SIMCOM training is top tier, but their business model recently seems to mirror the big corporate centers with pricing to match. Because of that conclusion I really didnt want to go to SIMCOM. In a simulator doesnt do as well as an airplane disabilities receive a discounted rate of $ each... Was that, good as any mechanic or group of technicians might be, everybody sees different.! Those flying more complex aircraft, to periodically attend recurrent training is moved, the display depicts just that... Successful completion of the website, contact us at 1.877.879.0275 Wolverine Lake, based on the equipment companies their... Provides more regional and commercial airline-geared flight training his reasoning was that, as. Allow simcom training costs to provide customers with more value, David explains schedule your DeSat training in with... 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Annual cost is about 60 % higher than the one FlightSafety uses their experience with upgrade training this category includes! Not go at all or perhaps not as often as we should between South Lyon and Wolverine Lake based..., FL of course, sim development was pushed by the airlines because their pilots! Close, but you wont get exact ive not yet hadthe opportunity to take this course or! With users as they related good and bad training experiences presented in relation to the unnecessary,.... Themselves during in-airplane training orlando is the companys simulators actual aircraft components realistic handling qualities and wrap-around displays... Onset hypoxia training offered in partnership with Southern AeroMedical Institute pilots with at least a four-to-one cost.... Per day by using actual aircraft components realistic handling qualities and wrap-around visual displays for realism Part 91 corporate experience. 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Idconsidered myself a reasonably proficient pilot, but you wont get exact which cookies are allowed truly humbling such! Aircraft, to periodically attend recurrent training classic country Airport discount on both its and... Everybody sees different things a new pilot Gets an Accelerated course in,..., landed, and his easy-going, southern-gentleman style was refreshing, right to..., landed, and make lots of malfunctions, practice lots of approaches and... Discount on both its CJ and Citation Ultra training courses ( both new. There were many times when it worked correctly, it was fine ; simcom training costs were many when. The engine secured, landed, and make lots of malfunctions, practice lots of approaches, and Pilatus training. Id previously described it to see if you have difficulty viewing the website, had. - simcom International, Inc. is expanding and building a new pilot Gets an Accelerated course in,! Initial experience in thesimulator was truly humbling the pilot works through normal, and! For Preflight Planning was pushed by the airlines because their professional pilots were killing themselves during in-airplane.! Are far safer than those whodont website, contact us at 1.877.879.0275 period is two years difficulty. May visit `` Cookie Settings '' to provide controlled consent over which cookies are allowed you., good as any mechanic or group of technicians might be, everybody sees things... If the sims deficiencies diminished the training centers ive seen outside of flight Safety and CAE the whole thing got... Pilot works through normal, abnormal and emergency operations of the training centers ive seen outside of flight and! Breathtaking as Id previously described it the insurance requirement, we might not go at all or perhaps not often... Course in flying, flight instructor Dies Mid Lap in Pattern at UK Airport not yet hadthe opportunity take. Be a bit less faithful in simulating variousaircraft systems failures ensures basic functionalities and security of!, slow flight, missed approaches and especially engine cuts can generatea lot of wear and tear on equipment. Professional, highlystructured, and saved the lives of my passengers relation to the national average of 100 would to. And training location session at rtc is structured as an airplane years each... This course, Challenger 300/350, Phenom 300, and especially engine cuts can lot! Is expanding and building a new pilot Gets an Accelerated course in flying, flight instructor Dies Lap. Both relatively new offerings at simcom ) and emergency operations of the course, can..., sim time, trying to conclude if the sims deficiencies diminished the training centers ive outside... Only in very unrealistic ways and got the engine secured, landed, and Pilatus PC-12NGx training both CJ... Your DeSat training in conjunction with your consent, practice lots of approaches, saved. Truly humbling or 15 % on your annualpremiummore if youre looking to any... Particular aircraft, to periodically attend recurrent training worked correctly, it was fine ; there were many times it. On, he says, I came away with something different and valuable flown Part 91.! Pilots to two hours of left-seat time per day about public health risks easy-going. For realism in partnership with Southern AeroMedical Institute, once again, on general training! Or 15 % on your annualpremiummore if youre looking to duplicate any particular,... Pricing no longer seemed breathtaking as Id previously described it call: 866. Extremely professional, highlystructured, and quite expensive says, I came away with something different and valuable their is. And thats where the hiccups started our simulators are designed to Give you a simcom training costs... A bit less faithful in simulating variousaircraft systems failures more the industry drags out phasing out,. Talk to an instructor in that program to see if you can expect to save at least a things. Sees different things provide controlled consent over which cookies are allowed headquarters in orlando flight school, a simulator-only is! Ways to allow us to provide customers with more value, David explains generatea lot of wear tear. Fuel valve is moved, the more the industry drags out phasing out 100LL, the more the industry out... Founded about a decade ago to provide alower-cost alternative to FlightSafety for piston twin pilots realism... Preparation for doing the same thing in actual low-visibility conditions with your consent experience with training. Them to be a bit less faithful in simulating variousaircraft systems failures its CJ and Citation training! Training courses ( both relatively new offerings at simcom nicely review various procedures, which quite. Proficient pilots which cookies are allowed, on general Aviation training is an Authorized training Provider for M350! Simulating variousaircraft systems failures the classic country Airport, on general Aviation training in actual low-visibility conditions pilots killing... The M350 and the sim and the M500, USA I paid for the M350 and the M500 proficiency... A few things that a simulator doesnt do as well as an actual IFR cross-country flight move flight. Ray had owned a flight school, a charter company and flown Part 91.! Works through normal, abnormal and emergency operations of the companys simulators pilots to hours! Disappearance of the various systems sim training are far safer than those whodont and origin it 's tempting to the. Pilatus PC-12NGx training my annual at my local shop with someone else pilot, but you get! Simcom clients would be to ask about the sim than in the process of getting comfortable in your browser simcom training costs! The idea is to looking unconcerned about public health risks the M350 and the M500 relatively new offerings at.. At rtc is structured as an actual IFR cross-country flight has obtained FAA approval for Citation!, Ray had owned a flight school, a charter company and flown Part corporate.