Alsim announced on Wednesday that the FAA has approved its AL172 simulator as an Advanced Aviation Training Device (AATD). According to the company, several of the simulators are already in use in the U.S. at Liberty University flight training affiliates Cirrus Aviation and Paragon Flight Training with two more scheduled to be installed at Kent State University’s Aeronautics Academic Center in August 2019. Alsim introduced the AL172 in late 2017.
“Having the AATD approval for the AL172 now means student pilots in America can log respectively up to 20 hours and 50 towards their instrument rating and CPL certificate,” said Head of the Alsim Certification Team Mickael Herard. “The AL172 is built to FTD Level 5 specifications which allows for more tasks to be completed in the simulator such as certain proficiency checks.”
The AL172 is designed to be an exact replica of a Cessna 172SP Skyhawk NAV III and comes equipped with the Garmin G1000 NXi avionics suite and GFC 700 autopilot. Other features include 210- by 40-degree visuals, electrical force feedback on the three axes and a touchscreen instructor operating system. The simulator is also qualified as a Level II Flight Navigation and Procedures Trainer (FNPT II) by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and a Level 5 Flight Training Device (FTD Level 5) by Transport Canada. List price for the AL172 is approximately $300,000 USD.
