Credit

The Center offers Operators several choices for completing their training requirements:

• On completion of the Instructor Operators Course (IOS), the Company can dry lease FSTD time and complete its training program within its current instructor cadre.
• Utilize the 142 Center courses as an approved Contract Training Provider on the Operator’s operating specifications.
• Utilize portions or segments of the Operator’s approved courses, and contract the Center’s instructors to complete the training and/or evaluating, as approved by the Operator’s Principle Operations Inspector.

The primary curricula utilize academics and the FSTD, with the final evaluation conducted in the actual aircraft. Prior to evaluation, each event or task is completed to proficiency in the aircraft. The curricula can be segmented to provide the training elements as desired by the Operator; i.e. ETC completes the academics and training within the FSTD, and the Operator completes final aircraft training and checking (or any combination thereof). Throughout the FSTD training, proficiency is gained, while total aircraft training time is reduced by approximately 75%. A pilot completing initial training in an aircraft utilizing an FSTD drastically reduces the amount of “dead time” in the actual aircraft when dealing with the basic tasks of learning the start-up, run-up, pre-flight testing procedures, autopilot/flight director procedures, and shut-down procedures.

Also, a pilot that has performed every normal and emergency maneuver in the FSTD has the benefit of knowing how the aircraft will react before performing the same maneuvers in the actual aircraft. Emergency procedure training can be practiced and perfected in an FSTD for both a single pilot and crewed environment before a blade on the actual aircraft is ever turned.