Timelines

2005

The limitation of the simulators at the time

In the middle of the first decade of the new millenium, the only available training aides were the Garmin 430 simulator, Microsoft Flight Simulator, X-Plane and some computer based training from Cirrus. They seemed inadequate to train new pilots to fly real world operations.

Carl researched current (at the time) FAA approved simulators. What he found was very expensive and only available in a few training schools spread out around the country. There were no Cirrus-specific simulators available. Soon they got to know that AATD and BATD manufacturers used real aircraft avionics in their Technically Advanced Aircraft (TAA) simulators. These companies had very limited software resources that made them entirely dependent on X-Plane or Microsoft Flight Sim.

The use of aircraft equipment and the cost of interfacing them into these simulators meant high prices and limited variance in aircraft types.

2007

Touch Screen solution is not FAA approved

With an industry battered by high priced flight simulators, FlyThisSim’s software and interface substituted for the real equipment. The FTS team decided it was time to get rid of high cost expensive hardware avionics. Touch screen video monitors have been around for over 30 years and the engineers at FlyThisSim decided that using touch screen technology would be a fantastic solution to flight simulation instrumentation limitations. With advanced touch panel screen technology, FlyThisSim could now deliver a flight simulator offering multiple interchangable aircraft specific cockpits that run on one piece of hardware. This would allow a user to fly a Cessna 172 steam guage and then land, click a few buttons and take off again in a Mooney.

The team presented the thought of the touch panel idea to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and they were immediately shot down and asked to reference an advisory circular: AC 61-136. AC 61-136 provides information on flight simulation devices and what is acceptable and not. The AC stated that no keyboards, mice or other computer input devices could be used to create an FAA approved BATD flight simulator. The FAA stated that a touchscreen monitor is a computer input device and therefore, not allowed. The FTS team was invited to return to the FAA when "there are touchscreens in an aircraft”. Sadly and with tail between legs, the FTS engineering team left Washington not achieving their goal, to certify a touch screen BATD flight simulator.

Dec 2011

Getting approved by FAA

To make the all the components into more of a product FlyThisSim decided to create a physical base unit to resemble a cockpit and to support a mounted component setup. Before Carl and Eric started this project however, Garmin announced their much anticipated Garmin G3000 advanced general aviation instrument system and to a much anxious FlyThisSim engineering team, Garmin announced that the G3000 was to use touchscreens.

The FAA representative responsible for ATD approvals said he could not get the FlyThisSim flight simulator, now called the TouchTrainer, an FAA approval, but he was able to get the FlyThisSim engineering team an audience within the FAA. This wonderful individual proved to be a wonderful advocate for the advancement of simulation technology and its acceptance in general aviation and FTS is grateful to his and the FAA's innovative assistance and support.

After a wonderful but stressful presentation and demo at the FAA headquarters in Washington DC, the FAA members present asked what deviations from the requirements (defined by AC 61-136) we needed, and asked the FTS team to officially submit them to the FAA. The FAA honorously offered the FTS simulator an approval and thanks to the wonderful men and women who work hard to keep our skies and airspace safe at the FAA, FlyThisSim was officially born!