ADVANCED AVIATION SIMULATOR LAB
The Precision Flight Controls, Inc. Modular Flight Deck (MFD) is an FAA-approved Advanced Aviation Training Device (AATD) that may be used for:
1. Logged Flight Experience - 61.51(b)(3)
2. Instrument Experience - 61.57(c)(1)
3. Instrument Proficiency Check - 61.57(d)(1)(ii)
4. Instrument Rating: Practical Test - 61.65(a)(8)
5. Instrument Rating: maximum 20 hours - 61.65(e)(2)
6. Private Pilot Certificate: maximum 2.5 hours - 61.109(k)(1)
7. Commercial Certificate: maximum 50 hours - 61.129(i)(1)
8. Airline Transport Pilot Certificate: maximum 25 hours - 61.159(a)(3)(i)
9. Approved For Use as Limited by Part 141 Appendices - 141.41(b) (c)
The MFD simulates more than 12 aircraft, including single-engine, multi-engine and turboprop aircraft. The system incorporates dual seating and controls for both pilot and co-pilot. This flexibility will allow us to explore multiple Human Factors areas including: crew coordination and communication, visual signal detection, auditory signal detection,
threat detection and response, aeronautical decision making, risk tolerance, risk avoidance, and cultural impacts on crew interactions. These studies may impact the fields of wildlife mitigation, runway incursion avoidance and aviation security. In addition to Human Factors research applications, the MFD will be used to create interactive learning for UMES students enrolled in courses such as Aviation Safety, Advanced Aircraft Systems and Introduction to Human Factors. The MFD may be used to replicate and reconstruct accident scenarios, to demonstrate the operation/failure of systems, and to demonstrate crew interaction principles in a hands-on, immersive environment. In addition, the MFD will be used for community outreach purposes in coordination with the FAA Safety programs taking place on the UMES campus. Aviators in attendance of these programs will be offered flight instruction in the MFD toward the completion of the FAA WINGS program. Currently being equipped with dual touchscreen LCD monitors for exploration of textual versus audible Air Traffic Control Instructions. Studies will be conducted involving pilot/controller communication errors including errors in readback and hearback. Other planned uses include:
Surface and Terminal Operations Safety Research
Navigation, Communication & Data Transfer'
Enroute Flight Operations
Workload Distribution/ External Flight Hazards (e.g. Birds) / Human Factors
