Mlsrar From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 1417 posts, RR: 9 Posted (8 years 11 months 2 weeks 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 1447 times:
For the families of aircraft that Airbus produces, with all of their similarities and characteristics that are shared across the entire family of frames produced, is there a single simulator that can be built for operators?
More specifically, can one simulator, with modular changes to the software that might adjust for the different handling characteristics of the particular family work for the entire spectrum?
I mean, for the right price I’ll fight a lion. - Mike Tyson
Modesto2 From United States of America, joined Jul 2000, 2634 posts, RR: 6 Reply 1, posted (8 years 11 months 2 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 1370 times:
I don't know if 1 simulator can be built, but I know that Airbus' training facility in Miami has both A320 and A330 simulators. This doesn't answer your question, but maybe some inferences can be made...
MidnightMike From United States of America, joined Mar 2003, 2892 posts, RR: 16 Reply 2, posted (8 years 11 months 2 weeks 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 1345 times:
The A320 simulator can handle the A318,A319,A320, & A321 simulators. It is just a software change, now I am not sure if it can handle the A330 & A340 simulators, I will ask about that.
Roberta From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 4, posted (8 years 11 months 2 weeks 11 hours ago) and read 1221 times:
The A340-600 simulator covers the A345 and A346 aircraft which is why SQ have recently purchased one. Airbus have tried to make the handling of the A340 - 5/600 very similar to the A340 - 2/300.
Klaus From Germany, joined Jul 2001, 20853 posts, RR: 55 Reply 6, posted (8 years 11 months 2 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 1205 times:
Don´t the long range models also have somewhat different auxiliary systems?
Control behaviour of the FBW models should be similar (and most differences would be in the simulation software anyway), but I´d guess the overhead panels and some other cockpit hardware components would still differ to a certain extent (in addition to the number of engines and related systems in the A340´s case).
Even if the differences were only minor (like exact placement of switches or displays), training pilots for blindly handling standard emergency situations wouldn´t make much sense if they would have to spend time re-orienting for differences between the simulator and the actual cockpit in the actual situation...
FSPilot747 From United States of America, joined Oct 1999, 3599 posts, RR: 14 Reply 9, posted (8 years 11 months 2 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 1151 times:
Couldn't the 757 and 767 run on the same unit, with just different software?
Dl757md From United States of America, joined May 2004, 1555 posts, RR: 18 Reply 10, posted (8 years 11 months 2 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 1150 times:
Delta 57-67 have similar cockpit layouts but there are differences. I think systems differences could be handled by software but I don't know how the physical layout diffs could be addressed.
MidnightMike From United States of America, joined Mar 2003, 2892 posts, RR: 16 Reply 12, posted (8 years 11 months 2 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 1101 times:
I know that there are 757 & 767 simulators, I guess that you can use one simulator to handle both, but, it would depend on the airline training program. I will research this a little bit, now I am curious.
QantasA332 From Australia, joined Dec 2003, 1500 posts, RR: 35 Reply 13, posted (8 years 11 months 2 weeks ago) and read 1092 times:
Flight International included a civil simulator directory in a recent issue, and from the look of it, whether 330/340 simulators (for example) are common depends on the specific simulator. Most airlines that have both A330s and A340s seem to have joint "A330/A340" simulators (the same exact simulator with software and throttle-quadrant changes, I guess), but occasionally they have additional simulators specific to one type or another. Also, A330/A340 simulators are never shared with any A320 family aircraft, but there is often "sharing" within the latter. It all depends...
As for 757/767 joint simulators, there are some of those as well - Air China, for example, has one. Like Airbus, though, there are also seperate 757 and 767 simulators, so it definitely varies.
Buckfifty From Canada, joined Oct 2001, 1314 posts, RR: 21 Reply 14, posted (8 years 11 months 2 weeks ago) and read 1095 times:
We have two A330/A340 simulators, both of which are interchangeable. The overhead panels and the throttle quadrant can be changed within two hours, as long as the software changeover doesn't cause any problems.
Mlsrar From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 1417 posts, RR: 9 Reply 15, posted (8 years 11 months 1 week 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 1035 times:
Thanks to all for the informative answers.
I mean, for the right price I’ll fight a lion. - Mike Tyson
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