Frasca Flight Simulation

Careers | 217-344-9200 | Contact

  • PRODUCTS
    • Full Flight Simulators
    • Fixed Wing
    • Helicopter
    • HTD – Helicopter Training Device
    • RTD
      • Frasca Reconfigurable Training Device – RTD
      • RTD Price Configurator
    • Components
      • Cockpits
      • Instruments & Panels
      • Avionics
      • Flight Test
      • Control Systems
      • Visual Systems
      • Composites
      • Structural Components
    • Innovation
      • Motion Cueing System
      • Simplicity™
      • SimAssist™
  • MILITARY
  • RESOURCES
    • The Ultimate Guide to Selecting the Right Simulator for Your Business
    • Brochures
    • Customer Features
      • ATP Flight School Purchases 20 Flight Simulators (AATDs) From Frasca to Support Airline Pilot Training
      • United Aviate Academy
      • US Air Force Academy
      • Legacy Flight Training Uses Frasca for Piper M600
      • How Frasca Is Making Training Safer For Bristow
      • Air Evac Lifeteam Trains With Frasca Simulators
      • Moody Aviation Partnership With Frasca Spans 50 Years
      • Epic Flight Academy Q&A
      • Q & A with UND
      • Embry Riddle Q&A
    • Approvals
  • NEWS
    • Media
    • Blog
    • Events
    • Hello Rudy
    • Frasca’s 60 Years of Flight Simulation
  • COMPANY
    • About Frasca
    • Contact Us
    • Careers
    • Frasca History
Friday, 22 November 2019 / Published in eSimuletter

American Flyers & Frasca: Pioneering civilian simulator training

American Flyers and Frasca share a long history in civilian simulator training that continues to grow even today.

It all started in 1939, when Reed Pigman founded charter airline and flight training facility American Flyers in Ft. Worth, Texas. American Flyers provided primary flight training to civilian and military pilots, having been chosen as one of the few civilian flight schools to train pilots for the U.S. Army and Navy. The airline was sold in the 1970s while the flight school continued to grow.

Not long after Reed began his company, Monty Montgomery, a U.S. Army Air Corps Simulator Instructor during World War II, founded Aviation Training Enterprises (A.T.E.) in 1947. The leader in civilian instrument training for civilian pilots in the U.S., A.T.E. developed many of the simulator instrument training techniques still in use today. Later, A.T.E. also became the first civilian flight training school to utilize full flight simulators for both general and commercial aviation education.

Monty set up A.T.E. above a butcher shop across from Chicago’s Midway airport, using surplus Link Trainers from the Army to provide instrument training. The Link Trainers were designed for basic instrument attitude flying and navigation, with no screen or motion and not representing any specific aircraft type. Under today’s regulations, these trainers would be classified as advanced aviation training devices (AATDs).

In 1958, Rudy Frasca, who taught with Monty in the Army simulators, founded Frasca Aviation to design a more advanced simulator than the surplus options on the market. When he presented his first design to A.T.E., Monty was sold. A.T.E. placed an order, becoming Frasca’s first customer and helping launch the company.

Designed prior to the standard six pack’s development, that first Frasca simulator contained only the basic navigation instrumentation, with the advanced inclusion of a dual head VOR. A cover closed over the pilot’s head, creating a dark, quiet environment.

The instructor sat outside the device, communicating with the pilot through an intercom system. A large black device known as a “spider” gave the instructor the aircraft’s location. Uncomplicated, the simulator worked well and was integral in Monty’s further development of instrument instruction techniques.

In 1980, A.T.E. merged with American Flyers, bringing A.T.E’s materials, Frasca simulators, processes, procedures, and intellectual property to American Flyers. Many of the A.T.E. processes and procedures continues as a part of the company to this day.

Over the years, American Flyers continued to rely on Frasca’s innovation to keep the company on the leading edge of instrument training. American Flyers continued to purchase and operate a number of Frasca devices. When it was time to update their AATD fleet last year, they again turned to Frasca.

Since American Flyers’ last large purchase of AATDs, the simulator industry underwent considerable change to meet customer demand. New devices were more complex, providing options and accessories not necessary for American Flyers’ training, including flight systems, motion, wrap‐around screens, etc. American Flyers sought a basic six‐pack system to train and reinforce key instrument piloting skills.

Frasca’s Reconfigurable Training Device (RTD) was just the solution American Flyers needed. The RTD is a simply designed and easy to use AATD that can operate as a six‐pack and quickly convert to a Garmin G1000 with the turn of a few screws. The device can be reconfigured to convert to different aircraft models, including the Cessna 172, Piper Seminole, and Piper Archer. Additional aircraft kits are in development to expand this offering.

American Flyers continued their historical relationship with Frasca last year, placing an RTD order. They took delivery earlier this year and today use the RTD to continue to blaze trails for the next generation of civilian pilots.

  • Tweet

What you can read next

Epic Flight Academy Q&A
Frasca H125 Simulator
Scenario-Based Training: Leveraging Simulators to Maximize Helicopter Safety
How to Choose the Right Simulator‐Based Training System

Sign up for Frasca’s quarterly eletter and get the latest in simulation news and technology delivered to your inbox!

Recent Posts

  • Frasca Cirrus Simulator for United Airlines

    United Airlines invests in FRASCA simulators for new flight school

    By 2030, United Airlines plans to hire at least...
  • Frasca Archer RTD Simulator

    Frasca’s RTD is the Only Value-Priced AATD Licensed for The Garmin G1000

    The law of primacy states how we first learn to...
  • Frasca H125 Simulator

    Scenario-Based Training: Leveraging Simulators to Maximize Helicopter Safety

    Despite affordable rotorcraft simulator solutio...
  • Frasca TH-73 Helicopter Simulator

    Frasca FTD Deliveries to U.S. Navy On Time, Delivering 100% Training Availability

    Frasca’s deliveries of the U.S. Navy’s Leonardo...
  • Frasca Flight Simulation

    FRASCA has joined forces with Columbus, OH-based FlightSafety International

    We’re excited to announce that FRASCA has joine...
  • Fixed Wing Simulators
  • Helicopter Simulators
  • Company
    • About Frasca
    • Contact Us
    • Approvals
    • Careers
    • Media
    • Blog
    • Frasca History
    • Frasca’s 60 Years of Flight Simulation
  • Case Studies
    • How Frasca Is Making Training Safer For Bristow
    • Air Evac Lifeteam Trains With Frasca Simulators
  • Components
    • Avionics
    • Structural Components
    • Flight Test
    • Control Systems
    • Instruments & Panels
    • Composites
    • Cockpits
    • Visual Systems
  • Innovation
    • Simplicity™
    • SimAssist™
    • Motion Cueing System

About Frasca

Frasca International is a world leader in the design and manufacture of Flight Simulators, Flight Training Devices and Simulation components. Frasca has a proven reputation for delivering high quality simulation equipment and leads the industry in simulation technology. Since its founding in 1958, over 3000 Frasca simulators have been delivered worldwide. Frasca is ISO: 9001 certified.

FRASCA INTERNATIONAL, INC.

906 Airport Road, Urbana, IL 61802, USA
Ph 217.344.9200
Fx 217.344.9207
info@frasca.com

  • GET SOCIAL
Frasca Flight Simulation

Copyright © 2023 - FRASCA International, Inc. All rights reserved. ISO 9001:2015 CERTIFIED. Privacy Policy. Terms of Use.

TOP