The simulator has a single seat and represents a generic light aircraft with multiple configuration options. It can simulate a fixed gear, fixed pitch single engine piston aircraft such as a Piper Warrior, a ‘complex single’ with retractable gear and variable pitch propellor and also a complex multi-engine aircraft such as a Beechcraft Baron. With these aircraft types in mind, we feel the single seat set up is both realistic and appropriate as these aircraft are typically flown by one pilot. The instructor station is located behind and to the right of the pilot position and allows a good instructional environment with space to share manuals, charts and experience between them. The pilot seat was comfy and adjustable, but didn’t have a harness as found in other similar simulators.
Out of the cockpit windows is a 180 degree wrap around 1080p HD projected visual system which has ever so slight patches of overlap, but no blank spots or dark areas. Our instructor for the session pointed out to us that while it is possible to simulate flying visually in any location around the world, 90% of the time the simulator is in IMC (instrument meteorological conditions) using the worldwide database of airways and navigation aids. The simulator has special scenery installed for Innsbruck in Austria and also the whole of the UK, with particular mention going to their home base (Fairoaks) where even the construction cranes on the horizon have been modelled! Weather and air/ground traffic is simulated and while the majority of the time the simulation was smooth, we did experience a couple of visual ‘jerks’ as the computers kept up with the complex scenery generation.
The flight controls are off the shelf simulation products and as such have a slightly artificial feel to them. However, we didn’t feel this detracted from the simulation at all and considering the variety of types simulated it wouldn’t be possible to cater for such a requirement. The electric yoke mounted trim was realistic as was the appearance and feel of the materials, but we found the rudder pedals a little challenging with directional control on the ground. The engine sounds were realistic and set at a level that would be appropriate for inside the aircraft. We didn’t see an intercom facility, but ambient and system noises were present and realistic.
The instrument panel can be configured in a variety of manners to replicate the traditional instrument layout found on both VMC and IMC rated light aircraft. We were disappointed to see that a glass cockpit option wasn’t available as this represents a growing number of modern GA aircraft, but we understand this is a new simulator and it is on the owners’ development wish list along with partial panel configurations to simulate instrument failure or degradation. On the subject of failures, when turning onto final approach during our test flight, the cockpit began filling with smoke reducing the pilot’s visibility and further adding to the urgency of landing the simulator. Far from being a real emergency, this is a neat feature SEMET Aviation have added to their simulator’s list of capabilities and while some may consider it ‘a little gimmicky’, we think a smoke generator adds another element of realism when training in non-normal situations.
Of particular note is the simulator’s connectivity – this is something we like to see in an increasingly ‘linked’ simulation world. The simulator can be operated with real-time, real-world weather and can also tap into the virtual online air traffic network, VATSIM, incorporating other air traffic piloted in simulators from around the globe. Our favourite feature of the simulator is the integration with popular GA products such as SkyDemon (popular in Europe) and Foreflight (more prevalent in the USA). By using a tablet mounted to the right of the pilot, real world flight data can be presented as it would in the actual aircraft giving access to simulator ‘location’, flight measurements/parameters and also instrument procedure charts/manuals. Particularly impressive is how all of the above can be combined to present the VATSIM traffic on the SkyDemon display as aircraft targets – just as it would in the actual aircraft. Whilst a realistic and very fancy capability, the training potential this provides is immense, whether it be tactical flying in congested airspace, dealing with traffic avoidance or simply adding a spoiler to increase pilot workload at an inappropriate time!
