Certification Specifications for flight simulation training devices (FSTDs) applicable to organizations operating FSTDs and seeking initial qualification of FSTDs are available here:
- CS-FSTD(A) - Issue 2 published as Decision 2018/006/R on 03 May 2018
- CS-FSTD(H) published as Decision 2012/011/R on 4 July 2012
Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement with the United States to cover flight simulators
The European Union und the United States of America signed on 19/11/2020 two new Annexes to the Agreement on Cooperation in the Regulation of Civil Aviation Safety (BASA), expanding its areas of application to allow the conversion of pilot licences and to reduce duplication in the oversight of flight simulators.
On flight simulation training devices, the BASA Annex and its technical implementation allow for the reciprocal acceptance of findings of compliance, as well as documentation, on the recurrent evaluation and qualification of EU- and U.S.-based full flight simulators. It generate resource savings, in particular by eliminating duplicate evaluations by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The operators of flight simulation training devices will no longer be subject to multiple re-evaluations, and these savings can be passed on to air carriers sending pilots for training.
Publication of FSTD Special Conditions development and assessment process
Following the needs of industry to provide general guidance and a basis for the qualification of new technologies used in Flight Simulation Training Devices (FSTD) a process for ‘FSTD Special Conditions development and assessment’ has been established. EASA will apply this process when Special Conditions (SCs) are needed, either to address new technologies like Virtual Reality for existing types of FSTD, or for FSTD representing novel types of aircraft, like eVTOL. The process may serve as a guideline for National Competent Authorities (NCAs) as well.
FSTD Special Conditions for the use of Head Mounted Displays (HMD) combined with a motion platform with reduced envelope
Besides the FSTD Special Condition process described above, the first SCs have been developed by a Training Device Manufacturer (TDM) were assessed, prescribed and applied by EASA for the qualification of helicopter FNPT Level II and FTD Level 3, using Virtual Reality (VR) in combination with a reduced-stroke motion system, where the stroke is less than known from conventional Full Flight Simulators.
It must be emphasized at this point that these SCs may not be applicable in the case of other FSTD constellations (e.g. without motion system), when other components are used or for other aircraft being represented.
