German Flight Simulator Manufacturer Completes Acceptance of University A320neo Research Device

Germany – Flight simulation systems manufacturer simsystems GmbH has completed the acceptance inspection of an Airbus A320neo simulator ordered by the University of Stuttgart’s Institute of Aircraft Systems (ILS), with delivery scheduled by the end of August 2026 following nearly nine months of development.

• A defining requirement of the project is its open software environment, which is designed to allow individual simulator subsystems to be substituted with experimental research and development components while retaining the wider cockpit simulation environment.
• This configuration differs from simulators developed principally around a fixed training configuration and qualification objective. For the University of Stuttgart, the modular architecture is intended to provide a test environment in which researchers can integrate and evaluate new avionics, software and cockpit-system concepts.
• The Institute of Aircraft Systems focuses its research on avionics platforms, including integrated, flexible and adaptive avionics, alongside automated development and qualification methods. Its laboratories provide platforms for both research and university teaching.
• ILS already lists an Airbus A320 Autoflight and Cockpit System Simulator equipped with a Flight Management & Guidance System certified for pilot training. The existing device is used in the university’s “Autoflight and Air Traffic Management” teaching activities, including flight preparation, autoflight operation and associated flight execution.
• The institute also uses simulation to investigate human-machine interaction. In 2025, ILS conducted research into human-AI interaction in an A320neo cockpit, examining how humans and artificial intelligence can work together in safety-critical environments.
• simsystems manufactures complete simulation systems as well as controls, panels, displays and other cockpit components and identifies flight schools, airline training centres and research organisations among the users of its simulation products. The company has produced simulator equipment from its Remshalden facility since 2000.
• AFM previously reported in February 2026 that simsystems was preparing to deliver an A320neo simulator to the University of Stuttgart for research use. AFM had also reported in December 2025 on plans to incorporate motion capability into the university’s A320 simulation infrastructure; the latest announcement confirms that the current simsystems project has now passed its acceptance inspection and is approaching delivery. 

Source: simsystems GmbH