Tecnam’s P2012 STOL Achieves EASA Certification

Tecnam announced that the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has awarded full type certification to the P2012 Traveller in its STOL variant.

The P2012 STOL aircraft, specifically designed for Short Take Off and Landing operations, is engineered and tailored to operate from airports and airstrips characterized by extremely short runways and demanding operational constraints.

The 18 months extensive certification campaign ensured impressive Takeoff and Landing performance, while still maintaining a 99% commonality of parts with the standard P2012 Traveller series aircraft in an effort to enhance the P2012 STOL supportability and to provide a “fleet” option.

Addressing the needs of a niche market that has been underdeveloped and unsupported for decades, with the P2012 STOL Tecnam once again provides a solution for operators seeking a modern, spacious, comfortable, safe yet stylish aircraft with outstanding STOL capabilities for their business.

The Aircraft

With the production aircraft already in the final stage of the assembly line, the P2012 STOL is ready for the first deliveries to customers filling an uncovered gap of the commercial aviation.

The P2012 STOL is the only twin-piston aircraft with Short Take-Off and Landing capabilities that complies with the latest certification amendments. It offers a maximum gross weight of 3680 kg / 8113 lb with a useful load of 1284 kg / 2831 lb while maintaining a modern design, a wide and comfortable cabin and 11 seats.

The cabin entrance and accommodation is enhanced by a wide single access door and a central aisle; moreover, a dedicated window for each of the 9 individual passengers, no bench/double seats and the best passenger amenities are provided such as USB ports, cabin air conditioning, individual fresh and hot air outlets, dedicated reading light, seat pockets and cup and mobile phone holders.

The interiors design and the superb view granted by the “high wing” configuration provide a “best-in-class” experience for the flights to typical remote STOL destinations.

The multi mission capability of the aircraft allows to exchange the STOL configuration from passengers’ transportation to Cargo, Combi, or Air Ambulance within minutes, providing healthcare, assistance and serving communities worldwide.

Mission accomplishment and flight safety enhancement pass through a modern cockpit with latest technology, including as a standard state-of-the-art G1000 NXi avionic system, GFC700 specifically tuned autopilot, and ADS-B IN/OUT. An active and connected flight deck (Bluetooth, flight stream, Iridium) and a toolbox of modern aids (Wx radar, storm scope, inset map, Synthetic Vision™) are provided to reduce workload and fatigue while increasing mission safety and effectiveness. From a comfort perspective the P2012 STOL offers a +34% wider cabin, +24% larger seat pitch, +188% higher luggage weight allowance and +303% better luggage volume when compared to the most known British STOL aircraft and does it all in accordance with the latest certification standards.

Performance

From the performance perspective the P2012 STOL can easily and more comfortably carry an equivalent payload of the most known STOL aircraft while matching its takeoff and landing performances, moreover, the P2012 STOL can also outperform its useful load by 20% up to a remarkable value of 1284 kg / 2830 lb while performing a STOL mission.

At Maximum Takeoff Weight of 3680 kg / 8113 lb, the take-off run takes only 315 m / 1033 ft and to clear the obstacle the takeoff distance is achieved in just 425 m / 1394 ft.

Even better at the 3630 Kg Maximum Landing Weight where the landing distance from the obstacle takes only 360 m / 1181 ft and the impressive ground run requires just 225 m / 738 ft.

P2012 STOL Program

The P2012 STOL, developed by the renown and innovating Tecnam Research and Development team, is available in the passenger and multi-mission configurations (combi, cargo, air ambulance). Fully interchangeable, the 11-seat, twin-engine, fixed gear, unpressurized Tecnam can quickly and easily be converted from a 9-passenger carrier into a special-purpose aircraft… and back again.

The aircraft main features are:

  • Two crew seats plus nine single passengers’ seats cabin accommodation.
  • Two six cylinders, turbocharged, piston engines.
  • Single Pilot certified in VFR and IFR.
  • PBN certified for GPS approaches.
  • No type rating issue/renewal required.
  • Easy maintenance.

About TECNAM; “Quality Aircraft since 1948”

Tecnam is an Italian aircraft manufacturer and one of the world’s leading piston aircraft manufacturers. Founded in 1948 by brothers Luigi and Giovanni Pascale, the company is headquartered in Capua, Italy, and operates two subsidiaries in Sebring, Florida, USA, and Brisbane, Australia, to serve and support the needs of local Tecnam owners and operators. Tecnam designs and manufactures a wide range of aircraft for personal use, commercial operations, business travel, flight training, surveillance, law enforcement and other specialised applications.

Source: Tecnam
Photo Credit: Tecnam

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Aviation and Pilot Training Industry Stakeholders Form Consortium to Develop Tool for Evaluating Pilot Behaviour

  • Thales has formed a consortium with ENAC, l’ENS Paris-Saclay, Simaero, AviaSim and Corsair to develop a tooled methodology for evaluating pilot behaviour under the PERCEVAL project (Pilot bEhaviouR and CompEtency EVALuation).
  • The consortium brings together the expertise of all the stakeholders in the airline pilot training community, including airlines, training centres, civil aviation schools, and public and private research organisations.
  • This Thales-led research project is designed to meet the new flight safety requirements of the French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

Sponsored by the French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC), the PERCEVAL project (Pilot bEhaviouR and CompEtency EVALuation) will be conducted by a Thales-led consortium including the ENAC national civil aviation school, the research Centre Borelli from l’ENS Paris-Saclay, the Corsair airline and the Simaero and AviaSim training centres to validate a new approach to behavioural evaluation of airline pilots and air traffic controllers.

Training programmes are changing rapidly in the civil aviation sector, particularly with the introduction of Evidence-Based Training (EBT) concepts and other new training and evaluation methods. One major benefit of the new approach is its focus on non-technical skills and their role in building trust and developing the capacity of crew members to recognise unexpected or unpredictable situations.

By bringing together all the stakeholders in the training community, the consortium will leverage this collective intelligence to reshape the future of airline pilot training and improve flight safety by continuing to reduce the risk of human error.

From ab initio training to recurrent training and crew training, the consortium has all the resources needed to design, develop and test this new technological concept. As consortium leader, Thales brings to the table the knowledge and technology from its research into human factors analysis for aircraft pilots based on a multi-modal approach combining voice, eye movements and motor skills.

The DGAC supports this project as an innovative initiative contributing to the evolution of airline pilot training.

Partners and sponsors

Thales – Consortium leader

Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies within three domains: Defence & Security, Aeronautics & Space, and Digital Identity & Security. It develops products and solutions that help make the world safer, greener and more inclusive. The Group invests close to €4 billion a year in Research & Development, particularly in key areas such as quantum technologies, Far Edge computing, 6G and cybersecurity. Thales has 77,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2022, the Group generated sales of €17.6 billion

ENAC – Partner

ENAC (Ecole Nationale de l’Aviation Civile), under the supervision of the French Ministry of Ecology and Solidarity, and the French civil aviation authority (Direction Générale de l’Aviation Civile, DGAC), brings together teaching and research in aeronautical engineering, air navigation and aircraft piloting. Each year, ENAC welcomes over 2,000 students enrolled across more than 30 study programmes, and 3,500 trainees enrolled in continuing training courses.

ENAC’s 28,000 graduates can be found in a hundred different countries on five continents, proof of the university’s international reach. ENAC’s scope, human resources and teaching methods make it Europe’s leading air transport university.

ENS Paris-Saclay – Partner

The “Ecole Normale Supérieure Paris-Saclay”, a large and major school for careers in research and higher education, aims to lead its students towards a doctorate. Students are rigorously selected to follow advanced courses in the basic sciences, humanities, social sciences and engineering.

The Centre Borelli is an applied mathematics laboratory. Created in January 2020, it is the result of the merger of two research units: the Center for Mathematics and their applications (CMLA), Mathematics laboratory of ENS Paris-Saclay and CNRS and Cognition Action Groupe (Cognac-G), neuroscience laboratory of the University of Paris, CNRS and army health. The Centre Borelli is a multidisciplinary research laboratory bringing together researchers in mathematics, computer science, neuroscience, but also many doctors. It is involved in the training of graduates of the Ecole Normale Supérieure, and coordinates the Master’s degree in Mathematics, Vision and Learning (MVA).

Simaero – Partner 

An international group specializing in airline pilot training on flight simulators, Simaero is partnering with over 250 airlines from 80 countries. Based in Paris, the group has training centers located in France, South Africa, China, and soon in India, offering training on a wide range of aircraft, including Airbus, Boeing, and ATR . Simaero is certified by more than 50 civil aviation authorities, such as the EASA in Europe, the SACAA in South Africa, and the CAAC in China. Simaero also provides its clients with technical expertise for simulator upgrades and relocations through its subsidiary « Simaero Engineering».

AviaSim – Partner

AviaSim is the European leader in aeronautical leisure. The company created in 2012 offers every curious and aviation enthusiast the opportunity to try piloting an airliner on board an ultra-realistic simulator. With its network and its simulators, AviaSim now meets the demand for training or selection of future B737/A320 flight crew.

Corsair – Partner

Corsair is a French long-haul scheduled airline employing 1,100 people. It flies 1.5 million passengers a year. Corsair operates flights to the Caribbean (Guadeloupe, Martinique), the Indian Ocean (Reunion, Mauritius, Mayotte, Madagascar), Africa (Ivory Coast, Mali, Benin) and Canada (Montreal).

Corsair operates from Paris/Orly, Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux and Nantes.

DGAC – Sponsor

The General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGAC) has the mission of guaranteeing the safety and security of air transport by placing the logic of sustainable development at the heart of its action. It deals with all the components of civil aviation: sustainable development, safety, air traffic control, economic regulation, support for aeronautical construction, general aviation, aeronautical training.

Source: Thales
Photo Credit: Simaero

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Czech Republic Flight Training Group F AIR Receives Awarded Significant Contribution to Czech Aviation

One of Europe’s largest flight training organisations when measured by aircraft fleet size, Czech Republic based F AIR is thrilled to announce that it has been awarded honorable recognition for its significant contribution and presentation of Czech aviation and cosmonautics over 30 years of successful pilot training. This prestigious award is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and commitment of the entire F AIR team.

Flight School F AIR was selected by the Council for the Selection and Awarding of Recognitions to teams and individuals for their significant and outstanding contribution to the Czech aviation and cosmonautics, acknowledging F AIR unwavering contribution and outstanding presentation of Czech aviation and cosmonautics. This selection reaffirms F AIR’s continuous effort to spread knowledge and passion for aviation and cosmonautics among their students, the public, airlines, and aircraft manufacturers.

The ceremonial award presentation took place during the 12th meeting of the Subcommittee on Aviation and Space Program of the Economic Committee of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic in Prague on March 25th, 2024.

F AIR’s representatives, led by Ing. Michal Markovič, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), accompanied by JUDr. Jan Camrda, Company Deputy (DEP}, Ing. Miroslav Srnec, Head of Training (HOT), and Ing. Filip Bartůněk, Chief Operating Officer (COO), joyfully accepted this prestigious award and expressed gratitude for the recognition of the flight school’s work.

About Flight School F AIR
F AIR is a leading flight school in Central Europe with its headquarters at Benešov Airport, near Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. With a 34-year history, F AIR is the largest flight school in Central and Eastern Europe. It focuses on students from Central and Eastern Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. With over 44 modern aircraft, 4 bases, 2 simulators, and modern facilities, it provides comprehensive pilot training services. F AIR is the best choice for future professional pilots.

Source: F AIR
Photo Credit: F AIR

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First Full Flight Simulator with Gaming-Engine-Powered CAE Prodigy Image Generator Achieves Level D Qualification

CAE announced that it is the first leading aviation simulation and training organization to seamlessly integrate a gaming engine into its full-flight simulator (FFS) visual system and achieve level D qualification*, the highest level of qualification for a FFS. The FFS is equipped with the next-generation CAE Prodigy Image Generator (IG), which leverages gaming technology through Epic Games’ Unreal Engine, marrying highly realistic 3D visuals with high-end full-motion simulation for more realistic pilot training in a virtual environment.

“Our collaboration with Epic Games on the CAE Prodigy Image Generator is a huge leap forward in the use of technology to increase the efficacy of pilot training and make our skies safer,” said CAE’s Chief Technology and Product Officer, Abha Dogra. “The convergence of the simulation and gaming industries will result in an enhanced simulator training experience with ultra-realistic visuals that further narrows the gap between the virtual and physical worlds.”

“CAE Prodigy will elevate pilot training by delivering true-to-life visuals with higher-fidelity graphics that make time in the simulator more realistic than ever before,” said Michel Azar-Hmouda, CAE’s Division President, Commercial Aviation Training. “With CAE Prodigy, CAE continues to position itself as a leader in the adoption of new technologies to support its customers and advance aviation safety.”

“We are thrilled that CAE, a global leader in training and simulation, is leveraging Unreal Engine to improve pilot training and aviation safety. Achieving Level D qualification is a testament to CAE’s expertise in this space as they continue to push our technology to new levels of realism,” said Bill Clifford, VP and GM of Unreal Engine at Epic Games.”

The CAE Prodigy product development roadmap includes a progressive deployment on Civil and Defense & Security simulators, based on a growing set of capabilities to support new deployments and update programs.  CAE Prodigy builds on the proven features of CAE’s existing family of visual systems, while leveraging Unreal Engine’s innovative rendering techniques to deliver a highly optimized and flexible Image Generator solution.

For more information on CAE Prodigy’s key features and capabilities, visit https://www.cae.com/Prodigy. CAE Prodigy photos and videos are available on CAE’s Multimedia Centre.

*Level D qualification under the EASA CS-FSTD(A) Issue 2 regulation. A level D simulator fidelity is at such high level that pilots transitioning to a new aircraft can perform all their training in the simulator instead of the aircraft.

The first device to achieve this certification was located at the CAE Bangkok Training Center.

About Epic Games

For more information on Epic Games’ Unreal Engine, visit https://www.unrealengine.com/en-US/solutions/simulation

About CAE

At CAE, we equip people in critical roles with the expertise and solutions to create a safer world. As a technology company, we digitalize the physical world, deploying software-based simulation training and critical operations support solutions. Above all else, we empower pilots, cabin crew, airlines, and defense and security forces to perform at their best every day and when the stakes are the highest. Around the globe, we’re everywhere customers need us to be with more than 13,000 employees in approximately 250 sites and training locations in over 40 countries. CAE represents more than 75 years of industry firsts—the highest-fidelity flight and mission simulators as well as training programs powered by digital technologies. We embed sustainability in everything we do. Today and tomorrow, we’ll make sure our customers are ready for the moments that matter.

Source: CAE
Photo Credit: CAE

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Flight Simulator Manufacturer ALSIM Showcases Debriefing Station

France headquartered flight simulator manufacturer ALSIM shared the below video about its Debriefing Station. The debriefing station in a flight training device is a dedicated area/system where instructors and trainees can review and analyze the performance of a training session.

See the video below.

Source: ALSIM
Photo Credit: ALSIM

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