The Flight Information Service Officer (FISO) Training
Simulator, will involve the whole class, as opposed to traditional flight
simulators.
The setup consists of
5 adjacent 65" screens with 4K resolution, displaying the runway and
airspace around the chosen airport. It includes a semi-circular counter and
various technology systems divided into 4 control stations and 4 flight
stations.
DOUBLE FISO OPERATOR STATION (suitable for left or right-handed use):
- 4 fixed strip racks
- 1 handset with a
telephone system for simulating coordination with other entities at the
"remote position"
- 1 microphone and
speaker with pre-set frequencies, allowing communication with pilots on the
operating and emergency frequencies. It also has an alternate frequency and a
frequency for land vehicles.
- View angle selector
(Control Box) for quick and easy adjustment of the visual field to 360°, with a
knob and reset button, and 4 programmable buttons for default views: Leeward,
Base turn, UP, and DOWN
- 1 monitor for
aeronautical information, NOTAM, AIP
- 1 monitor for
meteorological information obtained from the simulation system
- 1 container divided
into six compartments for storing empty and completed paper strips
INSTRUCTOR STATION:
- 2 fixed strip racks
- 1 handset with a
telephone system parallel to the "operator position," facilitating
listening, correction, and interaction with coordination communication, and
acting as the remote position if needed
- "secret"
audio connection with the Remote station and the "Examiner" station,
allowing listening, correction, and interaction with all communications. The
Instructor station is independent of the operator station, enabling the
instructor to engage in independent communications, listen to operator phone
calls, participate in conference calls, or communicate privately with the
remote station
- 1 monitor for
managing meteorological information
- 1 monitor with a
keyboard and mouse for radar presentation of flight tracks aligned with their actual
positions
EXAMINATOR STATION:
- 2 fixed strip racks
- 1 handset with a
telephone system parallel to the "operator position," facilitating
listening, correction, and interaction with coordination communication, and
acting as the remote position if needed
- "secret"
audio connection with the Remote and/or instructor station, allowing private
coordination without the operator's knowledge
- 1 microphone and
speaker with pre-set frequencies, enabling listening and interaction with all
communications. The station is independent of the operator station, enabling the
examiner to make communications
- 1 monitor with a
keyboard and mouse for radar presentation of flight tracks aligned with their
actual positions
REMOTE STATION:
The remote station
simulates coordination with external entities involved in the simulations. It
includes:
- 2 fixed strip racks
- 1 handset with a
telephone system for simulating coordination with all bodies participating in
the simulations (1 ACC, 1 FIC, 2 APPs, 3 TWRs)
- "secret"
audio connection with the Remote and/or instructor station, allowing private
coordination without the operator's knowledge
- 1 monitor with a
keyboard and mouse for radar presentation of flight tracks aligned with their
actual positions
- 1 microphone and
speaker with pre-set frequencies, enabling listening and interaction with all
communications. The station is independent of the operator station, allowing
the examiner to make private coordination communications
FLIGHT STATIONS integrated with FISO simulator:
Each station
includes:
- Dedicated PC
- Two 22" HD LED
screens for displaying flight scenarios and information
- 1 microphone and
headphones with pre-set frequencies for communication with the FISO station
- Yoke, throttle
quadrant, and rudder pedals
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The simulator aligns
with the ENAC-prescribed FISO exam simulation area, selectable from the
scenario list.
An icon on the
instructor's desktop facilitates scenery selection, automatically updating
airports on all machines and configuring telephone settings.
The custom-developed
airports include Padua, Crotone, Foggia, and PRETORIO. Additionally,
Venice-Lido, Treviso, Bolzano, Trento, and Belluno have been added upon
request. Any uncontrolled airport can be included upon request.
Real-time simulation
of various weather conditions is possible on all machines, with synchronized
system pausing.
The instructor
station features a weather selection panel with pre-sets. Alternatively,
real-time weather generation can be achieved through a METAR message generator
distributed to the machines.
The simulator
supports 3 wind layers and 3 cloud formations, including fixed or variable
intensity wind gusts, ice, runway contamination, hailstorms, wind shear, and
turbulence.
The time can be
adjusted in real-time through the instructor station, synchronizing running
lights, reflections, and shadows realistically across all machines.
The phones feature
touch screens simulating the multi-phone interface, without a physical keyboard.
Labels on the phones
are automatically updated with each airport change, providing the correct dialling
numbers relevant to the simulated scenario. For instance, the Padua scenario
includes: Venice TWR, Venice GND, Venice Radar, Padua Information FIC, Bolzano
Aerodrome Info, Lido Aerodrome Info, VVFF, etc.
When the FIS operator
makes a call, such as Venezia TWR, the remote station's display shows
"veneziaTWR.". This is not the caller ID (which is always the
operator FIS) but the "role" that the remote station is supposed to
play during that call. This procedure ensures smooth coordination between the
Tower and other entities.
The multiplayer
synchronization system operates on a peer-to-peer protocol, eliminating the
need for a fixed host to maintain the connection.
This allows, e.g.,
starting the session in Padua, and then, when the pilots are in flight and
coordinated by the FIC, reloading the Tower's PC with the Lido airport. The
pilots' arrival can be awaited in coordination with the other entities.
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