FlightSafety International (FSI) announced a variety of new offerings aimed at enhancing its ability to train customers in current and forthcoming aircraft. For example, it is designing and manufacturing 14 Level D-qualified simulators that will be installed in its learning centers in 2012 and 2013. Next year, moreover, it will add training locations for Gulfstream’s G450 and G550 in Dallas and Hong Kong. It will also increase its number of G650 simulators from one to three by 2013. In 2012, FSI will open a Hong Kong learning center as well as a maintenance training center for Cessna in Wichita. And the company will increase the number of locations where Pratt & Whitney Canada engine training is available. FSI made the annoucements at NBAA 2011 in Las Vegas.

FSI is expanding its training programs into new areas, including night-vision-goggle training and helicopter crew resource management, and is introducing a training course material presentation and electronic distribution system that it says will significantly enhance the training experience of its customers. The system should make life easier for students, by delivering pre-study and course material such as manuals and PDFs via the myFlightSafety customer portal instead of on compact disks or USB drives. Students will be able to access this material after registering for courses and also during training at FSI learning centers. FSI eventually plans to add 3-D graphics, video and other enhancements to these electronic materials.

Given the growing popularity of tablet computers like Apple’s iPad among business aircraft pilots, it’s no surprise that FlightSafety has developed its own iPad app. The app allows students–after registering for a course–to download training materials to their iPads. Initially, the materials are for the Gulfstream GIV, GV, G450, G550, G280 and G650. Other aircraft will be added, as well as apps for other mobile devices, “if customer demand warrants,” according to FSI.

FSI plans to make the iPad app able to tap into a revisions service for course materials. The app also can transfer customer notes and bookmarks to subsequent document versions and seamlessly between Gulfstream’s new PlaneBook app and FlightSafety publications.

FSI also announced that it has received FAA approval for a corporate cabin attendant training program, which it offers at customer locations and also at its facilities in Long Beach, Calif.; Teterboro, N.J.; Savannah, Ga.; and Paris. The approval allows FSI to deliver Part 135 records of training and the training meets Part 135.331, ICAO and IS-BAO requirements. The Long Beach center now offers full-size fire and evacuation trainers, including Gulfstream, Falcon, Hawker, Challenger and Global over-wing exits and a fully operational Gulfstream door.

FSI has announced training programs in several aircraft models at various locations. Its Dallas/Fort Worth learning center will offer the first of the company’s aforementioned Level D-qualified simulators and Part 142-approved training for the Falcon 900LX, Gulfstream G280 and Pilatus PC12.
The Paris-Le Bourget learning center, meanwhile, will offer training for the Dassault Falcon 7X starting next year, and at the Lafayette, La., learning center FSI will offer training in the AgustaWestland AW139, starting in 2013.
 
FlightSafety International is owned by Berkshire Hathaway.