As Multi Engine aircraft time is expensive we carry out 25 hours of your training (for the Instrument Rating) on our Frasca 142 Duchess Synthetic Training Device (flight simulator), which has now been upgraded to FNPT 1 Frasca Duchess Flight simulator making sure that you are fully capable of carrying out an exercise on the ground before trying it out in the air. The standard software for the Frasca has been modified and also approved by the CAA to ensure it is a faithful replica of the Beech Duchess aircraft both in respect of performance and handling characteristics. Furthermore the instrument panel is laid out to be virtually the same as the Duchess aircraft we operate and with the same type of trim systems.
The simulator is a cost effective teaching aid, making a far better classroom than any aircraft cockpit. Being a controlled environment, the instructor can freeze the controls if necessary and talk through any points of difficulty. Approaches can be practiced efficiently, because the computer repositions the "aircraft" at the press of a button, thus eliminating the time to reposition. We also encourage students to undertake solo sessions, charged at a nominal rate per hour, in the simulator in order to consolidate previous instruction.