Aircraft Improvements Lead To Dilemma of 'Concurrency'.

• Jurisdiction: United States
• Date: 01 November 2000
• Author: Erwin, Sandra I.

One of the most vexing problems in simulation-based military flight trainers today is their failure to keep up with the technological upgrades made to the "real" aircraft, industry and government officials said.

Such disparity between the configurations of aircraft and trainers is "a major challenge," said Navy Capt. Rory H. Fisher, program manager for aviation training at the Naval Air Systems Command.

During a recent interview, Fisher explained that tactical aircraft are equipped with what is known as an "operational flight program." As modifications are made to the aircraft that affect the mission computer, the operational flight program also changes. But while changes in the aircraft typically are funded in the program's budget, that is not the case with the simulators. "That is one of those things that are 'free in the aircraft' but not in the simulator," said Fisher. "You have to pay for the upgrades.

"You may need to re-host your computers or upgrade your visual systems or upgrade your target projectors in order to get new capabilities in the trainers," he said. A...