Faculty of air transport engineering the department of «air navigation systems»

How Much Does ATC Simulator Cost?
This is a great question and one we get more than any other. The quick answer is that price depends on several factors; training needs, the aircraft type, the level of the device qualification (FAA, JAA or equivalent), device features and more. Due to the wide range of flight simulation products available, the cost can range from several thousand dollars to several million. To get a more accurate answer, let’s dig a little deeper by breaking this down to product levels. Our entry level simulator, the RTD, represents basic systems and general aviation aircraft. This Advanced Aviation Training Device (AATD) is ideal for small single-engine aircraft flight training and recurrency training. The device features a simple open cockpit, highly standardized instrument panel and flight controls and the ability to be reconfigured to represent multiple aircraft. Because of product standardization, the RTD can be manufactured in larger numbers, keeping costs down. Pricing starts at $50,000 for a single aircraft model with steam gauge configuration and a single channel visual system. We offer several options to further customize the device to your specific needs – multiple aircraft, Garmin G1000 NXi glass cockpit, and multiple visual channels – which can increase the cost to $120,000 or more. At the opposite end of the spectrum are the highly customized FAA Level B-D Full Flight Simulators (FFS), which typically cost between $5 and $15 million. What drives simulator cost for the FSS is the ability to highly customize the design per customer’s specific needs. Heavily regulated by the FAA and EASA, they include six-axis motion systems, control loading systems, advanced visual systems, instructor stations, exact cockpit replicas, and a sophisticated aircraft data package. While most of these features are common with lower Level FTDs in the case of the FFS, they must meet the exacting requirements of regulating authorities, including initial approval and quarterly tests to maintain the approval. These approvals are handled by Frasca and are included in the price. In addition, all Frasca FFS devices include licensing intellectual property and data packages from parties involved in the aircrafts design and manufacture – a significant investment covered by FRASCA. Potential items factoring into the cost for a Full Flight Simulator can also include real aircraft parts from the OEM and actual avionics from the OEM. While there is a wide price range between FRASCA’s lowest (RTD) and highest (FFS) priced simulators, Frasca offers a large selection of mid-level devices between the two to fit your training requirements and budget. These include AATDs and Flight Training Devices (FTDs) for both fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft.