Programa de Evaluación de Simuladores de Vuelo (FSTD)
AESA procedure
- FSTD Information Guide (G-DLA-FSTD-01 1.0)
- FSTD Application Format (F-DLA-FSTD-01 1.0)
- CMS Application Format (F-DLA-FSTD-02 1.0)
- Technical approval of the device.
- The simulator is a correct replica of the aeroplane and its systems in terms of the aircraft’s performance and the operation of its systems by the flight crew.
- The simulator is capable of operating reliably for an uninterrupted period equivalent to a typical training session.
- The simulator is capable of successfully reproducing the manoeuvres and procedures subject to the training, verification or testing tasks.
- The simulator is able to function reliably after the introduction of failures, repositionings, changes of scenario, etc....
- Initial evaluation of FSTD operator’s management system and CMS.
Flight simulators must be managed by an appropriate organisation that maintains the initially qualified capabilities and controls their operation and the configuration initially approved. To do so, you must have:- A management system of the organisation and the risks of the operation according to the type of qualified device.
- Responsible positions (Responsible Director and Compliance Officer) acceptable to AESA. This acceptance does not imply the recognition of any type of qualification or attribution of competences and shall be valid only for the operator concerned. The validity of the acceptance by AESA shall be subject to the proper performance of the functions and responsibilities associated with the said position, and may be invalidated in case of non-compliance with them.
- A simulator compliance monitoring program with applicable requirements (CMS).
- Change of the FSTD operator’s head office.
- Contract with a new FSTD service provider.
- Changes in the structure of the FSTD Operator.
- Notification to AESA of a new revision or editing of the FSTD organisation’s CM manual.
- Temporary leave of heads of the FSTD organisation (AM or CM).
- Serious damage or loss of benefits of the FSTD that prevents its use for significant periods of time.
AESA, with the aim of making it easier for interested parties to obtain the FSTD certificate, has developed an information guide to the sector on the processing of the different processes for FSTDs currently being carried out by AESA together with the appropriate application formats.
For each of the following processes, applications must be made through the FSTD Application Format (F-DSO-FSTD-01) except for the acceptance of a new responsible FSTD position to be made through the Reporting Format of Responsible Personnel Change (F-DSO-FSTD-04).
In order to clarify the different processes that AESA carries out with regard to the management of flight simulators, an explanation of these processes is attached below.
Application for initial FSTD qualification of the organisation’s first FSTD.
Operators applying for a Synthetic Flight Training Device (FSTD) qualification certificate shall demonstrate to AESA that it complies with the established regulations that in this case it would be Annex VII to Regulation (EU) 290/2012, Part ORA, Subparts GEN and FSTD.
To qualify a simulator and allow it to be fit for the training of the AESA flight crew, you must perform the following processes:
The simulator must reproduce certain characteristics that are set out in the FSTD (CS-FSTD (A) and CS-FSTD (H) certification specifications). These specifications demonstrate technical capabilities that need to be verified objectively and subjectively in order to ensure that:
Once the compliance of the simulator with the initial technical characteristics has been verified by AESA and the organisation operating the simulator complies with the established requirements, an FSTD qualification certificate shall be issued and shall remain valid provided that the simulator and the organisation holding the certificate of qualification that operates the simulator continue to comply with the applicable requirements of Annex VII to Regulation (EU) 290/2012, Part ORA, Subparts GEN and FSTD. Should this not occur AESA would suspend or revoke the validity of the AESA.
Application for initial FSTD qualification of a new FSTD from the organisation.
This process shall be carried out similarly to the application for the first FSTD qualification certificate of the organisation operating it. The proviso now is that the existing management system will have to be modified to accommodate the new facility, and no initial evaluation of it is necessary. To facilitate this process, the operator, in accordance with the provisions of its management system, must carry out an analysis of the impact of the change on the organisation. Once this information has been received, AESA will evaluate those structures and procedures of the organisation that have undergone changes.
Continued surveillance of FSTDs.
The issue of an FSTD certificate is subject to the completion of an annual Continuing Monitoring Plan to be carried out by AESA. AESA's implementation of the Continuing Monitoring Plans developed for each Organisation allows AESA to maintain the validity of the FSTD qualification certificates held by them.
The surveillance plans to be carried out by AESA shall consist of the supervision of the operation of the management system and CMS of the organisation operating the FSTD and in addition the annual inspection of each FSTD operated by the organisation.
As regards the individualised supervision of each FSTD operated by the organisation, an annual cycle of operation of the device is established from the date of issue of the first FSTD certificate issued, so that 60 days before the end of each annual cycle, the organisation operating it must request the implementation of the activities necessary to maintain the validity of the approval of that certificate. Accordingly, if the Organisation wishes to maintain the validity of its FSTD qualification certificates, it must apply annually to AESA for the implementation of the corresponding Continuing Monitoring Plan for each of them. The most important aspect of the request for each FSTD annual audit is the submission to AESA of documentation relating to the operation of the device in accordance with GM3 ORA.FSTD.100.
The annual monitoring cycle for each FSTD device may be extended up to 24 to 36 months upon request from the FSTD operator and approval by AESA. To this end, the organisation shall demonstrate to AESA that it has control procedures for the FSTD operation to extend the monitoring cycle because there is no need for a more continuous inspection of the FSTD.
The lack of application in time and form by the organisation to carry out the activities necessary for the maintenance of the FSTD rating would determine the non-execution of the corresponding Continuing Monitoring Plan, which could involve the initiation of a procedure for suspension, limitation or revocation of the corresponding FSTD certificates.
The audit of the FSTD operator’s management system and CMS shall be carried out by AESA without the need for an official request from the FSTD operator.
Major amendment request FSTD.
There are modifications that are made to the FSTD that due to its nature require to inform AESA in advance and obtain prior approval to implement them. Once your AESA application has been received and evaluated, it will decide on the type of evaluation it will carry out to verify the modification made in the objective and subjective areas of the device. This information shall be communicated to the FSTD operator.
For any major modification of the device, the operator shall review its existing management system to assess that it should be modified to accommodate the modification made to the device. To facilitate this process, the operator, in accordance with the provisions of its management system, must carry out an analysis of the impact of the change on the organisation. Once this information has been received, AESA will evaluate those structures and procedures of the organisation that have undergone changes.
Request for extension of the maximum recurrent evaluation period FSTD.
As explained above, the maximum recurrent evaluation period for each FSTD initially set by 12 months may be extended to 24 or 36 months upon request from the FSTD operator and approval by AESA. In order to extend the continuous monitoring cycle of FSTD devices requested by the organisation, the organisation shall demonstrate to AESA that it has FSTD operation control procedures to extend the monitoring cycle in the absence of a more continuous FSTD inspection.
In this case it will also be necessary to carry out an analysis of the impact of the change on the FSTD organisation by the operator as it has to be assessed whether the management system and the CMS are robust enough to support a long-term continuous operation without supervision by the FSTD authority.
Change of FSTD Managers.
Any change in the charges initially accepted by AESA in the positions of Responsible Director and Compliance Officer shall be notified to AESA. In the light of the candidate submitted AESA, it shall inform you whether it has been considered acceptable for the exercise of the responsibilities applicable to the post applied for or, if not, the aspects to be corrected before it is accepted.
Again it is recalled that this acceptance does not imply the recognition of any type of qualification or attribution of competences and will be valid only for the operator concerned. The validity of the acceptance by AESA shall be subject to the proper performance of the functions and responsibilities associated with the said position, and may be invalidated in case of non-compliance with them.
Other FSTD applications.
There are requests that, although their prior approval or acceptance by AESA is not necessary, they should be notified to AESA in order to have control of the FSTD organisation. Some examples may include:
