AIRFOX ASD

Advanced Spatial Disorientation Trainer and Flight Simulator

The AMST AIRFOX ASD Advanced Spatial Disorientation Trainer and Flight Simulator is an essential, highly cost effective tool in the modern training system, improving aircrew performance and saving lives

Needs

AIRFOX ASD represents an advanced SD training system, which allows a wide range of passive-visual and active illusions with high fidelity graphics.

A wide range of spatial disorientation illusions can be demonstrated, recorded and debriefed. This practical training identifies effectively the risks associated with in-flight vestibular and visual illusions, loss of depth perception, and degraded visual cues when flying with Night Vision Goggles.

Benefits

AIRFOX ASD significantly improves aircrew performance

You are able to train a variety of users such as:

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Features

The AIRFOX ASD can demonstrate a wide range of SD and visual illusions

SD Illusions

Demonstration of passive illusions in a dark cabin without trainee interaction and without motion but using the additional yaw axis, as well as active illusions where the trainee is in control of the simulated flight with all motion axes active. Visual illusions occur when the human visual system falsely interprets visual signals. Vection illusion is the interpretation of reference object movement as movement of the own aircraft.

Motion System

The motion system consists of seven independently controllable motion axes. The six Degree of Freedom (6 DOF) hexapod motion system provides motional sensations/cues to the trainee. The motion system is capable of operating at sub-threshold motion in all seven axes, so discontinuities in linear and angular motion are not perceptible by the trainee.

Cabin and Cockpit

The cockpit consists of a front panel with three touch displays, a gear lever, an IR light source and an IR video camera. The left side panel has throttle, flaps, a headset connector and a stop button. The right side panel has the cabin light control and the Morse sound selector. The pilot seat is height adjustable.

Instruments

The AIRFOX ASD uses an instrument configuration consisting of three sections. All three panels are touch sensitive glass cockpit displays. Instrumentation is flight model dependent. The main instruments can be switched into a malfunction mode to emphasise effects of spatial disorientation, or to raise the stress level during flight training.

Navigation Display – NAV

The NAV shows the position of the aircraft. It offers a moving map that uses an aeronautical chart display corresponding directly to the scenery database. All navigational aids like VOR or NDB stations are displayed on the map showing all terrain features, and the approach display showing a 10 NM circle around the airport as well as the approach glide path.

Visual System

Projection System is equipped with a projected Out-the-Window (OTW) visualisation system producing a Field of View of 120° × 64°. Terrain based on geographic height information textured with satellite textures of the entire earth with high detail inserts. The open architecture of the software allows installation of additional scenery inserts.

Options

A wide range of additional options are available

Motion Sickness Desensitisation – MSD

The MSD is a motion programme to desensitise trainees suffering from motion sickness. Two different desensitisation programmes are available: MSD heave which exposes the trainee to vertical motion with constant adjustable amplitude and frequency and the MSD Coriolis, where the trainee rotates with constant adjustable yaw speed.

Debriefing GUI

In addition to the video debriefing, the debriefing GUI adds data to enhance the debriefing capability with data debriefing after the flight. Recorded data contain flight model output as attitude, position, forces, instrument display data, as well as general data like control inputs of stick, rudder, and throttle, push buttons, and turning knobs.

Enhanced Recording and Replay

In addition to the recorded track, recording of all effect- and scenario changes as well as the intercom communication is available. Replaying these recorded missions, the aircraft will follow the recorded track. Based on the elapsed time all effect- and scenario changes are replayed and the voice recording is replayed via the pilot headset.

Observer Camera

The observer camera allows the operator to view the aircraft from outside. This provides better control of supervising the pilot, especially during close formation flight or flying close to the ground as helicopter landings on a ship or an oil platform.

Aircraft Repositioning

In order to save time during training, you can reposition the aircraft en-route to reduce flight time, for example to arrive at the initial approach or during climb, for example to regain altitude for spin training. Aircraft repositioning is available for actively flown subject- and target aircraft.

Direct Motion Control

In order to use the AIRFOX ASD for advanced research, the system can be controlled by predefined motion profiles and visual cues. These profiles are uploaded and contain position data for the motion in five milliseconds time intervals The combination of hexapod and yaw drive allows independent control of the heave, surge, sway, roll, pitch, yaw and continuous yaw.

References

The following air forces have already purchased the AIRFOX ASD and have them successfully and satisfactorily in operation

AIRFOX ASD – AMST 2017

The AIRFOX ASD was installed at AMST for training of pilots from different nations. The new AIRFOX ASD is the first with an electrical motion system and a new Graphic User Interface (GUI) for easy design of missions and handling of disorientation and environmental effects during mission flying.

AIRFOX ASD – Indonesia 2017

AMST delivered the AIRFOX ASD end of 2016 and successfully installed and accepted in January 2017 at the Institute of Aerospace Medicine in Jakarta.

AIRFOX ASD – Spain 2014

The AIRFOX ASD was successfully installed and accepted at the Institute of Aviation Medicine (CIMA) in Madrid in December 2014.

AIRFOX ASD – Myanmar 2014

The contract for the AIRFOX ASD was awarded in 2012 for the Institute of Aviation Medicine in Meikhtilar, Myanmar and the SAT was in February 2014.

AIRFOX ASD – The Netherlands 2013

The contract was awarded in 2012 and the AIRFOX ASD VI was installed in 2013 at the Netherlands Aeromedical Institute in Soesterberg.

AIRFOX ASD – Thailand 2013

The contract for the AIRFOX ASD V was awarded in 2012. Installation and SAT was in 2013 at the Institute of Aviation Medicine in Bangkok.