News

PKL-Flex Air Team Offers “Virtual Aerodrome Lab” for FAA Pilot Workforce Development Grant

July 14, 2021

PKL Services, Inc. (PKL) and Flex Air Aviation (Flex Air), two San Diego-based aerospace companies, recently submitted a joint proposal seeking FAA grant funding to provide innovative solutions to offset projected pilot shortages and a lack of readily accessible pilot training within the aviation industry. Team PKL-Flex Air’s proposal solves these critical aviation workforce development issues for a potentially unlimited number of high school students while offering ongoing professional development for teachers.

The PKL and Flex Air team offers the Virtual Aerodrome Lab (VAL) as a one-package solution for virtually immersing high school students in a comprehensive airfield environment without regard to physical classroom environment, location, or proximity to aviation facilities. 

Access to VAL will be provided free of charge to all student and educator user accounts. This innovative flight training solution will use medium-fidelity virtual simulation for various positions correlated in the virtual environment.

• Training Capabilities. Our VAL can be easily customized to meet specific needs for vocational training of students to become aviation professionals. It consists of COTS components easily installed in training schools for classroom or remote access.
• Simulation for Role Playing. The training system allows roles and scenarios to be simulated for the purposes of airport flight operations, airport emergency preparedness and crisis simulation.
• Hands-on Training for Emergency Situations. The VAL can simulate emergency drills such weather, safety, ground traffic, or pre-/post flight discrepancies. Students will have to react to these types of situations, and practice protocols through real-time role-playing.
• Distributed Training. The VAL is a distributed training system connecting multiple stations (in classroom or remotely) over a shared network, allowing stations to participate in the same training scenario.
• Instructor Controls. The instructor is provided functionality to create scenarios by defining the weather conditions, ground conditions, time, wind direction and flight schedule.
• Terrain and Visual Database. The terrain and visual database typically contain data for the following:
  • Main Buildings and Hangars
  • ATC Tower
  • Runways and Taxiways
  • Apron and Parking Areas
  • Airfield Lighting

For our curriculum design we will conform our syllabus to The Private Pilot-Airplane Airman Certification Standards (FAA-S-ACS-6B), and orient our curriculum procedures and technical elements with the Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3B) and Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25B).

Using our customized CBT  software, the prospective user will virtually enter an e-classroom to complete Module 1 (Basic Aircraft Systems Overview).  Upon completion, the user would then virtually move to the aircraft control desk, check out the aircraft, and virtually navigate to the parked aircraft on the apron to commence the remainder of the sequence (Modules 2-4) (pre-flight, flight, and post flight).

The VAL course can be executed in front-to-end sequence uninterrupted, or, for more targeted training or as a refresher, each module can be selected independently and activated by the user (teacher or student).

Our training curriculum is displayed in the following outline:

• Student Pilot Curriculum Outline (Primary)
  • Module 1: Overview of Basic Aircraft Systems
    • Engine/Propeller
    • Airframe
    • Landing Gear
    • Flight Controls and Flight Surfaces
  • Module 2: Pre-Flight Procedures
    • Walk-around Inspection
    • Taxiing
    • Basic Airfield Markings
  • Module 3: Takeoff, Landing, and Go-Arounds
    • Takeoff and Climb
    • Basic Instrument Maneuvers
    • Approach and Landing
  • Module 4: Post-Flight Procedures
    • Parking and Securing

Ms. Kim Robling (PKL Training Manager) and Mr. Paul Wynns (Flex Air CEO) are enthusiastic about the VAL and its transformational potential for student pilot training:

“Our Virtual Aerodrome Lab will prepare and inspire students for eventual aviation careers. Our proven virtual training system expertise will be leveraged to rapidly create an engaging, gamified, mobile-enabled aviation training environment that can be accessed by any high schooler with access to a broadband connection anywhere in the country.”

Team PKL-Flex Air previously produced an innovative pre-flight inspection simulation, called “The Pre-Flight Challenge.” We created a virtual general aviation experience with life-like renderings of a Cessna 172, parking apron, taxiways, and hangars. We then virtually replicated a point-to-point pre-flight inspection checklist procedure creating a multi-sensory experience for prospective flight school students.

Flex Air’s co-founder and Chief Operating Officer, Charlie Copeland, praised the skill and proficiency seen in Flex Air students who used the “Pre-Flight Challenge” as a training aid.

“Checklist discipline is very important to early-career pilots. My experience as a Boeing 737 Captain has given me an appreciation for how important it is to build that discipline and attention to detail early in a student’s training. The Pre-Flight Challenge introduces students to checklist concepts in a fun, engaging environment that makes it easy to learn.”

PKL Services, Inc. was established in 2003, is headquartered in Poway, CA, and provides both U.S. and Allied Military Services with experienced and qualified personnel to execute aerospace maintenance, training, and logistics management services. PKL was recognized by Aerospace and Defense Review as a Top 10 MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Operations) Company in 2021.  For further information visit http://www.pklservices.com/

Flex Air was established in 2016, with operations in Manhattan, KS, and San Diego, CA. Recognized as an AOPA Distinguished Flight School, Flex Air provides vocational flight training with an emphasis on personal mentorship and career coaching for students and alumni throughout their careers. Since the school’s founding, over 120 veterans have launched commercial airline careers through Flex Air’s military transition programs. For further information visit https://goflexair.com/