One encouraging trend in the commercial pilot training arena is growing integration of simulated air traffic control (ATC) environments (SATCE) in flight training devices. We're not referring to tacking SATCE onto an existing flight simulator*, we're talking about leading simulator manufacturers making SATCE a standard offering for their full flight simulators from the get-go.
* Sim operators are increasingly doing this, too.
Sim makers like FlightSafety, CAE, CymSTAR, and TRU Simulation are taking SATCE seriously, and a lot of program requirements from their military customers are driving this trend. Military training programs using ASTi's Simulated Environment for Realistic ATC (SERA®) include: the U.S. Navy’s Multi-Engine Training System (METS) T-54A Marlin II, KC-46 Pegasus aerial refueling trainer, and TH-73A Thrasher Part-Task Trainer (PTT).
When we say “integration,” we mean full integration including:
- SERA audio to and from the cockpit over all simulated radios
- Visual systems displaying the correct aircraft models and liveries of SERA-generated entities with realistic movements, lighting and articulations
- Airport alignment
- Airport lighting control including stop bars and lead-on lights
- Instructor control of SERA scenarios, training options, and realtime transcripts
- Controller–pilot data link communications (CPDLC)
- Navigation database management
Visit our booth at I/ITSEC (#1123) to see SERA in action and discuss the multitude of training objectives that can be streamlined with SERA’s automated, intelligent agents (pilots, controllers, boom operators, etc.).
« 2026 What's Happening!!