CockpitWeb Press Release

CockpitWeb was finalist in the General Aviation category of Flight International Magazine's Aerospace Industry Awards 2005, now called the flight global awards.

The biggest event on the international aviation calendar, Paris Air Show, took place at Le Bourget from 13-17 June 2005. Fittingly, Flight International hosted its 12th annual Aerospace Industry Awards ceremony on Monday evening, 13 June, at the grand Pavillon d’Armenonville to celebrate the industry’s great achievements over the past year. The event drew together nearly 600 industry guests, representing aerospace interests from all over the world.

The overall winners, from each category of finalists were revealed on the night. CockpitWeb was finalist for its revolutionary IFR Training Software in the General Aviation category. The other 2 finalists were Brasilian airplane constructor Embraer and American Evergreen. Embraer won the General Aviation award for its alcohol-powered aircraft.

"This was another year of exceptionally strong entries, covering the whole aerospace spectrum," said Flight International Group Editor Kieran Daly. "These short-listed candidates, determined by our distinguished independent judges, each demonstrated innovation and excellence in their market sectors. We congratulate all our finalists for their great achievements during 2004 and we look forward to following their fortunes.“

CockpitWeb IFR Training Software - PRESS RELEASE

CockpitWeb has developed an innovative all-in-one IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) Training Software. It combines an IFR training manual with interactive computer-based exercises and an IFR simulator.

The IFR training manual enables student-pilots to study the theory of IFR. The interactive computer-based IFR exercises check whether the student understands the theory and train him making the typical mental IFR calculations and let him fly IFR procedures. Finally the IFR simulator is used to practice the student’s scanning, improve his skills, to fly procedures at his home airport or to prepare flights to any other airport in the world.
Students use the CockpitWeb training method to prepare their flight training before they actually start the IFR training, to review what they have learnt from their instructor and to prepare an IFR flight.

Although initially aimed at student-pilots, rated IFR-pilots also benefit from the advantages of the package. They use the manual to review the theory. The exercises are a quick way to refresh the calculations and procedures and the simulator is an inexpensive tool to maintain and improve their flying skills.

IFR MANUAL

The IFR manual deals with all aspects of IFR flying. The material is arranged in the logical sequence of a training syllabus, starting with the basics of attitude instrument flying and closing with the complex subject of holding patterns and approaches. The manual gives a concise but clear description of IFR and includes many examples to clarify the theory.
It is written to enable self-study in absence of a flight instructor. In a couple of days one can learn all about instrument flying, radio navigation and IFR flying! Studying this manual extends basic IFR knowledge and results in a quicker progress during the IFR training stage with an instructor. The convenient summary of IFR rules in the back of the book enables pilots already familiar with IFR to quickly review procedures and methods. Pilots receive a PDF file of the manual.
“The manual is an excellent summary of the essential theory of instrument flight and is particularly handy because it manages to combine a comprehensive approach with compactness. It lets you in on the pragmatic tips instructors use to help students handle the mental gymnastics that are a feature of instrument flight.” PC Pilot magazine, U.K.

IFR EXERCISES

In addition to the theory explained in the IFR manual, the IFR Software programme offers more than 70 different interactive IFR exercises. These exercises are linked to the theory explained in the manual.
The CockpitWeb IFR Training Software offers unlimited exercise possibility. There are 2 demo exercises. All other exercises are either ‘static’ exercises or ‘fly’ exercises. For most of these exercises, the computer automatically generates unlimited variants.
‘Static’ exercises are mental and procedural trainers and check whether the pilot understands the IFR theory and procedures. These exercises require him to make a mental calculation and enter the result in the computer. If the result is correct, the computer generates another variant of the same exercise. The pilot can make as many different variants as he wants while the computer keeps track of his score.
‘Fly’ exercises enable the pilot to use the simulator and fly a procedure in real-time. The program automatically positions the airplane and instructs the pilot. By clicking the 'NEW EXERCISE' button, the program generates another variant of the same exercise. The software repositions the airplane and automaticaly changes the instrument set-up and VOR course settings.
The advantages of the different exercises are obvious. The pilot can focus entirely on a single procedure, he can rehearse the exercises as much as he wants in a relaxed atmosphere at home, with no extra cost. In this way the pilot gradually becomes familiar with all aspects of IFR flying. When the pilot finally meets his instructor he will be well prepared and this will undoubtedly lead to a quicker progress of his flight training. The pilot can prepare each IFR training flight, and review the IFR flight afterwards at home to check the possible doubtful situations. This training method undoubtedly forms better trained pilots.
“The biggest attraction of the IFR Training Software is its series of practical exercises, which grade you as you fly and follow a logical instruction syllabus. Programmed exercises start with the basics and progress to the complex.” PC Pilot Magazine, U.K.

IFR SIMULATOR

The IFR simulator is included in the IFR Training Software. It features great tools like a worldwide navaid database, a horizontal and a vertical map. The navaid database includes more than 10,000 airports and 14,000 navaids and enables the pilot to fly at his local airfield and exercise local procedures. The horizontal and vertical maps show the aircraft's position and flight path at any time.

Unlike other simulators, the IFR simulator does not offer instrument panels that are realistic copies of real airplanes. These are usually too small to enable a good scan and are difficult to read. Instead the IFR simulator offers simple full-screen instruments that are easy to read and scan and are ideal for precision flight.

In addition, the IFR simulator has some great innovative features like the holding pattern, the autotrim, the turbulence mode and the startposition panel.

The pilot can draw a holding pattern on the horizontal map at any navaid. In this way, he can compare the aircraft’s flight path with the holding pattern. This forms a very powerful aid to practice holdings, one of the most important and difficult procedures in IFR training.

The autotrim is an innovative tool that makes flying easy and still realistic. It results in a very stable airplane and allows pilots to focus entirely on learning instrument and navigation procedures rather than struggling to control the aircraft itself. It's very easy to control the airplane using the keyboard or a cheap joystick. There is no need to buy an expensive steering wheel.
“Pilots just starting instrument training and discovering the mental workload that's involved will find the autotrim a real bonus. The autotrim system does have the benefit of making the IFR simulator truly flyable using a keyboard, something that isn't a rewarding experience with most sims.” PC Pilot Magazine, U.K.
Experienced pilots that are becoming familiar with the instrument procedures or deeming the autotrim too easy will experience the new turbulence modes as a real challenge. Now, the pilot will have to divide his attention between flying the procedure and maintaining the aircraft under control.

The startposition panel is a valuable tool that offers full flexibility to put the airplane in any desired location and instantly change the wind conditions. Any startposition together with the set-up of the frequencies and VOR courses can be saved on hard disk for immediate recall next flight. You can give yourself a head start by placing your aircraft precisely where you want it to be.

PREFLIGHT PREPARATION

Making a proper preflight preparation is an important part of flight safety. Many recreational pilots become airborne without making a navigation log. They have no idea of the wind effect and fuel consumption nor do they have an alternate plan if the destination airport is closed or if en-route weather deteriorates. From time to time, emergency landings take place because the airplane ran out of fuel.
Too many accidents happen because the aircraft is not loaded within the limits of mass & balance. For some reason, a number of pilots never makes a mass & balance calculation, often because they think it’s too complicated or it takes too much time. This attitude not only jeopardizes their life but also the life of their passengers and of people on the ground.
CockpitWeb helps pilots make their preflight preparation by offering a convenient preflight preparation software. This consists of a navigation log, a mass & balance and a conversions calculation programme.

The navigation log programme provides a very easy and quick way to automatically calculate the wind effect, flight time and fuel consumption. It’s also very handy to make last minute changes. If for example, after preparing the navigation log the wind suddenly changes, the pilot can insert the new wind and immediately see the results.

The mass & balance programme provides an easy way to calculate the total mass of the aircraft and the centre of gravity position. It’s also very handy to reposition passengers and luggage and immediately see how the centre of gravity moves.
Flight safety affects all pilots. Even recreational pilots must be aware of their responsibility and develop a professional attitude. By automating the calculation of a navigation log and a mass & balance, the flight preparation becomes easier, there is less possibility for errors and it will exhort more pilots to properly prepare each flight.

SOFTWARE CRITERIA

When programming the software, the decision was made that the CockpitWeb IFR Training Software should meet certain criteria:

* Becoming a pilot is a very expensive enterprise. Pilots should not be forced to buy a new computer. The program runs on any PC.
* Simulating a real airplane on a computer has the disadvantage of having a longitudinal unstable airplane that is only flyable with the correct equipment for force feedback and trimming. The concept of the programme is that people should not be forced to buy an expensive console with force feedback and trim. The IFR simulator must be flyable using the keyboard or a cheap joystick. Therefore the decision was made to introduce an autotrim. After all, this software does not want to teach people how to fly an airplane. It wants to teach instrument flying and IFR procedures.
* The CockpitWeb software itself must be easy to use. Pilots don’t have the time nor the motivation to read a comprehensive user’s guide and to learn to use a complicated programme. Pilots should use their precious time to focus on the flight training. Therefore the use of the software is kept as easy as possible. All menus and settings are readily accessible. Furthermore there is a clear instructions manual that describes how to use the programme.

CONCLUSION

The CockpitWeb IFR Training Software wants to offer high quality training for a very competitive price. The IFR Training Software is an inexpensive tool to become familiar with IFR and to practice, maintain or improve the IFR skills. It teaches both the theory and the practice. The combination of the IFR manual and the exercises form a very powerful training tool.
“The printed material provides an excellent summary of the theory of instrument flying, punctuated with valuable suggestions and hints. It also links effectively with the simulator's programmed exercises that will test whether you really can apply the instrument flying theory you've learned.” PC Pilot Magazine, U.K.
The aim of the software is to improve the theoretical knowledge of the pilot, his scanning and flying skills. In this way a better pilot is formed which contributes to flight safety.
Other merits of the software are that it makes the IFR training easier, it provides unlimited training possibility and that it can limit the hours spent in the airplane to a minimum and reduce the training cost.
Last but not least, the preflight preparation contributes to flight safety by lowering the treshold to make a proper preparation.

PRODUCT INFORMATION

* The CockpitWeb IFR Training Software includes the IFR manual, the exercises and the IFR simulator.
* The preflight preparation is included in the IFR Training software.

Should you require more information, please feel free to contact us.