ASTi Advanced Tools and Remote Tuning Speed Level D Certification

In recent months, ASTi engineers provided first-rate sound tuning for civil aviation authorities around the world to Level D-certify multiple full-flight simulators (FFSs). These authorities include the Federal Aviation Administration in the U.S., European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) in Australia, and the Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC). ASTi built its Telestra system with the highest-fidelity simulation systems in the military and commercial markets in mind. As such, it offers advanced and specialized tools to streamline the tuning process and reduce the time to final certification.

One such feature, Telestra's automated speaker equalization tool, quickly analyzes and optimizes each simulator speaker's frequency response, creating a reference baseline for precise model tuning. Another feature offers sophisticated audio filtering that engineers can dynamically drive in real time to provide precise control of all sounds during objective and subjective tuning sessions. Since Telestra uses a full-synthesis approach to sound, audio engineers are in complete control of every aspect of the simulator's sound system. Telestra even offers an advanced one-third octave spectral analysis API to integrate directly with customer electronic qualification test guide (eQTG) systems. All of these are built directly into the audio simulation system, resulting in shorter tuning sessions and allowing all involved to make the best of the available time in the simulator. For commercial jet aircraft with a single engine type (e.g., Boeing 737 MAX), tuning takes as little as two days.

As a simulator approaches qualification, competing demands complicate scheduling. On-site sound tuning—the usual method—is expensive, and schedule delays only increase costs. ASTi mitigates this risk with remote model tuning over the Internet. This approach allows for more flexible scheduling, facilitates tuning during "off-hours" and eliminates travel time and costs. ASTi has conducted hundreds of remote tuning sessions, and the result is the same as an on-site visit: passing eQTG test-case plots. Along with Telestra's advanced tools, remote tuning reduces the time to system certification significantly.

ASTi's unrivaled capabilities in this space led to recent successful tuning sessions for a variety of fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft simulators, listed below. Most of these programs enjoyed accelerated schedules, and some simulators were Level D-certified within days of final audio tuning.

Business Jets

• Citation Longitude
• Citation Latitude
• Citation M2
• Citation CJ3
• Citation Ascend

Commercial Airliners

• Airbus A320
• Boeing 737NG
• Boeing 737 MAX

Turboprop Aircraft

• Beechcraft King Air 200
• Beechcraft King Air 260
• Beechcraft King Air 350
• Beechcraft Denali

Helicopters

• Airbus H125
• Airbus H145
• Leonardo AW169

Final destinations for these simulators include the U.S., Finland, Switzerland, Australia, China and the United Kingdom. Contact ASTi for more information about how Telestra's purpose-built sound tools can accelerate your simulator's qualification schedule.