U.S. Air Force Receives ATWorld™ Interactive Air Traffic Environment on T-1A Operational Flight Trainers

UFA, Inc. announced today that it has enhanced U.S. Air Force T-1A Operational Flight Trainers (OFTs) with the company’s ATWorld Interactive Air Traffic Environment solution. Working with L-3 Link Simulation & Training, the T-1A Ground-Based Training System prime contractor, UFA integrated ATWorld on T-1A Ground-Based Training System simulators and the program’s Pilot Instructor Training (PIT) syllabus.

During crew training sessions, ATWorld dynamically and autonomously simulates an Air Traffic Control (ATC) environment, including background air and ground traffic, contextually correct multi-frequency radio communications and a virtual air traffic controller. The crew interacts with the virtual air traffic controller using UFA’s ATVoice® voice recognition and response product. T-1A crew training sessions can now focus on increasing situational awareness, standard and effective communications with ATC, and operating in a congested ATC environment.

ATWorld supports ground, Visual Flight Rules (VFR) and Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations for the simulated background traffic and T-1A OFTs. ATWorld replicates the real-world environment for specific locations so that crews are able to train on and around airports with IFR approaches, including Instrument Landing System (ILS), localizer component of the ILS, area navigation, VHF Omnidirectional Radio Range, tactical air navigation system, and other navigation systems based on their current charts and flight management system. With user-friendly tools provided by ATWorld, any level of congestion and background traffic mix appropriate for the airport and airspace can be created, including local procedures and airline operators.

The virtual controller responds, clears and — using de-confliction algorithms — manages background and T-1A OFT traffic in the air and on the ground. ATWorld can support one or more T-1A OFTs, including formation operations. During a training session, multiple virtual controllers operate on their respective frequencies and traffic is passed between them based on the dynamic situation. Each virtual controller issues clearances and responses appropriate to its tower, ground or approach role.

ATWorld leverages UFA’s ATC training simulator and voice recognition products to provide a highfidelity simulation of air and ground traffic with integrated support for voice recognition. ATWorld supports compliance with ARINC Report, Project Paper 439: Guidance for Simulated Air Traffic Control Environments (SATCE) in Flight Simulation Training Devices.

Headquartered in Burlington, MA, UFA specializes in simulation and voice technologies and services for Air Traffic Management (ATM). UFA’s product line is in use around the world and includes ATTower®, ATCoach®, ATView®, ATRadio®, ATVehicle™, ATVoice®, and ATSpeak™. UFA maintains additional offices in Gaithersburg, MD. The company’s wholly owned German subsidiary, ATCSim GmbH, is located in Mainz and Kaufbeuren, and also operates the ATCSim Innovation Center in Bavaria, Germany.

L-3 Link Simulation & Training (L-3 Link) is a world leader in providing intelligent total training
solutions for operators and maintainers across a wide range of military, civil and commercial
platforms. L-3 Link’s innovative solutions provide a full spectrum of state-of-the-art training
technologies, including high-fidelity immersive simulations, as well as distributed academic and
interactive courseware. The company has delivered military, civil and commercial training systems to customer locations throughout North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and the Pacific Rim. L-3 Link is headquartered in Arlington, Texas, with key bases of operation in Binghamton, N.Y.; Orlando, Fla.; Oklahoma City, Okla.; Broken Arrow, Okla.; and Crawley, U.K. For more information, please visit the company’s website at www.link.com.