FlightSafety stops offering training on older Cessnas

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Sept. 01--FlightSafety International's Cessna Learning Center in Wichita has ceased training on out-of-production Cessna 210, 300 to 400 series, 425 and 441 aircraft.

The cost to upgrade the simulators with new technology is too high, said Rich High, the center's manager

"It wasn't economically feasible to do," High said.

"As the fleets continue to change, technology increases, and it is very hard to match what the fleet has available today in these older simulators," High said.

Without the upgrades, FlightSafety isn't giving customers what they want.

"Instead, it's time to get out of the business and turn it over to another company that wants to stay in the business and let them take over."

FlightSafety plans to lease the four simulators to SimCom Simulator Training Centers, which will put them into service in Dallas.

A main problem with the simulators is due to recent rulings by the Federal Aviation Administration.

The FAA rulings mean pilots can't use the simulators to meet proficiency requirements in instrument flying or currency in landing skills, High said.

For customers, the rulings mean pilots training on the simulators would need additional training in an airplane, High said. The rulings have led to the loss of two government contracts, he said.

FlightSafety's last day of training in the simulators was Wednesday, High said.

The company hasn't yet decided what it will do with floor space made available by the move.

Overall, business is good, High said.

"We're having a great year," High said. "More flight departments are flying. We have maintained a pretty steady business. We are real pleased with that."

Reach Molly McMillin at 316-269-6708 or [email protected].