NP: Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Simulator Standard

AAM Simulator Standardization NP Version: 1.0

 

 

 

 

 

1. Proposal Title

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Simulator Standardization - Design, Development, Testing and Performance Requirements for Simulator Standards.

 

 

2. Scope

This standard establishes environmental testing information collected and processed from both applicable existing testing standards and direct measurements under actual operating environments for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) simulators. It provides specifications for eVTOL (electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing) simulator development, encompassing requirements for simulator architecture, fidelity levels, environmental testing conditions, and performance validation methods. The standard covers systems integration, subsystems, and components including flight dynamics, aerodynamics, propulsion systems, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), haptic technology, and artificial intelligence (AI) integration for comprehensive AAM training and evaluation purposes.

 

 

3. Purpose and Justification

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) represents a paradigm shift in urban transportation, encompassing various aircraft types and operational scenarios. To ensure safe integration into existing airspace and effective pilot training, comprehensive simulator standards are essential for consistent development and deployment across the industry.

 

3.1. Safety and Risk Management:

AAM simulators require robust environmental testing and performance validation to ensure safe training under various operational conditions including adverse weather, emergency scenarios, and complex urban flight patterns.

 

3.2. Industry Standardization:

The rapid growth of the AAM industry necessitates standardized simulator requirements to ensure consistency across manufacturers, training providers, and regulatory bodies.

 

3.3. Regulatory Compliance:

Harmonized standards will facilitate regulatory approval processes and support the development of type-specific training programs aligned with emerging AAM certification requirements.

 

 

4. Work Program

The proposed standard development includes the following phases:

 

Phase 1: Requirements Analysis and Development Standards

• Conduct comprehensive analysis of AAM simulator requirements
• Define technical specifications for simulator components and systems
• Establish environmental testing protocols based on existing aviation standards including:

Phase 2: Environmental Testing Standards

• Develop comprehensive environmental testing conditions covering:

Phase 3: Validation and Certification

• Establish validation methodologies for simulator performance
• Define certification processes for AAM simulator compliance

 

5. Relationship with Existing Standards

This standard builds upon and references existing aviation and simulation standards:

 

International Standards:

• FAR Part 60: Flight Simulation Training Device Initial and Continuing Qualification and Use
• EASA CS-FSTD(A): Certification Specifications for Aeroplane Flight Simulation Training Devices
• ICAO Doc 9625: Manual of Criteria for the Qualification of Flight Simulation Training Devices

Environmental Testing Standards:

• IEC 60068 series: Environmental testing of electrotechnical products
• MIL-STD-810: Environmental Engineering Considerations and Laboratory Tests
• RTCA DO-160: Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures for Airborne Equipment

AAM-Specific References:

• ASTM F3441: Standard Specification for General Requirements for the Design and Performance of Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) Aircraft
• SAE AS6505: Required Product Information to Support Airworthiness Assessment of eVTOL Aircraft

 

6. Target Audience and Key Stakeholders

 

Primary Target Audience:

• AAM aircraft manufacturers and developers
• Flight training device manufacturers
• Simulator software developers
• Training organizations and flight schools
• Regulatory authorities (FAA, EASA, ICAO, etc.)

Key Stakeholders:

• Aircraft manufacturers: Boeing, Airbus, Joby Aviation, Lilium, etc.
• Simulator manufacturers: CAE, L3Harris, FlightSafety International
• Training providers and aviation academies
• Technology companies developing VR/AR systems
• Regulatory and certification bodies

 

 

 

7. Proposed Standard Structure and Content

The proposed standard structure includes the following main sections:

 

Section 1: Scope and Application

• Definition of AAM simulator types and categories
• Applicability to different aircraft configurations and operational scenarios

Section 2: Normative References

• Referenced standards and regulatory documents
• Applicable environmental testing standards

Section 3: Terms and Definitions

• AAM-specific terminology
• Simulator performance metrics and fidelity levels

Section 4: General Requirements

• System architecture requirements
• Performance specifications for flight dynamics modeling
• Visual system requirements for urban environment simulation

Section 5: Environmental Testing Conditions

Comprehensive environmental testing requirements including:

 

   5.1 Standard Ambient Conditions

          Temperature: 25°C ± 10°C (77°F ± 18°F)

           Relative humidity: 20% to 80%

           Atmospheric pressure: Site pressure

   5.2 Thermal Testing

           Thermal cycling: Operating temperature ranges

           Sustained temperature: Extended exposure testing

           Temperature shock: Rapid temperature change testing

   5.3 Moisture and Precipitation Testing

           Humidity testing: Condensing and non-condensing conditions

           Rain simulation: Various precipitation intensities

           Immersion testing: Water ingress protection

   5.4 Mechanical Environmental Testing

           Vibration testing: Random and harmonic vibration

           Shock testing: Mechanical shock and drop testing

           Acceleration testing: G-force simulation

   5.5 Electromagnetic Environment

           EMI/EMC testing: Electromagnetic interference and compatibility

           Lightning protection: Electrical transient testing

           ESD protection: Electrostatic discharge testing

   5.6 Atmospheric Conditions

           Altitude testing: Low pressure simulation

           Wind conditions: Various wind speeds and directions

           Weather phenomena: Ice, snow, hail simulation

                  

Section 6: Performance Requirements

• Simulator fidelity standards
• Motion system specifications (where applicable)
• Visual system performance criteria
• Audio system requirements

Section 7: Validation and Verification

• Testing methodologies for simulator validation
• Performance measurement criteria
• Certification requirements and processes

Section 8: Documentation Requirements

• Technical documentation standards
• Maintenance and calibration procedures
• Training requirements for simulator operators

 

8. Anticipated Timeline

The proposed development timeline for this standard is as follows:

 

Year 1: Requirements gathering, stakeholder consultation, and initial draft development
Year 2: Technical review, testing validation, and standard refinement
Year 3: Final review, approval process, and publication

 

 

9. Benefits and Expected Impact

 

Industry Benefits:

• Standardized development processes reducing costs and time-to-market
• Enhanced safety through consistent training standards
• Improved interoperability between different simulator systems

Safety Impact:

• Comprehensive environmental testing ensuring reliable simulator operation
• Standardized emergency scenario training capabilities
• Validated performance criteria for critical flight training scenarios

Economic Impact:

• Reduced development costs through standardized requirements
• Accelerated regulatory approval processes
• Enhanced market confidence in AAM technology

 

10. Conclusion

The standardization of AAM simulators through comprehensive environmental testing and performance requirements is essential for the safe and efficient integration of Advanced Air Mobility into the global transportation system. This proposed standard addresses critical gaps in current simulation standards and provides a framework for consistent, reliable, and effective AAM pilot training and system validation.

The proposed work aligns with international aviation safety standards while addressing the unique challenges and requirements of AAM operations in urban environments. Through collaborative development with industry stakeholders and regulatory bodies, this standard will contribute significantly to the advancement of safe and reliable Advanced Air Mobility operations.