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ABX Air Announces New UPRT Simulator Capability

Wilmington, OH – October 18, 2017

ABX Air, Inc. announced today its plans to update and certify its B767-200 Full Flight Simulator to provide Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (UPRT). This advanced training capability, enabled through the use of the StallBox® solution developed by Bihrle Applied Research Inc., allows pilots to more accurately train to recognize and recover from a full aerodynamic stall. This training capability was previously unavailable in the simulated environment due in part to the lack of full stall models and appropriate instructor training aids, which StallBox provides.

The ABX Air B767-200 simulator will have the ability to conduct UPRT in accordance with U.S Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 14 Part 60 Directive 2 by December 2017, well ahead of the FAA’s 2019 deadline for incorporating such training into all Full Flight Simulators used for commercial pilot training.

StallBox is the first FAA-qualified solution on the market to meet the FAA’s newly enhanced requirements for stall modeling and instructor displays (CFR 14 Part 60 Directive 2). Currently in use by both commercial and military customers, StallBox provides airlines and training centers with a robust solution that leverages 40+ years of expertise in aerodynamics data collection and software modeling of complex flight regimes.

About ABX Air, Inc.

ABX Air is a FAR Part 121 cargo airline headquartered in Wilmington, Ohio, that has flown express cargo routes for customers in the U.S. and around the world for more than three decades. ABX Air is a wholly owned subsidiary of Air Transport Services Group, Inc. For more information, visit www.abxair.com.

About Bihrle Applied Research, Inc.

Bihrle Applied Research Inc. (BAR) is an aeronautical research & development company specializing in the development of flight-representative software mathematical models for military & commercial fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, including full-envelope modeling, malfunction modeling and upset/recovery modeling. For more information about the company, visit www.bihrle.com and for specific information about StallBox visit www.stallbox.com.

Alaska Airlines Leads the Industry in Safety with First FAA-Approved Flight Simulator Featuring a Full-Stall Model

Cutting edge innovation provides advanced, more realistic training for pilots

SEATTLE, May 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/

Last week, Alaska Airlines became the first commercial airline in the world to receive FAA certification of an enhanced full-stall model in a flight simulator, which helps pilots train to recognize and recover from a full aerodynamic stall. While this type of mid-air stall is extremely rare, simulator training helps pilots prepare for worst-case scenarios.

In advance of the 2019 deadline set by the FAA, Alaska Airline’s simulator engineering group completed the upgrade and certification process for one of its 737-800 simulators with a StallBox. The StallBox together with a set of instructor led tools allows the simulator to more closely mimic the actual aircraft in a similar situation, making sure pilots are well equipped if they ever encounter a full stall in real life. The Birhle Applied Research product meets the FAA’s newly enhanced requirements for “upset prevention and recovery training.”

“Safety remains our top priority and ensuring we have cutting edge training for our pilots helps us to maintain our industry-leading position,” said Tom Kemp, Alaska Airlines’ vice president of flight operations. “This project has been in the works for two years and is an example of how we continually strive to be ahead of the curve and go beyond the industry requirements to deliver excellence and ensure a safe operation.”

Before this new model, training for full stalls has been primarily academic. The simulator could do the “approach to stall,” but wouldn’t show accurate behavioral cues once in the “stall.” The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) looked at a number of stalls that took place during commercial operations, and determined that often times the pilots were unable to recognize the stall and that there was a need for more hands-on training for pilots. The key learnings from these incidents helped to refine this training and will not only help pilots recognize and recover from a stall, but more importantly, prevent them from occurring in the first place.

“The Air Line Pilots Association, working with Alaska, supports this valuable and ahead-of-schedule improvement to the first of Alaska’s simulators,” said Doug Branch, chairman of the Human Factors and Training Committee for the Alaska Master Executive Council of the Air Line Pilots Association. “This investment illustrates the value Alaska puts on providing industry-leading training, which leads to enhanced safety for our passengers and crews. We look forward to the benefits this enhanced training tool will provide, and applaud Alaska for moving so quickly to implement it.”

Alaska Airlines, a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK), together with its partner regional airlines, serves more than 100 cities through an expansive network in the United States, Canada, Costa Rica and Mexico. For reservations, visit www.alaskaair.com. For more news and information, visit Alaska Airlines’ newsroom at ww.alaskaair.com/newsroom.

Wilmington, OH – October 18, 2017

ABX Air, Inc. announced today its plans to update and certify its B767-200 Full Flight Simulator to provide Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (UPRT). This advanced training capability, enabled through the use of the StallBox® solution developed by Bihrle Applied Research Inc., allows pilots to more accurately train to recognize and recover from a full aerodynamic stall. This training capability was previously unavailable in the simulated environment due in part to the lack of full stall models and appropriate instructor training aids, which StallBox provides.

The ABX Air B767-200 simulator will have the ability to conduct UPRT in accordance with U.S Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 14 Part 60 Directive 2 by December 2017, well ahead of the FAA’s 2019 deadline for incorporating such training into all Full Flight Simulators used for commercial pilot training.

StallBox is the first FAA-qualified solution on the market to meet the FAA’s newly enhanced requirements for stall modeling and instructor displays (CFR 14 Part 60 Directive 2). Currently in use by both commercial and military customers, StallBox provides airlines and training centers with a robust solution that leverages 40+ years of expertise in aerodynamics data collection and software modeling of complex flight regimes.

About ABX Air, Inc.

ABX Air is a FAR Part 121 cargo airline headquartered in Wilmington, Ohio, that has flown express cargo routes for customers in the U.S. and around the world for more than three decades. ABX Air is a wholly owned subsidiary of Air Transport Services Group, Inc. For more information, visit www.abxair.com.

About Bihrle Applied Research, Inc.

Bihrle Applied Research Inc. (BAR) is an aeronautical research & development company specializing in the development of flight-representative software mathematical models for military & commercial fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, including full-envelope modeling, malfunction modeling and upset/recovery modeling. For more information about the company, visit www.bihrle.com and for specific information about StallBox visit www.stallbox.com.

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Cutting edge innovation provides advanced, more realistic training for pilots

SEATTLE, May 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/

Last week, Alaska Airlines became the first commercial airline in the world to receive FAA certification of an enhanced full-stall model in a flight simulator, which helps pilots train to recognize and recover from a full aerodynamic stall. While this type of mid-air stall is extremely rare, simulator training helps pilots prepare for worst-case scenarios.

In advance of the 2019 deadline set by the FAA, Alaska Airline’s simulator engineering group completed the upgrade and certification process for one of its 737-800 simulators with a StallBox. The StallBox together with a set of instructor led tools allows the simulator to more closely mimic the actual aircraft in a similar situation, making sure pilots are well equipped if they ever encounter a full stall in real life. The Birhle Applied Research product meets the FAA’s newly enhanced requirements for “upset prevention and recovery training.”

“Safety remains our top priority and ensuring we have cutting edge training for our pilots helps us to maintain our industry-leading position,” said Tom Kemp, Alaska Airlines’ vice president of flight operations. “This project has been in the works for two years and is an example of how we continually strive to be ahead of the curve and go beyond the industry requirements to deliver excellence and ensure a safe operation.”

Before this new model, training for full stalls has been primarily academic. The simulator could do the “approach to stall,” but wouldn’t show accurate behavioral cues once in the “stall.” The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) looked at a number of stalls that took place during commercial operations, and determined that often times the pilots were unable to recognize the stall and that there was a need for more hands-on training for pilots. The key learnings from these incidents helped to refine this training and will not only help pilots recognize and recover from a stall, but more importantly, prevent them from occurring in the first place.

“The Air Line Pilots Association, working with Alaska, supports this valuable and ahead-of-schedule improvement to the first of Alaska’s simulators,” said Doug Branch, chairman of the Human Factors and Training Committee for the Alaska Master Executive Council of the Air Line Pilots Association. “This investment illustrates the value Alaska puts on providing industry-leading training, which leads to enhanced safety for our passengers and crews. We look forward to the benefits this enhanced training tool will provide, and applaud Alaska for moving so quickly to implement it.”

Alaska Airlines, a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK), together with its partner regional airlines, serves more than 100 cities through an expansive network in the United States, Canada, Costa Rica and Mexico. For reservations, visit www.alaskaair.com. For more news and information, visit Alaska Airlines’ newsroom at ww.alaskaair.com/newsroom.

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