Advanced Simulation Technology inc. (ASTi) recently received a contract award to modernize flight training capabilities for the Chief of Naval Aviation Training (CNATRA). Under the contract, ASTi will integrate its Simulated Environment for Realistic ATC (SERA) product into five unit training devices (UTDs) and two operational flight training devices (OFTs) at Training Air Wing SIX (CTW-6) aboard NAS Pensacola. The simulators at CTW-6 are critical to the production of Naval Flight Officers (NFO) for the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and foreign military services.

With the addition of SERA, CTW-6 simulators gain artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities that will transform the way NFO students achieve radio communications proficiency. SERA creates an interactive simulated radio environment populated with intelligent agents that serve as air traffic controllers and pilots. The intelligent agents interact with NFO trainees to provide an automated, repeatable, objectively-scored training domain. And they reduce instructor workload by offloading role-player duties.

SERA also supplements the visual environment with simulated air traffic and replicates malfunctions, mishaps and weather to enhance immersion and cognitive loading for better situational awareness training. SERA will provide CTW-6 with the capability to conduct around-the-clock training to increase training pipeline throughput.

The contract also provides CTW-6 with 250 licenses of ASTi's Pilot Phraseology Trainer (Pilot PT), which will enable students to improve their communications proficiency both in and out of the classroom.

CNATRA selected an ASTi enterprise solution based on an all-inclusive subscription model that provides predictable costs and risk reduction. ASTi’s enterprise solution includes a service package that provides: development of simulated operations at 11 Navy airfields and practice areas, development of customized content for nine curriculum modules, onsite fielding and training services, and more.