Big Bend Community College Orders FRASCA Archer Simulator

March 28, 2018. Urbana, IL. Big Bend Community College (BBCC), Moses Lake, Washington, has placed an order for a Frasca Piper Archer AATD (Advanced Aviation Training Device). The college recently bought several new Archer aircraft from Piper and wanted a simulation device to have the exact same avionics as their new aircraft, including Garmin’s newest G1000 NXi that was announced earlier this year.

Frasca was the first simulation company to integrate Garmin G1000 NXi into simulation devices, and will include the G1000 NXi within BBCC’s Archer AATD so their students may learn and apply the exact same procedures in the AATD as they will in the aircraft.

In addition to a flight deck that is very realistic to the actual Archer aircraft, the Archer AATD will include Frasca's TruVision™ visual system with wrap-around visual diplay system featuring high-resolution aerial imagery which enables students to learn visual training maneuvers such as cross-countries, turns around a point, traffic patterns and approaches to landing.

The AATD will also include Frasca’s newest Instructor Station, Simplicity™, that incorporates touchscreen functionality similar to that of smartphones.

The Frasca AATD is FAA approved which allows students to log hours spent in the AATD towards their private, instrument and commercial license. In addition to this new Archer AATD, Big Bend CC has purchased one Frasca Model 142 and three Frasca Model 141s in the past.

"We are very excited to add another Frasca simulator to our program," stated John Marc Swedberg, Chief Flight Instructor at Big Bend."Our other Frasca simulators have served us well for more than 25 years and we look forward to this addition. The new AATD will allow our students to receive the advanced training they need to ensure that they excel in the industry." 

"Big Bend Community College has an excellent aviation program with a long history of pilot training success. We are committed to providing them with the best simulation equipment available." stated John Frasca, President, Frasca International, Inc. Frasca provides flight training devices to hundreds of flight schools worldwide with a large presence in the collegiate market.

About Big Bend Community College:

More than 50 years ago with three airplanes and 23 students, Big Bend Community College established its commercial pilot training program – one of the college’s most successful vocational training programs. Today, it is one of the college's most successful training programs and the Big Bend name is recognized worldwide as a leader in graduating competent well-rounded professional pilots. Today, there are approximately 90 students, 27 aircraft, 14 instructors and 3 mechanics. During the course of our two-year program, an average student will fly 220 hours to earn a commercial pilot certificate with an instrument rating. Aviation training at Big Bend is taken in conjunction with academic or vocational courses to fulfill the requirements of the Associate in Arts and Science transfer degree or the Associate in Applied Science vocational degree.