AC NO: AC 121-14

DATE: 12119/69

ADVISORY
CIRCULAR
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
SUBJECT: AIRCRAFT SIMULATOR !VALUATION AND APPROVAL

1. PURPOSE. Thia circular set• forth one means that would be acceptable to
the Adminiatrator for approval of aircraft aimulatora or other training
devices requiring approval uader 121.407.
2. IAClCGRQUNp. Factor• such a• aafety and aircraft traffic congeation
atrongly point to the increased use of aimulation. The increaaing size,
complexity and operating coat of the modern turbojet tranaport and ita
operating environment point to greater use of the hiahly sophisticated
teclanology now available in aircraft aimulatore and aircraft aimulation
devices.

3. SCOPE OP APPROV4L. Approval procedure• which follow apply to apecific

maneuver•, procedure• and crewmember functiona for which the user
requeate approval.

4. PRIJ!IUQNS.
a. Simulator Data includes the various type• of data used by the
1imulator manufacturer and the applicant to de1ign, manufacture
and teat the fli1ht simulator. Normally the aircraft manufacturer
will provide the aircraft data te the aircraft simulator manu•
facturer, which in the ca1e of aircraft not yet flying will be
predicted data. In the case of aircraft already flying, data
obtained from the Airplane Flight Manual, Aircraft Type
la.apection Report, or flight te1ta in the applicant'• aircraft
may be uaed. The data must be applicable to the apecific air•
craft and muat be acceptable to the Adminiatrator.
b. Customer Acceptance Teat Guide is a teat guide uaed by the
applicant to verify that tha aimulator complie• vith contractual
apecificatiou. Thia ia an extenaive engineering flight teat
of all area• of performance and ayateme operation.

Initiated by: FS-426

Page 2 AC 121• 14
12/19/69

S. AIRCRAFT SIMULATOR GENERAirFAA UQUIREMERTS. When the applicant

determines that the aircraft simulator will meet his acceptance criteria,
the FAA should be notified with sufficient lead time to assure a mutually
satisfactory date for FAA evaluation. As appropriate, the following
general requirements should be evaluated during the FAA aircraft
simulator evaluation and approval process.
a. Circuit breakers that affect procedures and functions resulting in
observable cockpit indications should be checked for functional
accuracy.
b. The cockpit should represent a full scale mockup of the aircraft
simulated. Where movement of controls and switches is involved, the
direction of movement should be identical to that required in the
aircraft.
c. The effect of aerodynamic changes for various combinations of drag
and thrust normally encountered in flight should reasonably
correspond to actual flight conditions. The effect of change in
aircraft attitude, -thrust, drag, altitude, temperature, gross weight,
center of gravity location and configuration should be included.
d. In response to control moveaent by a crewmember, all relevant
instrument indications involved in the simulation of the applicable
aircraft ahould be entirely automatic unless otherwise specified.
e. The rate of change of simulator instrument readings and of control
forces should correspond to the rate of change which would occur on
the applicable aircraft under actual flight conditions for any given
change in forces applied to the controls, in the applied power, or in
aircraft configuration.
f. Control forces and degree of actuation control travel should
correspond to that which would occur in the aircraft under act'9&1
flight conditions.
g. Coamunicatiom and aavigatioii equipment~ ·should correspond- to--that___ _
installed in the aircraft and should reasonably operate within the
tolerances prescribed for the actual airborne equipment.
h. The cockpit should include flight crew stations and seat
accomodations for the instructor/check airman and FAA inspector.
i. Simulator ayatema should a:laulate the applicable aircraft system
operation, both on the ground and in flight. Major systems should be
operative to the extent that normal operating procedures, abnormal
procedures and emergency procedures included in the applicartt'a
programs can be accomplished.

Par 5
Ac 121- 14 page 3
12/19/69

6. AIRCRAFT S R OPERATI L EVALUATION ROCEDURES. Tbe FAA

t•
evalu«!=ion- 1 cover each maneuver and syatem operation for which
applicant ,baa requested specific approval. As applicable,
per~Baanee and system operation will be evaluated in accordance with
the following typical aequeuce of ground and flight maneuvers including
cockpit check, systems operation, normal procedures, abnormal procedures
and emergency procedures.

a. Preflight and Prestart.

(1) Cockpit check in accordance with prestart checklist. Items to

be checked will include: electrical power, external power,
APU, lighting, c~ew oxygen, passenger oxygen, cockpit inter•
phone, flight recorder, etc.
(2) Set up operating conditions. Included will be: gross weight,
fuel load, oil quantity, hydraulic quantity, ground power, etc.

(3) Determine environmental conditions such as: temperature,

barometric pressure, field elevation, wind, etc.

(4) Execute preatart checklist.

b. Engine Start and After-Start Cbeckliat in Accordance with the

Applicant' a Operating Manual.
(1) Normal start procedures.

(2) Alternate start procedures.

(3) Cross•bleed starts.

(4) Abnormal and emergency procedures during atart.

I

{5) Systema operations transfer to engine support, ground equipaent

and external power removed.

(6) After-start checklist.

c. Taxi for Takeoff.

(1) Taxi checklist.

(2) Thrust neceaaary for taxi

(3) Rudder - nose wheel steering - ground handling.

(4) Yaw clamper operation.

(5) Anti-skid operation.

Par 6
page 4 AC 121•14
12/19/69
(6) Brake operation.
(7) Operation of all systems required for taxi.
(8) Simulator visual system evaluation.

(9) Abnormal and emergency procedures associated with ground

operation.
d. Pre•Takeoff.
(1) All systema set for takeoff.
(2) Pre-takeoff checklist.
(3) All runup procedures.
e. Takeoff and Climb.
(1) Engine parmaeter relationahips.
(2) Ground acceleration.
(3) Nose wheel and rudder steering.

(4) Aborted takeoff.

(5) Takeoff with engine failure at Vt•
(6) Nonaal takeoff.
(7) Rotation characteristics.
(8) Handling characteristics oa takeoff, all engines operating
and engine-out.
(9) Systems operation transfer from on ground to flight aDd aystema
operation for climb configuration.
(10) Gear, flap, slat, slot operation.
(11) Comaunicatioaa and navigation facilities used for departure.

(12) Normal cliab and engine-out climb.

(13) After takeoff checklist.

(14) Abnormal and emergency procedures associated with climb
configuration.
AC 121- 14 page 5
12/19/69

(15) Evaluation of visual system.

f. Cruise.

(1) Cruise checklist.

(2) Speed vs. power with associated engine parameters.
(3) Overspeed warning.
(4) Mach tuck and tuck compensator.
(5) Buffet onset at high mach numbers.

(6) Steep turns. other turns.

(7) Approach to stalls.
(8) Unusual attitudes.

(9) Dutch roll. specific flight characteristics.

(10) Abnormal and emergency procedures associated with cruise

configuration; i.e •• powerplant failures, fire in flight.
smoke control, rapid decompression, hydraulic and electrical
system failures and malfunctions, and landing gear and flap
system failure or malfunction.

(11) Systems operation associated with cruise configuration.

g. Descent.
(1) Descent checklist.

(2) Emergency descents.

(3) Reverse thrust.

(4) Speed brake operation.

(5) System operation associated with descent.

(6) Abnormal and emergency procedures associated with descent.

(7) Navigation and coaaunication.

h. Approach and Landing.

(1) Maneuvering with all engines operating and with engine(a)
inoperative.

Par 6
Page 6 AC 121• 14
12/19/69

(2) Gear, flap, slat, slot operation.

(3) Approach and landing checklist.

(4) All engine approach and landing.

(5) Engine(s) out approach and landing.

(6) No flap approach.

(7) Approach with jammed stabilizer.

(8) Approach with unbooated controls.

'
(9) Flight director approach.
(10) Raw data approach.
(11) Auto coupler approach, auto throttle and auto land.

(12) Visual reference approach and landing, if visual system

installed.

(ll) Hissed approach all engines.

(14) Hissed approach with engine(s) inoperative.
( 15) Navigation and coaaunications.

(16) System operation associated with approach.

(17) Abnormal and emergency procedures associated with approach.

1. Landing Roll and Taxi In.

(1) Spoiler operation.

(2) Reverse operation.

(3) Directional control and ground handling.

(4), Normal brake and anti-skid operation.

(5) Emergency brake operation.

(6) Nose wheel steering.

(7) System operation associated with landing and taxi.

Par 6
 AC 121• 14 page 7
12/19/69

(9) After•laadina clleckliat.

j. Eyine llaut•own pd Parki91.

(1) Tranafer of ayateu a11d operation to ground power, APU or

battery.
(2) Syateaa operation.
(3) Parking brake operation.
(4) Parkiag cllackliat.

k. All Other Ite• Por Wllich Operational Apprnal Ha• Been Reg•ated.

J!2!1: At the diacratioa of the applicant, tbe F.AA a.cceptace

ad approval proceaa aay be conducted at the aircraft
aia11lator 11a1111facturer'• factory or at the applicaat'•
trdaiag facility. Whan tba dmulator bu beea approved
by tbe FAA. at the aia11lator aanufacturer' • factory, Ula
aillulator vill receive aa FAA fUDCtioaal check vbaa it
baa beea relocated at the applicant'• trainiag facility
to &Hare coatiaued fidelity.
7. EVALUAnOK AND APPROVAL or PROCEDURAL TRAINERS A1!P SIMULAnOR pgICES.
The operatioaal evaluatioa philoaopay contained ia this circular la
applicable to all trainiag dencea for wbich tbe applicant aeeka PAA
approval aa provicled ia FAil 121.407.
8. VISUAL AT'lACffl11NTS. Viaual ayatw aay be approved for the applicant
b:, and for the specific aanewer, procedure, or fuactioa iavolved
provided tba attaclaent adequately demoaatratea its capability to
accampliah the traiaiag and checking objective. A meau of reducing
visibility to reaaoaably simulate appropriate weather conditiona aust be
provided for Yiaual ayatema approved for inatrwaent takeoff• and/or
baa tnaeat approach procedures.

9. Visual and DOD•viaual simulators to be

AlllCRAFT SIMULATOR tf)Tlext.
approved for any of the aaneu,rers authorized 111 FAil 61, Appendix A
aod FAR 121. Appendix I, to be performed ia a aimulator ia lieu
of the aircraft, auat have aotioa.

10. PEllFORMAMCE STANIWU>S. Tbe followiag 11st of performance atandarda are

provided for use as a guide ia evaluatiag ti.. aircraft aiaulator'a
fuactioaal accuracy apecificatiou. TM apecific perfol'laallCe atandarda
contaiaad ia tbe customer's acceptaace teat 1uide ab.ould be uaed if a
aaaeuver, procedure, or fUDCtioa fails to ••t the, eperatioaal teat
criteria.

Par 6
Paa• 8 AC 121-14
12/19/69

•• Perfonaance Characteriatica. (Weight and Center of Gravity

Optional).
(1) Landing gear operating tima: +/•3 aeconda.
(2) Wing flap operating tj.me: +/•3 aecoada.
(3) Takeoff acceleration time to v1: +/•101.
(4) Calibration of Gyrocompaaa, and turn aad bank indicator in
atandard rate turna, and 300 banked turu: +/•101.
(S) Hillimaa control apeed iD flight: +/•S knota.
(6) Stall waning apeeda, atick ahaker and buffet omet:
+/-5 kaota.

(7) Propeller featbariag tille: +/•3 aeconda.

(8) Manifold preaaure for a given BHEP and JlPM: +/•1 inch.
(9) Critical altitude piaton engine aiaulatora: +/•800 feet or
+/-101.
(10) H1 • H2 relatiouhip, turbine eagine, for a given BPR: +/•27..
(11) Speed va. tlaruat in level flight at cruiae altitude: +/•5 kaota,
or 37., or .03 mach.
(12) Climb perfonaaace: +/•100 feet or +/-101.
b. f li&ht Characteriatica. (Aircraft Weight and Center of Gravity
Optional).
(1) Static I.o91itudi11al Stability. Control forces during climb,
cruiae, approach and landing abould reasonably repreaeut the
applicable aircraft. Tba aiaulator ahould return to trim
withia +/•5 bota from a apeed within 157. of trf.a apeed. The
direction of tba llevator force, pull or puah, must be ia the
aame direction aa the applica~le aircraft elevator force.
c. Control Forcea. Aircraft aimulator control forcea in the follovina
areaa ahould he *1thin +/•8 lba., or 251 of the forcaa encountered in
the airplane, except iD regard to rudder forcea, +/•10 lba., or
+/-201.
(1) Configuration changea.
(2) Stick force per "G".

Par 10
Ac 121- 14 page 9
12/19/69

d. Roll Rate in the aiaulator in operatioul configuration ahould be

within+/-2 aecoada or 2Si.
e. 1!!!!_ted Data Area. In the following areu of perforaance were a
mioimum of data exiata, adequacy of simulation should be baaed oa
training uu:I checking requireaents.
(1) Compreasibility trim changes.
(2) Buffet at high mach numbers.
(3) htch roll.
(4) laergeacy cleaceat.
(5) Any otber itema that logically fall in this category•

.,.. _r._ ..Dirac tor

~Flight Standards Sertice

au. S. OOVERNMENT PHIN"l'ING OFflCE: 1810 0 - 313-377