Status: In Progress (prototype functional)
Priority: Medium
Dependencies: None (standalone hardware)
Organization: Civil Air Patrol, California Wing Group 8
Summary
The Advanced General Aviation Systems Trainer (AGAST) is a high-fidelity Cessna 172SP G1000 flight simulator built for Civil Air Patrol cadet pilot training. It provides a 53+ hour structured curriculum designed to reduce flight training costs and accelerate the path to Private Pilot certification.
The Hardware
- Displays: 3x 55″ monitors providing 240-degree field of view
- Controls: Force-feedback yoke, throttle quadrant, rudder pedals
- Avionics: Full G1000 glass cockpit replication
- Scenery: Photo-realistic terrain generation
- ATC: PilotEdge integration for live air traffic control practice
Training Program
Phase 1: Orientation (8 hours)
Basic cockpit procedures, G1000 familiarization, taxi, takeoff, and landing patterns
Phase 2: CAT Rating Program (26 hours)
11 structured flights with written exams. Covers:
– Slow flight, stalls, steep turns
– Ground reference maneuvers
– Pattern work and landings
– Emergency procedures
Phase 3: Cross-Country Navigation (14 hours)
VOR/GPS navigation, flight planning, fuel management, diversion procedures
Phase 4: Emergency & Instruments (5 hours)
Engine failure procedures, partial panel flying, basic instrument approaches
Cost Advantage
The simulation curriculum saves an estimated 20 hours of actual flight time:
– 20 hours × $120/hour = $2,400 saved per student
– Cadets starting at age 15 can complete Private Pilot certification in approximately 40 total flight hours (vs. 60+ national average)
Educational Philosophy
Based on FAA “Laws of Learning”:
– Primacy — first exposure in a safe, repeatable environment
– Exercise — unlimited practice without aircraft availability constraints
– Effect — immediate feedback without safety consequences
– Intensity — realistic scenarios that engage the student
– Readiness — students prepare for flight lessons in advance
Where Aviation Meets Cyber
This project bridges both sides of CyberFlight:
– The simulator runs on PC hardware managed by the same infrastructure skills used in the CyberLab
– Training data and curriculum are documented using the same tools (MkDocs, version control)
– The project demonstrates that technology amplifies learning in every domain
This project is part of Civil Air Patrol’s mission to develop the next generation of pilots.