What is the general entitlement for using FSTDs with FCSs or assigned FCSs under FCL.036?

Applicants may use an FSTD to comply with requirements referring to FSTD types and levels if its qualification certificate includes FCSs or assigned FCSs and, for each feature, the FCS or assigned FCS indicates a fidelity level equal to or higher than the equivalent determined in the tables in FCL.036.

What FCS fidelity levels are required for aeroplane FNPT I devices for features 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14?

For aeroplane FSTDs, FNPT I requires 'G' (generic) for flight deck layout and structure, flight control forces and hardware, and flight control systems operation; 'N' for aircraft systems, performance and handling on ground, in-ground effect, motion cueing, visual cueing, vibration cueing, and sound cueing; 'R' for navigation; and 'N' for atmosphere and weather and operating sites and terrain.

Which features require 'R' (representative) fidelity for aeroplane FFS level C?

For aeroplanes, FFS level C requires 'S' (specific) for features 1 through 7, 10, 11, and 12; 'R' (representative) for features 8, 9, and 13; and 'S' for feature 14.

What is the required fidelity for features 1 to 10 on an aeroplane FFS interim level C?

For aeroplanes, FFS interim level C requires 'S interim' for features 1 through 10, and 'S' for features 11, 12, 13, and 14.

Which aeroplane FSTD type requires 'S' for aircraft systems and navigation but 'N' for motion and vibration cueing?

For aeroplanes, FTD 2 requires 'S' for flight deck layout and structure, flight control systems operation, aircraft systems, navigation, and visual cueing; 'R' for flight control forces and hardware; 'G' for performance and handling on ground, in-ground effect, and out-of-ground effect, sound cueing, atmosphere and weather, and operating sites and terrain; and 'N' for motion and vibration cueing.

For helicopter FTD 3 / FTD 3 MCC, which features require 'S' (specific) fidelity?

For helicopters, FTD 3 / FTD 3 MCC requires 'R' for flight deck layout and structure, flight control forces and hardware, flight control systems operation, performance and handling in-ground effect, performance and handling out-of-ground effect, motion cueing, visual cueing, and operating sites and terrain; 'S' for aircraft systems; 'G' for performance and handling on ground, sound cueing, atmosphere and weather, and navigation; and 'N' for vibration cueing.

Which helicopter FSTD type and level requires 'R' for operating sites and terrain but 'G' for sound cueing?

For helicopters, FNPT III / FNPT III MCC requires 'R' for features 1, 3, 11, 12, and 14; 'G' for features 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 13; and 'N' for features 9 and 10.

Which helicopter FSTD level requires 'S' (specific) fidelity for all features?

For helicopters, FFS level D requires 'S' for all 14 features.

What physical equipment and force-response capability must FSTDs have under FCL.036(b)?

Under FCL.036(b), FSTDs must have tactile hardware, and primary flight controls whose forces change based on different flight conditions for exercises involving manual flight, except when the FCSs or assigned FCSs are below the equivalent of an FNPT II.

What additional capability must be indicated in the FSTD qualification certificate for MCC training?

Where an FSTD is used for MCC training, the FSTD qualification certificate must include the additional capability for MCC.

From which date does FCL.036, as amended by Regulation (EU) 2026/781, become applicable?

FCL.036 is applicable from 30 April 2028, according to Regulation (EU) 2026/781.

FCL.036 Use of FSTDs for training, testing and checking

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FCL.036 Use of FSTDs for training, testing and checking

Regulation (EU) 2026/781

Applicants shall be entitled to comply with the requirements referring to FSTD types and levels by using FSTDs whose qualification certificates include FCSs or assigned FCSs, provided that all of the following apply:

(a) for each feature, the FCS or assigned FCS indicates a fidelity level that is equal to or higher than the equivalent determined in the tables below:

(1) for aeroplanes:

FSTD type and level reference

Equivalent FCS

1. Flight deck layout
and structure

2. Flight control
forces and hardware

3. Flight control
systems operation

4. Aircraft systems

5. Performance and
handling on ground

6. Performance and handling
in-ground effect

7. Performance and handling out-of-ground effect

8. Sound cueing

9. Vibration cueing

10. Motion cueing

11. Visual cueing

12. Navigation

13. Atmosphere and weather

14. Operating site sand terrain

FNPT I

FNPT II / NPT II
MCC

FTD 2

FSTD qualified to an equivalent standard to level B

FFS level C

FFS interim level C

interim

FFS level D

Note: ‘S’, specific; ‘R’, representative; ‘G’, generic; ‘N’, none.

(2) for helicopters:

FSTD type and level reference

Equivalent FCS

1. Flight deck layout and structure

2. Flight control forces
and hardware

3. Flight control systems operation

4. Aircraft systems

5. Performance and handling on ground

6. Performance and handling in-ground effect

7. Performance and handling out-of-ground effect

8. Sound cueing

9. Vibration cueing

10. Motion cueing

11. Visual cueing

12. Navigation

13. Atmosphere and weather

14. Operating sites and terrain

FNPT I

FNPT II / FNPT II MCC

FNPT III / FNPT III MCC

FTD 2 / FTD 2 MCC

FTD 3 / FTD 3 MCC

FFS level C

FFS level D

(b) the FSTDs have:

(1) tactile hardware;

(2) primary flight controls whose forces change based on the different flight conditions for exercises involving manual flight, except in the case of FSTDs whose FCSs or assigned FCS are below the equivalent of an FNPT II;

(3) where used for MCC training, the additional capability for MCC indicated in the FSTD qualification certificate.

[applicable from 30 April 2028 — Regulation (EU) 2026/781]

Details

Source-Title: FCL.036 Use of FSTDs for training, testing and checking View latest amendments

Erulesid: ERULES-1963177438-24150 Compare versions

Domain: Aircrew

Applicabilitydate: 30 April, 2028

Entryintoforcedate: 30 April, 2026

Regulatorysource: Regulation (EU) 2026/781 Navigate

Regulatorysubject: Part-FCL

Typeofcontent: IR (Implementing rule)

Origin: EASA

Category: EAR

FCL.036 Use of FSTDs for training, testing and checking

Details

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