Students train on new RAPCON simulator

David “Jake” Jacobsen, 81st Training Support Squadron Electronic Development supervisor, inserts circuit cards on input/output chassis for the new radar approach control simulator system inside Cody Hall Oct. 31, 2011, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. The RAPCON features a touch entry display platform to replicate a real-world Air Traffic Control communications console at a significantly lower cost than an actual console. The simulators have the same look and feel as actual field equipment, using the identical cabinetry. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

Students train on new RAPCON simulator

Jack Waldroup, 81st Training Support Squadron electronic technician, installs cat 5 cable into network switches for the new radar approach control simulator system in Cody Hall at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., Oct. 31, 2011. The RAPCON simulator is used for the air traffic control course and features a touch entry display platform to replicate a real-world ATC communications console at a significantly lower cost than an actual console. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

Students train on new RAPCON simulator

Airman Basic Vaquisha West, 334th Training Squadron, receives assistance from her instructor, Jeffery Cadigan, 334th TRS, with training on the new radar approach control simulator system Oct. 31, 2011, in Cody Hall at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. The RAPCON simulator is used for the air traffic control course and has the same look and feel as actual field equipment, using the identical cabinetry. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

Students train on new RAPCON simulator

Airman Basic Trevor Pinkston and his instructor, Staff Sgt. Nick Volz, 334th Training Squadron, use the new radar approach control simulator system for training Oct. 31, 2011, in Cody Hall at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. The system, designed by the 81st Training Support Squadron's trainer development flight, features a touch entry display platform to replicate a real-world Air Traffic Control communications console at a significantly lower cost than an actual console. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

334th TRS gets new air traffic control simulator

Published Nov. 3, 2011
By Susan Griggs
81st Training Wing Public Affairs

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Sometimes simulation is a better option than the real thing.

Oct. 26, the 81st Training Support Squadron delivered a radar approach control simulator trainer to the 334th Training Squadron's air traffic control course in Cody Hall, saving costs while increasing course capacity.

When the 81st TRSS design and fabrication team and their customers in the 334th TRS talk about the new system, the stream of acronyms is mind-boggling. For an outsider, it's a little like making sense of alphabet soup ... RAPCON and STARS and SIMWARE and SIGNAL and ETVS.

To translate, RAPCON is radar approach control, STARS is standard terminal automation replacement system, SIMWARE stands for simulator interface management software, SIGNAL stands for simulation and integration of ground, network and air links and ETVS is enhanced terminal voice switch.

The new RAPCON simulator system features a touch entry display platform to replicate a real-world ATC communications console at a significantly lower cost than an actual console -- $278,000, compared to $2.1 million. The simulators have the same look and feel as actual field equipment, using the identical cabinetry.

"This was one of our more involved projects, taking almost 18 months from start to completion," said Larry Shook, 81st TRSS engineering technician and project manager. "The engineering, development, fabrication and installation took our trainer development flight more than 7,000 man-hours. The trainer development flight used a combination of commercial consoles and produced electronic processors and controls to give the trainer the look and feel of a 'real world' RAPCON."

Roger Toney, 81st TRSS acting SIMWARE development flight chief, said his team spent 300 man-hours developing software for the trainer.

"The additional two labs increase our course's maximum capacity by 264 students annually, a 20 percent increase," said Roger Brokaw, 334th TRS training manager. "The labs use the newly-developed ETVS touch screen communication selection like the STARS RAPCON labs, rather than the old push-button technology used on the course's four other RAPCON simulators."

The new simulators offer more capability to avoid potential training deficiencies if there's a single point failure malfunction on the $4 million RAPCON STARS string, Brokaw pointed out.
"The new labs provide a better emulation than we have in our other SIGNAL labs," explained Chief Master Sgt. Richard Boulanger Jr., 334th TRS air traffic control training flight chief. "The consoles, monitors and communications units more accurately replicate an operational air traffic control facility."

According to Robert Brown, instructor supervisor for the ATC apprentice course, the new simulators provide flexibility in sharing equipment with the 334th TRS airfield operations officer course and the combat control operator course if required.

"It also allowed us to test the new ETVS communications system before replacing outdated systems in older labs," Brown added.