Behind the scenes: Andreas Breitschopp

Andreas Breitschopp is the Chief Technical Officer (CTO) at ProSim-AR and therefor responsible for the management of research and development as well as technological needs.

Andreas comes from a scientific background in software development and has gained valuable experience as a technical director. An accumulation of many years in the flight simulation industry has contributed to his expertise in the development of FS-FlightControl, an Instructor Operation Station (IOS) product.

At the beginning of 2018, Andreas joined ProSim-AR as the CTO. His job role involves managing an international team of developers based across Europe and the Philippines. In order to prepare ProSim-AR products to be certified by the necessary authorities within the training market, currently, Andreas and his team are working on several certification projects with customers worldwide. This includes supporting customers through the process for the certification by the authorities. Prior to the final certification visit, the master QTG document needs to be created where all QTG test are run using ProSim’s eQTG tool. The training device is thoroughly examined during this process by the authorities with ProSim-AR being heavily involved.

As a company, ProSim-AR focuses progressively on the professional pilot training market, in particular the increasing number of fixed-based flight simulator devices becoming certified, attributed by ProSim software. Andreas believes that to match the increasing demand for pilots in the future, it would be necessary to offload more simulator time from full flight simulators to fixed-based devices.

Andreas and his team are actively working on improving and extending current solutions as well as developing additional products to further support customers with tools that fit into the pilot training cycle. This includes a new IOS, FMS Trainer solution as well as further development of type-specific simulator suites.

Beside the conventional training devices with a full hardware cockpit there are new very interesting technologies coming up. Considering the resolution of VR headsets is getting quickly better now, this also opens opportunities to use this kind of technology for pilot training. Same goes for augmented reality (AR) solutions which could allow pilot training to a certain extend without an instructor guiding the student pilot by applying virtual augmentations within the physical training device cockpit.

“I foresee the introduction of new technologies gradually being approved in the future for certified pilot training. Nonetheless, technological development is just as exciting in the present.’’ Andreas added that, “ProSim-AR is monitoring such professional developments and is already working on proof-of-concept solutions together with partners.”

Andreas also likes the opportunity to travel to flight simulation and pilot training events to exchange ideas with customers, partners and other parties involved. First-hand experience in the world of aviation has become very effective for Andreas as a keen Private Pilot License (PPL) holder. Achieving an ‘Instrument Rating’ is his next target. When asked what Andreas enjoys most about his job: “As a computer scientist, being able to combine technical knowledge with my avid interest in aviation, makes ProSim-AR the ideal company to work for.”