User:Vtaylor/EAA sim


 * background - costs, revenues, users - by month/quarter
 * run rate - fixed expenses, income, upgrades
 * outstanding $$ owed for expenses
 * coverage of revenue shortfall
 * upgrades
 * iPad - training, compatability with "in plane"
 * 17jul2013 - EAA video magazine - ok for EAA chapters to own sims

2013.08.02
 * http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/2013/August/1/ipad-screen.aspx - second screen for iPad display in cockpit
 * http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/2013/July/29/Five-more-instrument-simulator-apps.aspx - iPad to learn instruments
 * http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/2013/July/29/Aerovalley-Flying-Club-keeping-the-eternal-flame-for-flying.aspx - flying club ? cub

2013.07.30
 * http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/2013/July/28/Simulation-developers-team-up-on-G1000-AATD.aspx

2012.07.20

Will enough people want to use a centralized professional-level simulator like this over the next 2-3 years to justify offering something through the current setup? What is required to make adequate use of this resource? What other options are available to potential users if the sim or some of its functions go away? Are modifications, upgrades, operating costs cost justified considering potential future use?

Usage - current, future - some ways the current configuration can be used.
 * procedure training - new instrument students - works great for this
 * multiengine procedure training
 * 530 learn to use
 * instrument currency - only ok - most people have a GPS as part of their instrument package. Would need better integration with GPS for most users

Possible outcomes - there may be others but this is what we talked about
 * continue as is - need to look at costs, usage, revenue, upgrades
 * sell devices / hardware - what is current residual value, salability
 * sell 530 - what is residual value, salability
 * buy some new equipment to use with existing device, replacement / upgrades as appropriate and feasible
 * get out of the simulator business
 * open the simulator up to other organizations eg. Bonanza Society

Marketing - who would use the sim in the next 2-3 years? What would they use it for? What is needed for them to use it? How much revenue would that generate? - seems that lots of people know the sim is there, but have not seen it, and don't know the procedures for getting to use it, so they don't know if they would use it or not
 * Open Sim day - same day as EAA meeting / day after - staffed all day, instructor available, balloons
 * notice in chapter newsletters
 * survey, questionnaire, interviews - use, why not
 * feedback - track actual users > better informed decision

Plan, questions to answer
 * get more people in to try
 * is there enough use to be self-sustaining at least of now
 * what is future use likely to require
 * research - upgrades, mods requested for increased use
 * would EAA ownership change anything

Is this where we are at? Anything else that we need to strategize about?