In 1993, the Army Aviation community conducted a review of simulation and training requirements for deployable simulators and devices that support individual/crew sustainment training, collective training, and combined arms training. Following the review, the Army's Mobile Aircrew Sustainment Trainer (MAST), Future Aircrew Sustainment Trainer (FAST), and Aviation Combined Arms Tactical Trainer (AVCATT) programs all underwent scrutiny to determine if they could meet the training requirements within the constraints of today's austere budgets. This paper presents a training concept that consolidates Army Aviation simulation and training requirements under one program offering a single hierarchy of individual/crew and collective training devices. A basic tenet of the paper is that a single program could provide better training at a lower cost than several independent programs. The key to affordability resides in:

Using state-of-the-art technology to reduce the recurring cost associated with training device hardware development.

Tailoring training device fidelity to meet the "margin" of acceptable training for each level of training.

Reducing non-recurring software costs by flowing software from full-fidelity training devices down to lower-fidelity devices.