US-based Alaska Airlines has received certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for an improved full-stall model in a flight simulator, which helps pilots train to recognise and recover from a full aerodynamic stall.

Though this type of mid-air stall is very rare, simulator training helps pilots prepare for worst-case scenarios.

With the latest FAA certification, the Alaska Air Group subsidiary is claimed to be the first commercial airline in the world to receive certification for such simulator.

Ahead of the 2019 deadline set by the FAA, Alaska Airlines’ simulator engineering group completed the upgrade and certification process for one of its 737-800 simulators with a StallBox, a flight simulator update solution.

"Safety remains our top priority and ensuring we have cutting-edge training for our pilots helps us to maintain our industry-leading position."

StallBox is is designed to provide airlines and training centres with stall models and instructor displays required to conduct upset prevention and recovery training (UPRT).

Equipped with Alaska Airlines 737-800 simulators, the StallBox and a set of instructor-led tools allow the simulator to more closely mimic the actual aircraft in a similar situation, making sure pilots are well-equipped if they encounter a full stall in real life.

Developed by Birhle Applied Research, the StallBox meets the FAA’s newly enhanced UPRT requirements.

Alaska Airlines flight operations vice-president Tom Kemp said: "Safety remains our top priority and ensuring we have cutting-edge training for our pilots helps us to maintain our industry-leading position.

"This project has been in the works for two years and is an example of how we continually strive to be ahead of the curve and go beyond the industry requirements to deliver excellence and ensure a safe operation."

The airline noted that prior to the new model, training for full stalls has been conducted primarily for academic purposes.

The simulator has the ability to do the approach to stall, but wouldn’t show accurate behavioural cues once in the stall.

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) looked at a number of stalls that took place during commercial operations and determined that the pilots were often unable to recognise and prevent the stall, and that there was a need for more hands-on training for pilots.