The NASTAR Center

The NASTAR Center is a training and research center for aerospace physiology. It is run by ETC. The center was set up in 2007. It combines flight simulators with training courses based on how the human body responds to flight. The site gives a phone number of 215-355-9100 but no street address.

The center says it is the first FAA approved center able to meet the training rules for commercial human spaceflight under 14 CFR 460.5, with certificate SA 10-001. It is also known for its Upset Prevention and Recovery Training for commercial pilots. The site names it an FAA Center of Excellence for research, education and training.

Its equipment includes a high-performance human centrifuge, spatial disorientation trainers, an ejection seat system and an altitude chamber. The site says it is the only commercial-use facility with a high-performance human centrifuge. This lets it model normal and emergency flight paths for military, airline and spaceflight clients.

Programs are grouped into civil aviation, military aviation, spaceflight training and research services. Civil courses include upset prevention and recovery in a two seat business jet cockpit, altitude and hypoxia awareness in an FAA approved altitude chamber, and situational awareness and spatial disorientation training. Research services give access to motion platforms and test conditions such as temperature, pressure, vibration and acceleration.

The news section mentions an agreement with The Spaceflight Institute in Toulouse, France, and training of the Ax3 crew. It also describes a high-G flight session for a group of pilots on the ATFS-400 centrifuge. Visitors can call to book civil aviation training.