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The Importance of Flight Simulators in Flight Training
The home PC version is a fun game. In the flight training environment it is work. But it is also a vital piece of the overall flight training process! SIDEBAR: While the home game "flight sim" is great for cultivating the desire to fly airplanes - and there can also be a usefulness to it in the flight training process, under the right circumstances, it is important to note here that apart from the guidance of an experienced flight instructor, one cannot really learn to fly a plane on a non approved simulator. In fact, we find that many times bad habits learned by a student on their home PC sim are hard to break.
The use of Simulators in Instrument Pilot TrainingOne of the best uses of a flight simulator or FTD is for pilots who are training for an Instrument Rating. The FAA regulations under part 61 allows up to 20 hours of simulated instrument time to be logged toward meeting the 40 hour requirement on an approved flight training device or simulator and up to 10 hours on an approved PC based aviation training device, better known as a PCATD. Of course, more time on the simulator can be beneficial in the learning process, but 20 and 10 hours respectively are the maximum that can be logged toward the requirement. By maximizing the use of simulators and FTDs in IFR training, the IFR student is able to squeeze in much more learning and practice in less time and for less money than what could be accomplished in the airplane. Additionally, there are procedures which can be demonstrated and practiced on a simulator, such as abnormal and emergency procedures, which would be nearly impossible or downright unsafe to do in the airplane. Example: Multiple system failures creating an emergency situation in Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC). Types of Flight SimulatorsThere are many varied kinds of flight training devices employed by flight schools and each have a unique purpose. Of course, there are the more simplistic PC based training devices and level III simulators used by most flight schools for Instrument Flight Training. These devices can be aircraft specific or can be more of a "generic" cockpit representation. Some PC based devices can emulate several aircraft designs. In the airline and jet transport industry, there are much more elaborate - and much more expensive - type specific simulators which are very large. Some of them are mounted on movable platforms to simulate the motion of the aircraft and have wrap around projection screens to simulate a very realistic sight and motion environment in the cockpit. Return to the top of: Flight Simulators
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Flight Simulators and Training Devices (FTDs) are an important part of the flight training process. In fact, Home PC based simulators such as Microsoft's Flight Sim have also been instrumental (pun intended) in fueling the fire of desire for many a pilot. It's no small wonder that I'm often asked when showing a prospective student around our flight school: "Could I see your flight simulator?" Most of them later learn to hate that same device that at the beginning intrigued them so. :-)
