Home flight simulators simulator#

Home flight simulators simulator#

Reiter was already familiar with FMS operations in his simulator and like other classmates who were familiar with the devices, had no trouble keeping up. When Reiter went to initial training at his regional airline, pilots who had no experience with flight management systems (FMS) struggled with entering flight plans. вЂњSimulation was a huge benefit all through my training,вЂќ he said, starting with using his desktop simulator at home much more effectively than with the approved simulator at his flight school. Reiter, who also co-founded the annual FlightSimExpo show, has been using desktop simulation for many years and credited it with helping advance his flight training and airline career. According to Evan Reiter, an airline pilot who volunteers on the Vatsim network and helps run the Boston Virtual ARTCC group, вЂњThere has been a tremendous amount of participation.вЂќ On one day in early April, he said, there were 10,000 unique connections on the network, which is a вЂњstaggeringly highвЂќ amount. The Vatsim real-time ATC service also offers ATC services for simulation pilots and likewise saw growth in traffic. A lot is attributable to new sign-ups, but existing users are flying around 30 percent more hours per month than they were pre-Covid.вЂќ PilotEdge founder Keith Smith told AIN in the midst of the pandemic, вЂњtraffic has more than doubled. An example of such a device is the Redbird TD2, which costs about $8,000 and can be equipped to replicate a glass panel or traditional six-pack gauges.Дuring the pandemic, pilots have been flocking to desktop simulation, as evidenced by significant growth in the use of the PilotEdge real-time air traffic control (ATC) service. A relatively recent rule change eliminated the need for a flight instructor to be physically present for this type of practice, so now pilots can maintain IFR currency using a BATD or AATD by themselves. However, in the U.S., pilots are able to log IFR approaches, holding, and tracking to maintain IFR currency in FAA-approved basic or advanced aviation training devices (BATD or AATD). While desktop simulators such as X-Plane and Microsoft Flight Simulator X (FSX) or its variants offer remarkable fidelity replicating various real aircraft, the FAA does not allow any credit for their use to maintain legal currency. With a desktop simulator, pilots can practice many maneuvers and procedures, often using the same avionics as in the real aircraft. For pilots unable to access a real aircraft or travel to a simulator training center to stay current during the coronavirus pandemic, desktop flight simulators offer an intriguing alternative.