Flight simulators are great tools… as far as you use them the smart way. Not all flying skills can be practiced with every simulator. I’m not talking here about full-motion simulators, but of the kind of software that can run on any PC. More precisely, I don’t even consider using a joystick or yoke, but simply keyboard and mouse. I believe that stick and rudder can only be practiced in a plane, or may by in a full-motion simulator (argue in comments if you feel like…).

Using mouse and keyboard only means that you will make use of the autopilot – except if you’re an excellent keyboard pilot. Logically, the first skill you will practice is use of autopilot. This is not as easy as it seems, particularly if you fly with different types of autopilots (read more here). If you’re instrument rated, you already know that managing a non-precision approach with an autopilot is hard work.

Practicing with mouse and keyboard is probably more for IFR than VFR pilots, but autopilot is also helpful when flying VFR. As simulators make more and more use of satellite and aerial images, it becomes possible to practice “clock and compass” VFR navigation. Add to that an less than optimal weather with restricted visibility and wind, plus some showers or towering cumulus to circumnavigate, and your navigation skills will be challenged !

Radio-navigation can also be easily practiced with a simulator. The radio-stacks we have in our aircrafts are perfectly reproduced, and databases include all beacons with their exact location and frequencies. Each approach, holding or VFR reporting point can be flown like it would in the real world. Workload will not be as high as in reality because you will be flying “alone” and won’t get any ATC surprise. To compensate, you can fly with a faster plane, or modify the simulator speed. Flying an approach at 200% or 300% of normal speed will make it much more demanding.

Training for modern avionics can also be done on any PC. Typically Garmin provides simulators for the 430 / 530 series, and if you Google “G1000 Simulator” you will probably find some, even if they can’t be downloaded from Garmin.

How good and beneficial will this training be ? As good as you will be serious while doing it. Simulator are funny toys, and the first thing you made with it was probably to try a looping or a barrel roll. Fine. But if you want to maintain or improve your skills, you’ll have to use it seriously.

Finally, if mouse and keyboard is not enough, you can build a full Boeing 737 cockpit in your basement.

Links:

ELITE – Probably the best IFR training tool.

X-Plane – Excellent for VFR and IFR, with a strong aerodynamics model and a wide support community

Garmin Trainers – Free simulators for GNS 430 and GNS 530

Microsoft Flight Simulator – Do I have to make any comment on it ?