- Best flight simulator hardware how to#
- Best flight simulator hardware software#
- Best flight simulator hardware simulator#
Best flight simulator hardware simulator#
To use remote instruction, the student shares his or her screen with the instructor, so the instructor can see the student’s simulator instrument panel. This is an ideal solution during the pandemic but also has many benefits during normal times. PilotEdge, for example, has added a creative new service, remote flight instruction or coaching. Pilot training is even possible on these platforms. With one of these setups, available for a thousand dollars to a few thousand, a pilot can practice flying in something almost as real as the actual airplane, at home and in complete safety with a handy pause button for those times when confusion sets in.
Best flight simulator hardware how to#
That gives pilots the opportunity to learn how to use the products in a safe, non-dynamic environment (i.e., not in the air) and also allows them to evaluate the product if they are considering a purchase.Ĭarrying this a step further are companies like RealSimGear and Noble Flight Simulation, which manufacture hardware chassis that replicate the look and functionality of an avionics suite in an aircraft.
Best flight simulator hardware software#
A software company called Reality XP, for example, specializes in licensed replication of avionics and has duplicated Garmin GNS and GTN GPS/com/navigators that can be added to simulator models.
![best flight simulator hardware best flight simulator hardware](https://uploadvr.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/MicrosoftFlightSimulator-CockpitSide.jpg)
Improved Fidelityĭesktop simulator fidelity is getting better every day, and now many of the aircraft modeled in X-Plane and FSX feature the same avionics functionality as the real aircraft. “It gives you a great advantage if you have the background,” he said. In his opinion, this is a perfect use-case for home simulation, and pilots going for their airline initial training and first type rating in an FMS-equipped jet would be much better off preparing with a desktop simulator’s FMS. 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. “Simulation was a huge benefit all through my training,” 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, “There has been a tremendous amount of participation.” On one day in early April, he said, there were 10,000 unique connections on the network, which is a “staggeringly high” 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.” PilotEdge founder Keith Smith told AIN in the midst of the pandemic, “traffic 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.ĭuring 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.
![best flight simulator hardware best flight simulator hardware](https://i1.wp.com/aaaworldserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Airplane_05292020_002.jpg)
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.