It's not pilots who need to be told the sim is not an aeroplane, Kap, it's the CC's doing the checking. For too long in my 41 years in aviation I watched simulators being used as "traps" instead of the high-tech learning-tool they were designed to be. This attitude was VERY prevalent in the military world, but I also found it to a slightly lesser degree in civilian life. Yes, I can fly a sim, very well as it happens, but there is no way I'd consider taking a big Boeing or Airbus aloft without the level of training I've seen Tech. Crews go through. I used to be able to fly Phantom/Harrier/Jaguar sims as well, but the idea of flying the aeroplane is laughable. They are training aids, nothing more, although very valuable tools when properly used.
I haven't read ALL the previous posts, but I'm here to tell you that ANYONE who believes that his experience as a Simtech qualifies him to the same degree as an ATPL pilot has his head up his fundamental orifice! What he/she will have is a better understanding of what is happening in a sim at any given time, since he/she will have been instrumental in programming the thing, but that knowledge does NOT translate automatically into manual skills in the air! Having said that, I must tell you that a question I was repeatedly asked by visitors was "would you manage to get the aircraft down if something happened to the pilots"? My answer was invariably "I'd have a better chance of a safe landing then you, since I know the aircraft systems better than you"!!
Kind regards,
TheNightOwl.
