Whilst I tend to agree with many things that
Air Rabbit proclaims in other threads, I AM NOT SURE WHETHER HE IS QUALIFIED TO MAKE SUCH DEMEANING STATEMENTS ABOUT MSFS.I fully agree with
Lefthanddownabit and thank him for highlighting the relevance of MSFS.
I am an avid Pilot and just as avid a simmer pilot.One of the greatest compliments I got from my fellow crew member at an early stage of my career was: You must be a simmer PILOT.i asked why??He replied.we dont tend to fly aeroplanes so damned accurately!
Here is a lesson for correlation.I have been operating MSFS since 1988.I started my flying career since 1990 when i rapidly gained my licenses(7 months) but it wasnt till 2000 when I operated my first commercial flight on a glass cockpit heavy turbo prop.With almost ten years of absence from flying and a meagre 300 hours behind me(I am now a seasoned Pilot), I aced the real Simulator and so was my base(managed Base in only 3hrs) and line training was just as satisfactory.I went to sim after only having read the manuals..and not even jump seated for observation.CBT was done later( shortcomings of the company).The secret...my approach to MSFS and its add ons!BUT YOU HAVE TO APPROACH IT AWITH SERIOUSNESS AS A PROFESSIONAL PILOT.NOT AS A GAMING IDIOT!I was regularly flying (not gaming !) with checklists whenever it was possible to use them.They helped me (and still do) with situational awareness,CRM,SYSTEMS APPRECIATION, INSTRUMENT INTERPRETATION,CROSS CHECK AND CONTROL,R/T WITH ATC OR SUPERVISING PILOT,Airmanship confidence,Flight Planning/thinking,..and yes.a certain amount of Aviation Judgement and technical know how.I PRIME MYSELF BEFORE MY IR and SIM sessions.It is if anything a confidence builder and Panel and instument scan sharpener,and can practice MCC quite effectively...and inexpensively too!
As AN avionics and PERFORMANCE ENGINEER I AM QUITE IMPRESSED WHAT THE MSFS can display and replicate(for those who condemn the use of 'simulator' for these devices).
Way to go Micro Soft (and programmers at WILCO and PMDG and the likes of them).yours is a valuable contribution to Aviation and accolades will come to you in time...just keep perfecting your work...we wont mind paying more for it!
TO FURTHER EXPOUND THE VAUE OF MSFS (and I DO REALISE IT IS not A REAL SIMULATOR..for its cost you cant expect it to be!): I have been away from flying pursuing other projects and got my licenses renewed twice with ease (on the strength of practicing on MSFS augmented with relevant book work).I also had the opportunity to fly (with ease...both selected and Managed modes, in normal ops and with Engine failure in IMC of 1km vis)the HS800.GIV,A320-200, and 777-200ER(From Final Cockpit Prep to Engine shut Down)) having had no previous experience on JETS apart from reading a lot on JETS SINCE EARLY 80s(
Handling The Big Jets by Sir DP DAVIES being a prime source amongs a myriad of other books and manuals) and practing on MSFS(iT IS NOT SO MUCH THE MSFS THAT I AM
COMMENDING HERE BUDDIES..BUT IT IS THE WORTHY
TYPE ADD ONS THAT FUNCTION UNDER THE AUSPICIES OF MSFS.MSFS IS A GOOD MOTHER BOARD PLATFORM FOR THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH YOU FLY AND 2004 IS ADEQUATE.
HAVE YOU SEEN AND TESTED THE CONCORDE OR B747-400 PMDG OR THE 767 LEVEL D AIR RABBIT?I recommend you do so..then check your remarks you had offered me earlier!
The bottom line gents is that if you take two rookie pilots of the same level of experience and expose one of them to MSFS before hand and type him on the MSFS prior to commencing training of type x; you will see for yourself who is going to perform better in every aspect INCLUDING TIME TAKEN TO ABSORB AND PERFORM THE DETAIL TO THE REQUIRED STANDARD!I believe the MSFS with its assortment of add ons can be useful provided that they are approached in a disciplined and serious manner, and with appropriate theory augmented.It is idealy utilised with appropriate CONTROL ACCESORIES ,CHECKLISTS,CHARTS,MANUALS,and under supervision and with appropriate critique like any sim session.It should however be seen for its limitations and if used effectively can actually shave off time required to attain competency on a given type.Before training for a given type, it is however wise to read relevant manuals or observe how the type is flown in line ops or by way of real flight sim.This is to compare notes with the add on type on MSFS SO AS TO DETECT ANY ANOMALIES THAT IT MIGHT HAVE-DUE TO THE LOW COST OF PROVIDING THESE SOFTWARE, QUALITY CONTROL NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED.
