Originally Posted by
MichaelJP59
I can understand that in some ways for ab-initio training, perhaps also because the ex-FS student will be largely self-taught and possibly learned bad habits, whereas a completely fresh student is a "blank canvas".
For ab intio instruction Microsoft FS has IMO negative value. The biggest
problem is students using MSFS fly the instruments instead of looking out the window. This plus a subconcious idea that you can hit the pause button when things are not working out, make me cringe when I hear students talk about their MSFS "experience". You do not prepare for university by watching television, similarly if you want to prepare for your flying training get into the books and learn the basic theory and techniques.
However, MSFS has quite a bit of value for practicing IFR
procedures.
By that I mean putting it on autopilot and flying all the IF profiles.