Simulators in Pilot Training.
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Simulators in Pilot Training.
Are Simulators used extensively in EFT or BJFT?
Will Practicing on a PC Simulator (Like Microsoft Flight Simulator) give me a head start in the courses?
Will Practicing on a PC Simulator (Like Microsoft Flight Simulator) give me a head start in the courses?
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Simulators are used in two ways, to teach new skills and to practise emergency handly.
There are no sims as such at EFT, not really any point I suppose, as there are fewer emergency drills and they are easily practised in the Tutor. Also the new skills are better covered with instructors in the aircraft thoroughly.
BFJT has a couple of sim domes. With a more complex aircraft come more in-depth emergencies, also there are many more new skills to pic up as it is a long course, and sims can really save flying time and running costs.
To be honest, Microsoft Flight Sim isn't bad, and I understand the feeling that you need to try and get ahead with flying training, but the courses are designed to be progressive. They should take someone who has never even seen a cockpit and make them a capable operator. So chill for now, work hard at ground school, and you'll be fine.
TTH
There are no sims as such at EFT, not really any point I suppose, as there are fewer emergency drills and they are easily practised in the Tutor. Also the new skills are better covered with instructors in the aircraft thoroughly.
BFJT has a couple of sim domes. With a more complex aircraft come more in-depth emergencies, also there are many more new skills to pic up as it is a long course, and sims can really save flying time and running costs.
To be honest, Microsoft Flight Sim isn't bad, and I understand the feeling that you need to try and get ahead with flying training, but the courses are designed to be progressive. They should take someone who has never even seen a cockpit and make them a capable operator. So chill for now, work hard at ground school, and you'll be fine.
TTH
emergency handly
are you sure???
Much as it pains me to say it, Flt Sim is somewhat (and I stress somewhat) useful at BFJT for getting your head around IF (especially point to point). (though I understand they have a couple of new training aids at LOO now)
Useless at EFT, and useless for the rest of BFJT
Useless at EFT, and useless for the rest of BFJT
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If you haven't already passed OASC or its equiv then I'd concentrate on that. If you have then I'd be looking at getting/staying fit. As others have said, the training is progressive and assumes no prior knowledge/skills, and self-teaching IF on MS FS does not seem like a good idea to me.
Back in a mis-spent childhood I put in a reasonable amount of time playing MS Flight Sim (version 3 - a few years ago now!). What would I say this did for me when I eventually started flying training on a UAS several years later? Well, it meant that I was immediately familiar with all the instruments in the cockpit, which made the groundschool, and early lessons such as Straight + Level, Climbing + Descending, and Medium Turns straightforward. It also meant that I understood how to interpret VOR and ILS displays, which gave a decent headstart on the Instrument phases (incidentally, interpreting instrument displays is a staple of the OASC aptitude tests, so is useful there as well).
However, it was completely useless as far as handling was concerned (not least because my parents wouldn't buy a joystick, so I used to play using the cursor keys!). Countering propeller torque with rudder is something you won't encounter properly in a computer game; nor is trimming. During the early part of my flying training, I had to fight the temptation to look in at the instruments the whole time - you're supposed to look out and set the attitude visually, which was quite difficult to do on a computer screen!
Overall, it certainly didn't do me any harm. Practice whatever you like on MSFS, especially instrument flying, but be prepared to "unlearn what you have learned" as soon as you start training (and definitely don't say "but I used to do it this way on Flight Simulator" during a sortie debrief!)
However, it was completely useless as far as handling was concerned (not least because my parents wouldn't buy a joystick, so I used to play using the cursor keys!). Countering propeller torque with rudder is something you won't encounter properly in a computer game; nor is trimming. During the early part of my flying training, I had to fight the temptation to look in at the instruments the whole time - you're supposed to look out and set the attitude visually, which was quite difficult to do on a computer screen!
Overall, it certainly didn't do me any harm. Practice whatever you like on MSFS, especially instrument flying, but be prepared to "unlearn what you have learned" as soon as you start training (and definitely don't say "but I used to do it this way on Flight Simulator" during a sortie debrief!)
Last edited by Easy Street; 20th Nov 2009 at 00:35.
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Not sure about Military but on civvy street up to five hours can be logged as PPL training on MSFS so long as it's stick and rudder, not on a stoneage computer and been checked off as authorised.
And as a keen MSFS pilot, I'd say it's deffinetly worth giving a bash if not just for fun.
And as a keen MSFS pilot, I'd say it's deffinetly worth giving a bash if not just for fun.
