Simulaotr trianing how important
Join Date: Feb 2003
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I think simulator is an important ingredient of IR training. A lot of time and money can be saved by practising the procedures in the sim. If you make a mistake, you can be repositioned immediately. The instructor can set up situations and you can practice drills. At my FTO, they allowed me to practise on my own in the sim free of charge.
You are right that there is no substitute for the plane especially in terms of ATC, weather, unexpected gusts of wind and traffic but I think it is good to try everything out on the ground before you fly the plane.
I did all my IR training on a twin. You need to get thouroughly familiar with the complexities and speed of a twin so personally, I wouldn't have though there is that much benefit in doing training on a single.
Hope this helps!
You are right that there is no substitute for the plane especially in terms of ATC, weather, unexpected gusts of wind and traffic but I think it is good to try everything out on the ground before you fly the plane.
I did all my IR training on a twin. You need to get thouroughly familiar with the complexities and speed of a twin so personally, I wouldn't have though there is that much benefit in doing training on a single.
Hope this helps!
Where else can you get things horrendously wrong, reset, start again, put it right, practise again and perfect the technique. Then have several people give you opinions and advice, go and practice again, find your own niche, and then have people ask you how to do it. Cheaper than paying for gas/airtime. Great fun trying different things, landing in different weathers (in and out of limits), different configs and at least if you get a decent sim and instructor, he will throw things at you willy nilly, including other aircraft..... I actually enjoy my sim check preparations but the actual sim check is conducted exactly as a flight including ATC from the guy sitting in the back. 
