New staff reviewer Brian Fletcher kicks off his writing career with an overview of Just Flight's Airliner Pilot.
Brian notes, "With the creation of the Just Flight Airliner Pilot add-on utility, simmers worldwide can now live the experience of being a commercial airliner pilot in Flight Simulator 2004. The ultimate goal is to achieve a rank by earning points through skilled flight."
The basic premise of the program is to create a pilot, fly a variety of aircraft from varying flight plans, adhere to the flight rules and regulations and succesfully reach your destination. Thus increasing your skills, and earning promotions.
To expand on this Brian says, "This program actually makes the process of creating a profile fun by giving you a wide variety of choices throughout the process. While creating your profile, you will be asked to create a name for your pilot, choose your base of operation, select a career mode and difficulty level, and to select an airline company to work for, or create one of your own." At the end of your flight, "A flight report will be displayed informing you of the total points available for the flight and how many you actually received. The report will also show you what areas you failed to perform in."
"From the get go, this add-on offers a fresh approach to using Flight Simulator", Brian concludes, "this program as a “must have” for anybody looking to increase the realism of Flight Simulator." The down side, well according to Brian, "it may be a little too addictive."

"The lack of General Aviation flights (though the game was intended for the heavy steel)"

What's the title of the product? Airliner Pilot? So why even list this? What were you thinking? And I think the term you're looking for is big iron. . .

4.5 stars. . . that's just wrong.

I have read the review and surely this is an upgraded version of the old "airbus 320" that came out years ago.Nothing wrong with that. It was a very demanding prog but ultimately satisfying as one progressed through the ranks. I did it from start to finish and it wasn't easy. The ability to change aircraft is a huge bonus, the old game was limited in this respect. Presuming I am right in the above then it would be a very rewarding add-on and well worth the outlay. It's a serious "game" not for joyriders.

I'd like to respond to "James." James, where do you think most "airline pilot" careers start? Mine started with a small charter company, flying Cessna 206 and 402 aircraft - i.e. "general aviation." There is nothing wrong with Brian asking his question. Most of us had to "pay our dues" in general aviation before the airlines would take a look at us.

As for "heavy iron" versus "heavy steel" - in all my years in the industry I've never heard the expression used in the real world anyway - only in flight sim forums and reviews so what does it matter? And if accuracy is your concern, you might want to check and see just how much "iron" versus "steel" there actually is in aircraft construction...

I'm sorry if I sound a bit grumpy, but this was Brian's first review and I know how it feels to put in hours of time as an unpaid AVSIM volunteer in writing a review and then see the kind of nit picking and negative feedback people like you give. It's why I stopped writing reviews - it just wasn't any fun anymore and as it is a totally unpaid position, what's the bloody point? So "James" - lighten up!!

First of all, Brian is correct, the term is "heavy steel". Second off, the question about general aviation flights is well founded. There are many general aviation aircraft used in the commercial aviation industry. Great job on the review Brian. I have bought the game based on your review, and I love it.

Excellent job on this review Brian. I agree that the program is well worth the money. By the way, dont let stupid comments like the one from James get to you. Those of us with common sense appreciate the hard work you put into this review.

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