AVSIM Online Names Peter Dowson for Lifetime Achievement Our next recipient has made it possible for the aviation simulation community to reap a bounty of add-on products to the Microsoft Flight Simulator platform. The biggest benefit of the Microsoft Flight Simulator family of products has been the ability of third party designers to provide users with add-on aircraft, panels, scenery, adventures and much more. And while the platform allows for fairly easy development of basic add-ons like new aircraft and improved scenery, there needs to be a way to have these add-on products actually communicate with the Flight Simulator. While some would think this two-way communication would be quite easy considering the software is built to encourage such add-ons, the truth is that such communication requires a complex interface capable of understanding and manipulating the program to the advantage of the add-on designer and in the end the Microsoft Flight Simulation user. Once one has an understanding of the complexity involved in developing and maintaining such an interface, it is hard to believe it is provided free of charge. But it is true. If you have not already guessed, we are talking about Peter Dowson, the longtime developer of the FSUIPC module. If you use real-time weather from any of the choice weather add-ons, or fly one of the super realistic aircraft and fully rendered panels we have come to love, it is only thanks to Dowson that this is possible. Not one to relish the spotlight, Dowson always goes out of his way to note that FSUIPC is merely an updating of the FSUIPC module developed by Adam Szofran and other contributors throughout the years. And while FSUIPC has been a collaborative effort, there is no question that it would not be the essential communication module for Microsoft Flight Simulator it has grown into. The best indicator of this is the fact that no one has ever attempted to build a better interface—be it for free or as a commercial product. The tireless dedication of Pete Dowson to unlock the secrets of Microsoft Flight Simulator, not for money of personal recognition, but instead for the sheer enjoyment of those using MS Flight Simulator, makes him an easy choice for an AVSIM Lifetime Achievement Award. Please join us in congratulating Pete for his dedication and achievement!