| AVSIM Column "Contrails" Reader Response to Editorial by Neal F. Truitt Sr. |
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I speak, not on behalf of the BoG of VATSIM, but as an individual.
I was with the USAF Security Police as a Law Enforcement Specialist for over
13 years. I have been associated with computers in one way or another for
over 32 years now. I have played flight simulation games from the
beginning, starting with the SubLogic's Flight Simulator for the Commodore
64 and the old ATC Simulation Kennedy Airport to those of today. I became a
Private Pilot with a Single Engine Land License in 1972 but have not really
flown in over 25 years except in the simulators or as a passenger. In your
editorial comment, you indicate concerns about the possible use of flight
simulations in preparing for this horrendous event we have experienced. I
would offer the following comments to you in return.
Everyone has used simulations, computer or otherwise, to practice or test
things for years. Military units worldwide and since the beginning of time
I am sure have 'trained' for combat. Doctor's have used cadavers to 'train'
to practice medicine. As the world has become increasingly sophisticated in
its technology so have our training methods and tools. I am quite sure
that the individuals who seized control of those aircraft had some form of
pilot training. I am also quite sure that no flight school in the world
provides hands-on training from the beginning using real aircraft. I
believe, therefore, that neither you nor the flight simulation community in
general should rue or lament on the potential use of MSFS, FLY! or any of
the other fine products on the market.
Neither should we, as a flight simulation community, change our stance in how we do business for the most part. We have an obligation to honor those
who have suffered as a result of this terrible series of events. We shall
do that in many ways, each as unique as we are as individuals. One of those
ways will be to NOT allow this act to rip at the fabric of our existence.
I, for one, will continue to fly on real world airplanes as a passenger. I
shall continue to fly my most favorite airplanes and panel, which just
happens to be the 767 Pilot in Command Panel created by Eric Ernst and his
remarkable team. I shall continue to fly in and out of New York and
Washington DC from time to time. I shall anxiously await the release of
MSFS2002 (and hope my existing planes/panels transfer over smoothly) because
I wish to see how much improvement they can make in my hobby. I believe
that the leaders in the flight simulation community, from the software
companies, news organizations, website managers, and freelance programmers,
have an obligation to society to continue their efforts.
Somewhere out there is a young man or woman who does not even know about flying yet. The very real possibility exists that they will become
interested in such because they visit a website or see a flying simulation
running on a computer somewhere. That young and eager mind will pick up on
it and become entranced. They shall learn, grow, mature, and because of
this hobby of ours, they shall do good things. We owe it to them, to
ourselves, and to all humanity (and beyond?) to maintain our course.
— Contributed by Neal F. Truitt Sr.
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