Gotta disagree with that,in degree. It is fun and that's a big part of the point?

Oh, I never said VFR in FSX isn't fun. I just don't see the point in doing it as preparation for real life flights. For me knowing the route takes away some of the fun of flying so even if I actually thought it would help I wouldn't do it. Also, the plane I prefer to fly is a PA-28 Cadet with no GPS and only the bare minimum for IFR certification. Sure, I have an Archer III at my disposal as well with dual Garmin 430, slaved HSI and triple-axis autopilot. I just don't fly it unless the Cadet is spoken for, because I find it boring. Maybe I'm an idiot, some people would certainly claim that I am, but I'm not bothered really as long as I'm having fun. :)

I'd agree on that if it wasn't for the word "substantially". For every licence or rating there's a minimum number of hours you have to do in a real plane before doing your check flight, and very few students, armchair pilots or not, needs more time than that anyway.

 

Agreed and thats why I added "substantially". The issue is that a lot of FBO's and instructors have discovered that if they slow down the learning a bit, they make more money, right up to the point of the student saying screw this and quitting. There are 1000's of stories of people who have 80-200+ hours just to get a PPL that should take no more than the 40 needed.

 

With the knowledge gained by using a sim, they are better prepared to not only cut down those excessive hours, but also find a school and instructor that arent out to just build time at their expense.

 

I only can wish FS was available in 1970, we used chalkboards :-)

There are 1000's of stories of people who have 80-200+ hours just to get a PPL that should take no more than the 40 needed.

 

With the knowledge gained by using a sim, they are better prepared to not only cut down those excessive hours, but also find a school and instructor that arent out to just build time at their expense.

That's just instructors being complete [the profanity filter is being silly] and doesn't really have much to do with ability to learn or being prepared. Here the minimum for a PPL is 45 hours and since I joined the local club only one or two students required a little extra training. If an instructor decided to mess with a student just to make more money it wouldn't really help being a good armchair pilot either.

In the US you have 2 options, Part 61 or Part 141...61 requires a min of 40 hours, 141 requires min of 35.

 

The more you know prior to starting, the shorter the time needed to get licensed, and thats where FS shines. You can learn the basics and be much better prepared when you start actual training, AS LONG as you work with someone who can show you the correct way to do things in the sim.

Oh, I never said VFR in FSX isn't fun. I just don't see the point in doing it as preparation for real life flights. For me knowing the route takes away some of the fun of flying so even if I actually thought it would help I wouldn't do it. Also, the plane I prefer to fly is a PA-28 Cadet with no GPS and only the bare minimum for IFR

 

Your CFI let you use GPS for your x-country?

 

My CFI told me not to use the GPS unless its an emgergency. He told me it was ok to use the VOR. But I knew even the VOR would be too easy. So I didn't even use that. I used pure pilotage for my x-country

.

 

My flight school has tailwheels that I wanted to fly once I had my PP license,. Citabria and Decathon and the Citabria has hardly any nav instruments on it. So I had to learn to use minimalist approach for nav.

 

IF any CFI tells a student pilot to follow the pink line, he has not taught any nav to his student. I wouldn't want him as my CFI.

 

Manny

About VFR route practice before an actual flight: What for? Afraid you're not gonna find your way otherwise? I bet 95% of all GA pilots today are just following the magenta line anyway. Sure it might be fun to sit there and think "hey, there's that lake I saw in FSX yesterday", but it's not doing a [insert profanity of choice here] thing for your map reading skills. What if you suddenly find yourself off track and the GPS malfunctions?

 

Wow, do you REALLY thinks that ?

I never used GPS during my PPL training, specificly our training aircraft have no GPS and my instructor would forbid it during training.

I do have my phone GPS for emergency situation, as the 12V battery plug of the plane is not working I have a small amount of battery time on iphone IF NEEDED in case everything turns wrong. In normal procedure it is shut down, i use navlog and clock, and of course visual recogn.

 

That's why I say FSX is great for cross country, pick up a PA28, real weather and your navlog and clock, and fly, there is basically no difference with the real things as far as things stay related to navigation. Who cares of flight physics in cruise flight ? Again, not the point.

 

"About VFR route practice before an actual flight: What for?"

 

I tell you. If you plan to make a flight with your family to an unknown airport, via an unknown route, maybe in another country by the way, you do want the maximum level of security for your flight. Added to a very precise flight planning, being familiar with the area and having made the actual flight in the sims by the number (should take me X minutes to be here, etc) IS UNVALUABLE HELP.

 

I would say make in the sim first any cross country flight you're planning, and you will level up security one notch. You can also train to divert to alternates, great utility should the unexpected happens.

I personnaly value security above all in real flight, especially when not flying alone, any tip to increase safety, i take.

FSX for IFR practice and Nav training? Yes Yes Yes!

 

I teach people to fly. FSX is an excellent training aid and we use it for basic training at our flying club.

 

GPS during training? Never. I would fail anyone who tried to use it on a cross country flight.

GPS during training? Never. I would fail anyone who tried to use it on a cross country flight.

 

LOL :)

 

Imagine a student pilot hitting the Direct->to whatever airport and the pink line goes through Class Bravo airspace or worse yet some TFRs in Washinton area. Ha Ha! The CFI's arse would be grass!

 

:)

 

Manny

FSX for IFR practice and Nav training? Yes Yes Yes!

 

I teach people to fly. FSX is an excellent training aid and we use it for basic training at our flying club.

 

GPS during training? Never. I would fail anyone who tried to use it on a cross country flight.

 

+1

In the US you have 2 options, Part 61 or Part 141...61 requires a min of 40 hours, 141 requires min of 35.

Ok, not being overly familiar with US regulations I'll back down on that point. Maybe it can help cutting down on hours then. Here in europe, I'm still not so sure.

 

Your CFI let you use GPS for your x-country?

We never even discussed it. He knew me pretty well by then and was probably pretty certain I wouldn't even consider it. :)

 

Wow, do you REALLY thinks that ?

Think what? That 95% of all GA pilots today mainly relies on GPS? Ok maybe 95% is a little bit high but overall, yes, I do. Are you trying to tell me that most people who do have a GPS in their plane only uses it in an emergency? I don't think so. If there is one they'll use it.

 

Also let me point out something that everyone seems to have missed: I never said students do it! Of course you have to learn it the proper way.

 

I tell you. If you plan to make a flight with your family to an unknown airport, via an unknown route, maybe in another country by the way, you do want the maximum level of security for your flight. Added to a very precise flight planning, being familiar with the area and having made the actual flight in the sims by the number (should take me X minutes to be here, etc) IS UNVALUABLE HELP.

So you're saying that pilots who don't use flight sims aren't as good as those who do? I don't really have any words for that that would slip through the profanity filter...