Comments from a new NGX pilot.

Thanks for the response Kyle.   I definitely agree that the search for technical understanding can be reward in itself, especially since the knowledge gained in the pursuit of this particular hobby can often be tried out right away in FS9 or FSX, to see how closely the sim planes performance conform with manufacturers' specs and procedures.  In that regard the website Smart Cockpits has been the greatest find on the net for me ever, and I still find it amazing that manufacturer's aircraft flight operating manuals are available there for free download by anyone with an interest in aviation.  

Whenever I have time to kill at home, I pore over printed copies of my downloaded FCOM manuals, relating to airliners I use in FS9 and FSX,  forgetting a huge chunk of what I read over time, but always retaining a fair bit that offers a more comprehensive insight into the magnificent flight sim airliners produced by PMDG and Level D for Boeing birds, Feelthere for the Embraer regional jet family, and now of course Aerosoft for their satisfyingly complex rendition of the Airbus A318/319/320 series.

As an aside, I have always felt that airline pilots, regional fliers inclusive, should earn salaries on a scale comparable with those commanded by medical practitioners, given the tremendous depth of highly detailed technical knowledge that must become second nature to a pilot, and given the fact that a pilot is entrusted with far more lives during the course of one day's shift at work, than a doctor would encounter over a whole year's worth of clinical consultations.