Flight Schools using MSFS?

[fppilot 4,341]

Anyone know certain of a flight school using MSFS (2020) for training?  A local school here asked me about MSFS today and I suggested they confer with a flight school that has it in use.  Again training.  I agreed to ask around to find two or three schools they might contact for references.

[ryanbatc 12,775]

I have no idea but I do know DOD is pushing big-time for MSFS instead of P3D.

[pmb 5,137]

4 minutes ago, ryanbatcund said:

I have no idea but I do know DOD is pushing big-time for MSFS instead of P3D.

DOD = Department of Defense? Sorry, not a native speaker.

Kind regards, Michael

[ark 1,288]

44 minutes ago, pmb said:

DOD = Department of Defense? Sorry, not a native speaker.

Kind regards, Michael

Yes.  But I wonder why DOD apparently favors MSFS over P3D -- for what purpose?

Al

 

Edited May 5, 2021 by ark

[omarsmak30 4,065]

2 hours ago, ryanbatcund said:

I have no idea but I do know DOD is pushing big-time for MSFS instead of P3D.

If you mean Department of Defence, is there a source for that? 

[cavaricooper 2,613]

3 hours ago, ryanbatcund said:

I have no idea but I do know DOD is pushing big-time for MSFS instead of P3D.

Ryan- that is the best news I've heard about MSFS yet.  The pockets there are certainly deep enough to demand fidelity.

 

[F737MAX 5,518]

4 hours ago, ryanbatcund said:

I have no idea but I do know DOD is pushing big-time for MSFS instead of P3D.

Source for this interesting info?

Will either light a fire up LM's 'word not allowed' to retain a major client for P3D or with its loss to MS, cause P3D development to cease. [/hypothesis]
DOD as a customer would mean some significant extra investment into MSFS as a platform, you would think.
 

[Bert Pieke 7,584]

5 hours ago, ryanbatcund said:

I have no idea but I do know DOD is pushing big-time for MSFS instead of P3D.

Can you be more specific?

[espent 1,389]

It also looks like Air Safety Institute have started to use MSFS in their videos:

 

 

 

[jeansy 338]

5 hours ago, ryanbatcund said:

I have no idea but I do know DOD is pushing big-time for MSFS instead of P3D.

I doubt it for right now, the cyber security risks with a cloud based server would be a horrendous security concern.

If any of the DoDs would use this software, they would have to have their own restricted servers with all the data that isnt connected to the external web. or run it in offline mode. That is why LM is the preference as it has no requirement for external connectivity. Not to mention the sim director plug where you can remotely control all the variables.

just a simple example of how serious the DoD takes this, is the organization i work for has removed 99.9% of landlines and runs all telecommunications through its own restricted network and every single person in the network has their own unique number to reduce cyber security risks. Anything that is plugged into the network has to be approved, a mouse was recalled not long ago as there was some minor components internal that were manufactured in a certain country. 

At the moment all our sims are stand alones even from our own protected network, so no tracking or monitoring can be viewed in a event of a breach.

Edited May 6, 2021 by jeansy

[fppilot 4,341]

I have checked with six airports today, three in Maryland and three in Indiana, and so far none.  Each is satisfied with their current use.  (3) P3D, (2) FSX, and (1) XP.  All six use Garmin GPS training videos, as well as some videos from Sporty's.

[abrams_tank 7,391]

15 minutes ago, jeansy said:

I doubt it for right now, the cyber security risks with a cloud based server would be a horrendous security concern.

If any of the DoDs would use this software, they would have to have their own restricted servers with all the data that isnt connected to the external web. or run it in offline mode. That is why LM is the preference as it has no requirement for external connectivity. Not to mention the sim director plug where you can remotely control all the variables.

just a simple example of how serious the DoD takes this, is the organization i work for has removed 99.9% of landlines and runs all telecommunications through its own restricted network and every single person in the network has their own unique number to reduce cyber security risks. Anything that is plugged into the network has to be approved, a mouse was recalled not long ago as there was some minor components internal that were manufactured in a certain country. 

At the moment all our sims are stand alones even from our own protected network, so no tracking or monitoring can be viewed in a event of a breach.

That isn’t  a problem though.  DoD can have a separate server installed in their own premises (ie. inside the Pentagon) where the data is streamed to their own internal MSFS clients.  Microsoft can set this up for them if they get the contract.

There are no security issues here if Microsoft installs an internal server for DoD.  It’s walled off from the rest of the world.

Edited May 6, 2021 by abrams_tank

[abrams_tank 7,391]

5 hours ago, ryanbatcund said:

I have no idea but I do know DOD is pushing big-time for MSFS instead of P3D.

I wouldn’t be surprised if this is the case because MSFS can generate real time terrain and landmarks that match the real world with the streaming of satellite/photogrammetry data. And it covers the entire world.

This is something that MSFS can do over P3D and X-Plane and perhaps it’s something the DoD values.

[jeansy 338]

14 minutes ago, abrams_tank said:

That isn’t  a problem though.  DoD can have a separate server installed in their own premises (ie. inside the Pentagon) where the data is streamed to their own internal MSFS clients.  Microsoft can set this up for them if they get the contract.

There are no security issues here if Microsoft installs an internal server for DoD.  It’s walled off from the rest of the world.

possible maybe when MSFS is a more robust product, in the current form and limitations and constant updates with some adverse coding its way too early.  a standalone for each physical sim, not any time soon  Its already been discussed in our workplace and dismissed.

However say with LM, contracts have have to supply a airframe, LM is to provide the training software for the life of the product. We do this with all our equipment from small arms to aircraft.

no body has a crystal ball and knows how msfs will look in 5 yrs or what LM will look like, maybe when the next gen of aircraft come out and it can be incorporated into MSFS and there maybe real considerations but not after several months post introduction.

having seen the military package of LM, the normal LM looks very bland and MSFS has a very long way in psychics to catch up. but the way tech is these days, who knows whats possible in time

 

Edited May 6, 2021 by jeansy

[ryanbatc 12,775]

48 minutes ago, Bert Pieke said:

Can you be more specific?

No.  Sorry 🙂