I came across a website that uses X-Plane 12 for real world flight training.  Looks to be quite a comprehensive course, with a CFI as the instructor, while using an online classroom setting.  Obviously (adding a FULL disclaimer) this course, highly likely, doesn't count towards actual flight time.  It looks to be a course designed to get people familiar with flying so as to minimize actual flying hours.  (Another disclaimer) It also makes mention of "add ons", so likely not DEFAULT X-Plane

Fantastic to see X-Plane and its realism being endorsed and used for flight training by several CFI's, as mentioned under the "Instructor" section.

https://flightsimcoach.com/course/x-plane-for-pilot-training/

 

Edited October 23, 20232 yr by GoranM

There's been a fair few people on the org over the years who do something similar - but this is the first time Ive seen it offered online.

I think a lot of people get way to hung up on the "using it to log hours" thing.

inflight hour licence requirements are the absolute bare minimum requirement, getting an endorsement requires both the hours on the licence but more importantly and the CFI to "sign off" that you are competent. 

This is particularly problematic for IFR endorsements, and where xplane shines.

https://fly8ma.com/instrument-rating-requirements/

getting "40 hours of instrument time" in real life could actually take several hundred hours depending on the weather.

cost saving using xplane with a G1000 trainer can therefore easily be several hundred thousand dollars in aircraft maintenance expense alone per licence.

Quote

Note: This course is focused on the operation of the simulator, not techniques for actually flying the aircraft.

Why would anyone pay to learn to use a simulator when this information is freely available on the internet in 2023. They are not even teaching you how to fly according to that note. So many set up and getting started free videos are available on YouTube.

Quote

Our sim support specialists are pilots/CFIs with hands-on experience with an extensive variety of sim hardware and software. This includes Honeycomb products, X-Plane, MSFS, and VR devices.

Free help on discord. Or even in these forums.

46 minutes ago, brinx said:

Why would anyone pay to learn to use a simulator when this information is freely available on the internet in 2023.

Not everyone is complete nutjobs like us who are willing or able to lose a few years of their life (and counting) to get the perfect sim setup while negotiating the hellscape that is flight sim politics.

So pretty much the same reasons you would do any course given the sum of all human knowledge (and quite a bit more besides) is freely available online in 2023: Pay someone who knows what they are talking about to filter out the noise.

I've actually been contemplating giving something similar to our CFIs, most of them still need your garden variety "is it switched on, is it plugged in" tech support (still working on my ideal sim setup tho....).

Edited October 23, 20232 yr by mSparks

10 hours ago, GoranM said:

 Looks to be quite a comprehensive course,

yes.  See below

• Quote

  Class 1:

  • Getting Started: Learn how to load the simulator, calibrate your flight controls, and set up a flight
  • Hardware options: An overview of the various hardware choices available to help improve your simulation experience
  • Configuring X-Plane: Understand the menus, keyboard shortcuts, and profiles
  • Rendering Options: Understand frame rate and the factors that affect it
  • Setting up flight: Selecting an aircraft, special starts, weather configuration and add-ons, date/time, and other configuration options
  • Cockpit Interaction: Learn the various methods of interacting with common controls in the cockpit (knobs, clickable regions, zooming, radio tuning, etc.)
  • View Controls: Learn how to use the view menu, keyboard shortcuts, your joystick/yoke, and add-ons to quickly look around the aircraft or outside of it

  • Class 2: 
    • Training tools: X-Plane includes numerous tools which allow you to efficiently practice and debrief various aspects of your flights. You will learn about all of them here.
    • VR: An introduction to what Virtual Reality (VR) can bring to your simulation experience and some of the pros/cons
    • ATC: Learn how to use the built-in ATC feature (and understand some of its limitations). Also includes an intro to third party tools such as PilotEdge and VATSIM.
    • Misc: Various features such as AI, logbooks, Plane Maker, crash detection, etc.
    • EFB integration: How to use your simulator with an EFB (like Foreflight) so that your aircraft location shows on the EFB map
    • Installing add-ons: Practice installing several add-ons (including aircraft, scenery, and utilities)
    • From here: Suggested practice techniques and resources for maximizing the educational value and enjoyment from your simulator

 

But course is not intended for actual flying nor revolving around real world aviation. It's getting to know a specific desktop simulator called X-Plane.
It's X-plane for dummies course. They basically state that themselves  "We get it. You’re an aspiring pilot…but perhaps not much of a computer whiz or gamer."
The biggest value is obviously the opportunity to interact with a CFI, but isn't that platform agnostic?

4 hours ago, brinx said:

Why would anyone pay to learn to use a simulator when this information is freely available on the internet in 2023. They are not even teaching you how to fly according to that note. So many set up and getting started free videos are available on YouTube.

Free help on discord. Or even in these forums.

Many people prefer curricula, even if they're paid.

And if you get "live" help from folks who are familiar with the curriculum, so much the better.

There are other hobbies I have where I already possessed a great deal of knowledge that had been handed down to me by family and friends.

But when you want to go deep, having taken formal classes from professionals was/is extremely helpful to fill in all the little gaps.

p.s.: I've no idea how good this program is, but I do support the concept.

Edited October 23, 20232 yr by UrgentSiesta
added e.g.

1 hour ago, UrgentSiesta said:

p.s.: I've no idea how good this program is, but I do support the concept.

imho, good training is always more about the people than the program.

And that's quite the experience they have signed in there

https://flightsimcoach.com/flight-instructors/

Has a very "FSA" feel about it.....

Edited October 23, 20232 yr by mSparks

7 hours ago, brinx said:

Why would anyone pay to learn to use a simulator when this information is freely available on the internet in 2023. They are not even teaching you how to fly according to that note. So many set up and getting started free videos are available on YouTube.

Free help on discord. Or even in these forums.

If you think you can get the exact same knowledge from discord and YouTube, be my guest. For less than the cost of an introductory flight, I prefer the structured course being taught by Commercial Pilots, with listed and verifiable qualifications.

Personally, unless I know exactly who I'm dealing with, on youtube, discord or even these forums, I'm going with reputable pilots with a verifiable track record.  

Edited October 24, 20232 yr by GoranM

2 hours ago, SAS443 said:

It's X-plane for dummies course.

I thought the same thing. 😄

2 hours ago, GoranM said:

If you think you can get the exact same knowledge from discord and YouTube, be my guest. For less than the cost of an introductory flight, I prefer the structured course being taught by Commercial Pilots, with listed and verifiable qualifications.

Personally, unless I know exactly who I'm dealing with, on youtube, discord or even these forums, I'm going with reputable pilots with a verifiable track record.  

If people are willing to pay for this stuff, go right ahead I suppose. 

Quote

perhaps you’ve also wondered how to optimize your simulator’s performance by tweaking graphics settings, adding VR, or using add-ons.

If so, this course has been built specifically for you!

I don't understand why we need a CFI to tell us how to tweak graphics settings. Sounds like marketing to me. I could perhaps understand if this was a course designed to teach you how to fly but it is not. Anyway, if people willing to pay for this, good for them. Personally, I would not when full step by step instructions are just a few keystrokes away on YouTube and many people in the community willing to help.

2 hours ago, GoranM said:

Personally, unless I know exactly who I'm dealing with, on youtube, discord or even these forums, I'm going with reputable pilots with a verifiable track record.  

This! I remember, when I was in a very stressful part of my life jobwise, I tried to find relaxation by reading respective books or watching youtube videos. However, it didn't help this much. Then, I booked a course with a professional trainer, and he showed me and the other participants (among others) how to breathe correct for relaxing. It was adapted to exactly the participants of the course and not a general "blah blah" in a video from someone from whom I don't know which background he has. Such things can be even contra-productive/dangerous and worsen things.

1 hour ago, brinx said:

If people are willing to pay for this stuff, go right ahead I suppose. 

I don't understand why we need a CFI to tell us how to tweak graphics settings. Sounds like marketing to me. I could perhaps understand if this was a course designed to teach you how to fly but it is not. Anyway, if people willing to pay for this, good for them. Personally, I would not when full step by step instructions are just a few keystrokes away on YouTube and many people in the community willing to help.

You obviously didn't read the entire thing.

If you don't like it, or refuse to notice and acknowledge what it does have to offer, then please, feel free to see yourself out of this discussion.  

I made this post to point people in the direction of a website that gets people familiar with much more than "tweaking graphics settings", from a group of qualified commercial pilots.

Edited October 24, 20232 yr by GoranM

That's just an x-plane course advertised as "pilot training" that you can do pretty much with any simulator.

5 hours ago, brinx said:

don't understand why we need a CFI to tell us how to tweak graphics settings.

I can only assume you dont read enough forums.

2 minutes ago, mjrhealth said:

I can only assume you dont read enough forums.

Not really sure what that is supposed to mean but if you say so.