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Flight Simulators

There are two main reasons why General Aviation pilots use a simulator: for Proficiency and for logging training experience towards FAA requirements.

Proficiency

This practice is for pilots who want to stay sharp for their own satisfaction and confidence in their flight skills, rather than just logging official flight hours.

Home setups can work well for this, as long as they’re used correctly and the pilot understands their limitations. The main benefits of proficiency simulators are convenience and cost-effectiveness.

Equipment required: The A-SIM

I have a Proficiency Flight Simulator in my home office. I call it the A-SIM. This isn’t your typical home simulator—it’s been fine-tuned over years to closely replicate real-world flight training.

Besides for staying sharp myself, I use it provide unofficial instruction and coaching. Although this type of training cannot be logged, it saves my learners a lot of money and frustration in the form of trial and error during expensive dual flight time and helps them get the most valuable experience out of their flights.

By the time my learners move on to FAA approved simulators and/or actual flight training, they are well-prepared to handle the demands of actual flight, with a solid foundation of knowledge and practical skills, which they first acquired in the A-SIM.

The A-SIM is not for rent. But its use can be arranged in very special cases.

Getting YOUR home simulator up and running

Is an alternative. but getting it right requires a lot of investment and effort.
If you’re not tech savvy, let’s just meet at an FAA approved simulator facility.
My favorite ones are listed here.

Logging experience

The second reason is to meet FAA experience requirements for certification or recency.
In this case, the simulator needs to be FAA-approved. The learner needs to rent the equipment to gain access to the facility and additionally bring an instructor who will log the practice and sign their logbook, endorsing the achievement of the learning outcomes.
Equipment rental fees are separate from the instructor’s Face 2 Face, on-site hourly rates. See if you’re eligible.

Equipment required: an FAA Approved Sim

The learner arranges the rental of the equipment in the facility of their choice. I can recommend a facilities at KVNY, KCMA, KCCB, KEMT, KCPM.
I adapt to flying and teaching in different setups recreating different aircraft/avionics.

Standard booking:
2.5 hr sessions by the hobbs, which extend just beyond 3 hrs with pauses, pre and post-flight briefings.
Up to 2 sessions per day. The second one after a 1 hr break from the first one.

Purpose: Seeking certification

Regulations allow for certificate applicants to log a certain amount of simulator time towards the flight experience required for the certification practical test. The following are the times allowed by regulations when applying under parts 61 and 141.

Purpose: Currency

 

As for Instrument Rated pilots, at any day in which they want to be able to start a flight under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), according to 14 CFR 61.57(c)(1), they need to have performed and logged within the 6 calendar months prior the following tasks, under actual or simulated Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC):

– 6 instrument approaches
– holding procedures and tasks
– intercepting and tracking courses through the use of navigational electronic systems



According to 14 CFR 61.57(c)(2), these tasks can be performed in a Flight Simulator that is approved by the FAA, as long as it is configured to represent Instrument Weather Conditions (IMC) and the appropriate aircraft for which the pilot is rated, except gliders.