The question is what does a sim offer to a pilot? The answer, simply put, is a lot. Let's face it; it's getting increasingly expensive to fly. Unquestionably the sim is the most cost-effective tool available to today's pilot. And its effectiveness goes far beyond obtaining an instrument rating. Here is a quick look at the many advantages of sim training.

  • Initial instrument rating
    • The sim can be used for 20 hours towards the initial instrument rating under Part 61.
    • The basis of all successful instrument flight is scan, and the sim is superb for teaching scan. It forces the pilot to really look at the instruments, because there is no feedback from external stimuli, such as aircraft motion.
    • The ability to pause the sim and discuss what the instruments are really telling you.
    • The ability to fail an instrument in a realistic manner.
    • The ability to instantly reposition the pilot to repeat the exercise.
    • It is a much better and much less expensive teaching environment.

  • Instrument currency and IPC
    • The sim can be used for instrument currency, as all the necessary approaches and holding can be done in the sim.
    • The sim can also be used for a full IPC.
    • Really give your scan a workout. How long will it take you to detect that your attitude indicator went south ten minutes ago and has slowly been feeding you bad information?
    • Maybe you think you are doing a great job of holding altitude, but then again maybe it's because your pitot-static system is frozen.

  • Multi-engine, both initial and recurrent training
    • The sim is an excellent way to learn both the normal multi-engine procedures as well as the engine-out procedures.
    • Again, the sim forces you to really learn the engine-out procedures very methodically since you must rely on the instruments to tell you what is going on.
    • An engine can be failed at 50' or 100' agl, which would never be done in a plane.
    • The sim will teach you to really respect a Vmc roll-over. Lose an engine on a short-field take-off and you may find yourself upside down.
    • Recurrent training is vital in today's world. More and more insurance companies are requiring it for airplane owners, and the sim is a great tool to accomplish it.

  • GPS training
    • Learning how to truly use an IFR GPS is much easier in the sim, as well as far more economical.
    • The computer-based simulation programs provided by Garmin are certainly better than nothing, but many people find them difficult to use.
    • The transfer of knowledge from the computer simulation to the actual GPS in an airplane is less than effective. Using the actual GPS in the sim makes this an ideal way to learn the GPS.
    • The sim allows you to truly learn how to use the Garmin 430 GPS at a greatly reduced cost.

  • Autopilot and flight director training
    • A good autopilot is an instrument pilot's best friend. The sim can teach you how to smoothly integrate an autopilot into your cockpit resource management.
    • The sim provides hands-on experience in using a KAP 150 autopilot
    • The sim also provides hands-on experience in using the KFC 150 flight director, which is a KAP 150 autopilot that incorporates the flight director.

  • Trip training
    • If you're planning a trip, the sim is a great place to run through the approaches you might need at your destination as well as refueling stops.
    • If you are planning on flying as co-pilot in an unfamiliar airplane or perhaps with unfamiliar avionics, the sim can help familiarize you. If it doesn't have the exact aircraft model or avionics, it can most likely provide a similar configuration.
    • Are you a snowbird headed south for the winter? The sim is a great way to take an advance look at the approaches at your winter home airport.

  • Interview prep
    • The sim is a great tool for preparing you for an interview.
    • Most airlines use a sim to test an applicant's flying skills.
    • The sim can be set up for approaches all over the country, making it possible to customize the training for your interview.

  • Part 135 training
    • The sim is routinely used to prepare pilots for a Part 135 checkride.
    • You can really hone your engine-out skills as well as other favorite Part 135 checkride exercises, such as DME arcs and holding.

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