It is common for airlines and schools to use flight simulators to train their future pilots. Flight simulators have even become popular is larger areas of the aviation industry, such as commercial training, NASA, and more. Even with the progress made through flight simulators the industry is currently seeing a decline in the purchase of flight simulators, begging publications such as AIonline.com to ask “If you simluate, will they come?” in their most recent article. It would appear that rather then purchasing these expensive machines, as they students growth continues and their demand for such training becomes unavoidable, companies are teaming up. They are creating a partnership, if you will, that not only allows their students to experience multiple ways of training, but also unique opportunities they may not receive otherwise.

But looking back at the original question, do flight simulators still lead the industry in providing necessary training skills needed to create the best possible pilot? The answer is yes and will be yes for many years to come. The most recent winner of the Pilots of the Future Competition, Peter Township seniors, practiced for weeks before the competition using a simulator which they claim provided the leg up they needed for the competition. The game based simulation they used allows the student to focus on their flight training while experiencing the fun of a video game.

In other recent news, the first flight simulator expanded aerodynamic model for upset prevention and recovery training received their FAA Qualification and is currently the first and only provider that has received the FAA Qualification for this type of training. Progress continues to be made and we think it would be sage to assume the future of flight simulation is bright!

Sources:

https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2015-06-19/if-you-simulate-it-will-they-come

http://www.observer-reporter.com/article/20150619/NEWS01/150619371

http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12083061/flightsafety-international-receives-faa-qualification-for-the-first-flight-simulator-expanded-aerodynamic-model-for-upset-prevention-and-recovery-training