Certain sectors of the aviation community have always been slow to embrace new technology.  Back to basics flying has a certain appeal but surely anything new that makes people better pilots and aviation safer, if it doesn’t cost the earth,  must be a good thing.

Stand-alone hardware simulators come into their own when bad weather grounds most ‘real-life’ machines. They are also invaluable in placing either the student or experienced pilot in unusual attitudes, extreme weather conditions and emergency situations and teaching them appropriate recovery techniques. In fact, simulator training may just save your life and will certainly save your bank balance as it is claimed that one hour in the simulator provides the training value of at least three hours in an aircraft. They are not, however, a substitute for actual flying time and their use in a training programme must be employed judiciously and at opportune moments: read our experts’ comments inside as to their true value and ‘good sim’ practices.

And then there’s the ‘home’ simmer. A recent letter we received puts it perfectly, lamenting over the, ‘widespread, baffling misconception that PC-based flight simulation is only for spotty teenagers who want to shoot the Kai Tak Checkerboard in a Dreamliner or pretend to shoot down MiGs. This knee-jerk reaction detracts from the fact that cyber-simming can be of real, practical use in gaining and maintaining real-world aviation skills. And, anyway, those spotty teenagers are our future pilots, co-pilots, recreational flyers and buyers of new and used aircraft. Maybe it is time that PC-based flight simulation sheds its image as the pervy old uncle that sits in the corner at Christmas – still part of the family but a bit embarrassing to the rest – and is re-assessed. And what a fantastic opportunity to get the ‘Playstation’ generation involved in a safe and secure environment and at less expense.

Getting to grips with a simulator’s ‘artificial’ environment requires a spot of mental gymnastics upon first acquaintance but it really is no more alien than learning to operate your new DVD player. Yes, it does require some preliminary concentrated effort to acclimatize to and no, it is not a real substitute for actual flying, but surely it is an undeniable complement? 

New technology satisfies two major priorities for aviation: better pilot practices and the attraction of new and younger participants. It may not be the same as it was done ‘back in the day’ but, then again, the good old days championed out of doors sanitation and butterscotch as a remedy for advanced pneumonia which aren’t exactly staggering losses to mankind...But things were cheaper back then – that’s another debate entirely!

Simon Hollway