Learning to fly with the help of a flight simulator provides many benefits to the student pilot – it lowers the cost of the overall flight training, provides a safer learning environment and contributes to your overall training hours required for certification. Plus, simulators make student pilots more proficient in the air. Since there are a number of flight simulators in Minnesota to choose from, here are a few tips to help you choose the right one for your training needs.
Model of Airplane
What type of flight training are you doing? Those trying to get a private pilot certificate, for example, will need to fly in a sim machine that matches the single-engine pistons they’ll most likely be training on. This will differ from those trying to obtain their commercial pilot or airline transport license, which will require much more complicated simulation setups. Before signing up for flight simulator classes, ensure it meets your needs as a student.
Real-Life Effects
As a training strategy, an effective flight simulator should provide an experience that’s as close to the real thing as possible. Certain simulators are specially built with advanced hardware and software, capable of different realistic effects. For example, many of the top simulators in Minnesota provide countless airports around the world, designed to look exactly like the real thing. Taking it even further, some flight simulators even offer live air traffic control chatter to mimic real-world flying environments.
Check out more reasons to try a flight simulator: 10 Benefits of Using a Flight Simulator when Learning to Fly
Professional Flight Simulator vs. Home Flight Simulator
While home flight simulator capabilities have drastically improved over the past decade, they still don’t match up to the power of a professional flight simulator. Made by a small handful of companies like CAE, Redbird and Elite, professional-grade simulators are built with tiny yet extremely powerful computer chips and can display hyper-realistic graphics and audio. This helps in recreating the feeling of actually flying an airplane. Most professional simulators are also approved by the FAA when used in a training capacity, unlike home simulators. However, you shouldn’t completely disregard home setups; they can be a good supplement to your traditional flight training, so it’s a wise investment for those that really want to improve their skills.
Consider the Price
Top-of-the-line simulators can cost quite a bit, up to a few hundred dollars an hour. However, at Inflight Pilot Training, we offer a professional-grade simulation experience without the hefty price tag. The Elite flight simulator at Inflight Pilot Training is perfect for students who are trying to boost their training hours, but don’t want to break the bank doing so. We also have Pilot Edge software for real life training scenarios talking to live controllers.
Flight Simulator Hours can Count Toward Training Time
While hours spent in a flight simulator can’t be counted toward your required flight time in an actual aircraft, sim hours can be added to your overall training time. If you’re planning on becoming a certified pilot, this helps you get one step closer. According to FAR 61.109, for example, 2.5 hours of appropriate simulator time (with a flight instructor present) can be credited toward the total training time required for a private pilot certificate. When signing up for flight simulator time, make sure an instructor is available so you can use those hours toward your official training program.
Are you searching for the best flight simulator in Minnesota?
Take a look at Inflight Pilot Training’s flight simulator options here! Our flight simulator, the Elite P1-135 Professional, is one of the top training systems available to students of all levels. The abilities of the simulator are endless, providing a fun and affordable way to improve your skills as a pilot while saving you money. To find out more, get in touch with our team today by calling (952) 698-3000 or filling out a contact form.
