Desktop Flight Simulators and the Airline Pilot

Each year airline pilots train in a simulator, it enables them to practice emergency procedures and maneuvers that would be dangerous and expensive to practice in the real aircraft.

But what about desktop simulation, are there benefits for airline pilots?

A lot about flying an airliner is procedure, following profiles and standard calls.

While most approaches in real life are visual approaches 'backed up' with the ILS, there are also non-precision approaches, GPS approaches and single engine procedures, missed approaches, and other maneuvers which can be effectively practiced on a home computer - it's not about how you fly on the computer, it's about knowing what to do, what to say, and when to do it.

In addition to practicing profiles, flight simulators provide an opportunity for pilots to familiarize themselves with airports, the runway layouts and taxi-ways.

Read more about flight simulators