| A flight simulator is a system that copies or imitates | | | | real forces and visuals they will encounter in flying the |
| flying an aircraft (or helicopter or glider.) Simulators | | | | aircraft. |
| come in all shapes and sizes. At the top end, there is a | | | | Pilots can be trained in all manner of situations they |
| full rendition of an actual cockpit with hydraulics to | | | | might encounter in the real world. Of course, we all |
| move the whole simulator, to simulate the actual | | | | should feel more comfortable in the knowledge that all |
| movements which would be experienced. These are | | | | commercial pilots experience their first equipment |
| generally used by flight schools for commercial pilots, | | | | malfunction, or engine failure, or cabin depressurization |
| by airlines themselves, and by aircraft manufacturers. | | | | in a flight simulator, and not while flying us on the |
| While they are used for training, they are also used for | | | | red-eye from Los Angeles to New York. |
| cockpit ergonomics design, to test new features and | | | | As personal computers became more sophisticated, |
| equipment, as well as software and hardware, before | | | | with faster video cards and processing speeds, it was |
| committing to production or introduction. | | | | inevitable that the technology used in flight simulation |
| The primary use (in terms of volume of use) is for pilot | | | | for commercial pilot training would find its way onto our |
| training. In airline terminology, three principal types of | | | | hard drives, and later as broadband has increased |
| simulators are used - Part Task Trainers ("PTT"), | | | | over high speed networks for multiple pilot / aircraft |
| Cockpit Procedures Trainers ("CPT"), and Full Flight | | | | simulation. |
| Simulators ("FFS"). | | | | Flight simulation games have become very popular and |
| PTTs are generally used in beginner training, to cover | | | | range in sophistication to cater to a broad range of |
| one or more of the systems of the particular aircraft | | | | user - from the basic user who purchases or |
| on which the student pilot is being trained. They are | | | | downloads an off-the-shelf simulation program, to |
| simpler set-ups, as they have a primary focus, as | | | | sophisticated users who participate in the development |
| opposed to a general focus on the entire cockpit. | | | | of open source, collaborative simulation systems, |
| CPTs are generally used for ongoing training on tasks | | | | involving multiple aircraft choices, weather variations, |
| and procedures, usually in the mode or performing drills | | | | multiple airports, integration with Google maps, etc. etc. |
| and checks. | | | | Leisure flight simulation has indeed come a long way |
| The advanced FFS includes motion platforms that | | | | from the original DOS-based systems of only a few |
| have the ability to simulate the actual movements the | | | | short years ago. |
| pilot would experience in real flight. They can move in | | | | And as the pace of technology advanced accelerates |
| all six degrees or freedom. They also generally | | | | - there is an exciting future ahead for leisure flight |
| incorporate a simulation of what the pilot would see if | | | | simulators. And hopefully, a greater degree of |
| looking out of the cockpit, using display technology to | | | | preparation for commercial pilots as well, as their |
| present context video images, both while in simulated | | | | simulation infrastructure advances at the same rapid |
| flight and in simulated taxi maneuvers. The goal (well | | | | pace! |
| achieved) is to provide the pilot with a simulation of the | | | | |