Beyond English: How USIM Is Transforming Flight Training

Versatile simulation tool is now helping student pilots and future ATCs navigate complex, high-pressure scenarios.

Meg Godlewski

Saturday, June 20, 2026 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Training in USIM [Credit: USIM]

Key Takeaways:

The USIM online training program, originally developed by Captain Alejandro Perez, teaches aviation English to foreign pilots to overcome critical language barriers in global aviation.
USIM is now being adapted for a new purpose at aviation colleges, such as Minnesota State University, to educate future air traffic controllers and flight instructors.
The program utilizes retired FAA ATCs and advanced simulators to provide realistic, scenario-based training, exposing students to complex situations, emergencies, and even intentionally created chaotic scenarios.
Instructors can customize scenarios, including local airport layouts and introducing procedural errors, to enhance students' adaptability and problem-solving skills for real-world aviation challenges.

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An online training program created decades ago to teach aviation English to foreign pilots is finding a new purpose at an aviation college in the Midwest to educate future air traffic controllers (ATCs).

USIM was created by Captain Alejandro Perez, an airline pilot from Mexico who realized that while English is the official language of aviation, aviation itself is a global phenomenon—and sometimes the language barrier leads to challenges and outright dangerous situations.