PC flight simulators are excellent for sharpening our skills, but with one glaring exception: The artificial ATC communications included with the software just isn’t up to the task of providing a realistic flight experience. I didn’t really understand how important this was until I recently had the chance to fly X-Plane 10 using something remarkably better.
PilotEdge.net is a service that provides live, professional ATC communications for home simulator users. I visited the company’s office in Lincoln Park, New Jersey, to try it for myself, donning a headset and settling behind the controls of a virtual Beech Baron. The experience changed the way I look at flight simulators and how I view the potential value they can offer pilots seeking to stay sharp.
