Aircraft Cockpit Proficiency

In the age of satellite navigation, electronic instrumentation and multi-function displays with moving maps, each aircraft is different. Just because you can fly an Avidyne Integra-equipped Cirrus doesnt mean you can jump into a Perspective (a.k.a. Garmin G1000) Cirrus. Or, for that matter, even an old steam-gauge Piper. Now we need proficiency not just on an instrument scan and IFR procedures, but on the installed devices as well.

IFR Staff

Tuesday, July 12, 2016 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Modern aircraft, with their complex and varied avionics, make maintaining proficiency through actual flight expensive and challenging, underscoring the necessity of simulators for cost-effective and safe training.
While an ideal simulator would precisely replicate an aircraft's aerodynamics, avionics, and physical cockpit, practical and affordable options for individual pilots often compromise on physical fidelity, prioritizing accurate avionics and IFR procedure simulation.
Solutions range from high-end, exact replica Flight Training Devices (FTDs) to more affordable virtual touchscreen systems like FlyThisSim (identified as a "sweet spot"), or even DIY setups requiring significant technical effort for customization.

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Back in the days of steam gauges and conventional VHF nav, you could jump into any aircraft and feel comfortable because everything always worked the same way. It was simple.

But in the age of satellite navigation, electronic instrumentation and multi-function displays with moving maps, each aircraft is different. Just because you can fly an Avidyne Integra-equipped Cirrus doesn’t mean you can jump into a Perspective (a.k.a. Garmin G1000) Cirrus. Or, for that matter, even an old steam-gauge Piper. Now we need proficiency not just on an instrument scan and IFR procedures, but on the installed devices as well.