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 complexity and high flying costs make simulators essential for pilots to maintain proficiency, as in-aircraft training becomes less practical and more expensive.
Effective simulators should ideally replicate aircraft aerodynamics, avionics, and physical controls, though a balance between cost and fidelity often leads to prioritizing accurate avionics and IFR procedures over perfect physical replication.
Various simulator options exist, from high-end devices to more affordable touchscreen-based systems or DIY builds, which can be economically practical and provide significant proficiency benefits for a fraction of the cost of equivalent flight time.

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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.