Training & Sims

Obviously, there is no replacement for an airplane to stay current and proficient. But when you sim, don’t treat the sim like an airplane. There’s a difference.

Knowing Good and Evil was a problem in the original Paradise, but around the PDZ VOR, managing direction, altitude, and what’s next is your only hope of success.

Fly the same approach multiple times, with a twist to keep you on your toes. That’s almost as good as different approaches.

IFR between the mountains and under the midnight sun gives a Sim Challenge that Wild West feel. So does firing up that vintage ADF.

Shortly after we published our update on making ACS regulatory (March 2024 issue), the FAA finalized the change. Here’s what you need to know.

We emphasize the benefits of simulators, encouraging instrument pilots to use them in their training. But what if you don’t know how to effectively make use of ‘em?

Fly this exercise twice in an FAA-approved sim, with variations, and you’ll be current. Fly it to checkride standards on any sim, and you’re definitely proficient, too.

No, we’re not going to beat you up for relying on your GPS. Instead, our concern is overreliance on your autopilot. But not for reasons you might think.

Even if you got your instrument rating 30 years ago, this still affects you since the requirements for an IPC are in the ACS.

Sun, smoke, or night can turn “VFR” effectively into IMC. However, technical VFR offers a chance to borrow procedures from IFR and VFR to get the job done.