Frank Bowlin offered me the soapbox this month while he lets the meds from a recent medical procedure wear off. He might regret that.
I Want My GPS
We need completely realistic virtual avionics. Ive been ringing this bell for a decade now and have achieved exactly nothing. Simulator training for real-world pilots is crippled without them. Pilots cant practice the buttonology, which atrophies even faster than a six-pack scan. Pilots also want their own panels to fly virtually. I say thats one of the biggest barriers to expanding the use of simulation.
Key Takeaways:
- Pilot simulator training is severely hampered by the lack of realistic virtual avionics, especially for Garmin systems, which prevents pilots from effectively practicing essential "buttonology."
- Existing virtual solutions are either incomplete emulations that struggle to keep up with real-world accuracy and features, or unsupported "hacks" using outdated Garmin code.
- The author criticizes Garmin's "intractable position" for not assisting emulators, improving existing "hacks," or collaborating with the industry to provide a supported, realistic solution for virtual avionics.
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