THE PILOT’S GUIDE TO

HOME FLIGHT
SIMULATORS

Keep your flight training focused and realistic at home.

A Publication of Redbird Flight

Table of Contents

1/ Getting Started With a Home Simulator... 3

2/ Tips for Staying Proficient…….………… 11

3/ Private Pilot Training ……………...……. 14

4/ Instrument Training…………………....... 20

5/ Instrument Currency……………..…....... 23

6/ Emergency Training……………..…....... 24

7/ Adding ATC Communications………..... 28

8/ Cleaning Your Simulator…….……......... 29

9/ About Redbird…….……………….......... 31

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1/ Getting Started With
a Home Simulator
For aviation enthusiasts, student pilots, and experienced pilots alike, a
home flight simulator can be a great investment. When used correctly, a
simulator helps you learn the principles of flight, become familiar with
aircraft controls and instruments, develop and maintain maneuvers
proficiency, and—if you have a certified device—log instrument currency
or time towards your license and ratings. However, as with most things
aviation, expenses pile up if you’re not realistic and strategic about your
goals and what you need to achieve them. To get started with home flight
simulation, here’s what you should think about first.

Home-Built Flight Simulators

If you’re building a home simulator from scratch, then you need to start
with the simulation engine.

FLIGHT SIMULATION SOFTWARE

You have several, viable options for powering your home simulator. For
pilots and enthusiasts who require versatile and realistic simulations of
general and commercial aviation, Prepar3D® and X-Plane are popular
options.

Lockheed Martin’s Prepar3D® provides an immersive simulation

experience for private pilots, commercial organizations, militaries, and
academia. It furthers the development of Microsoft® ESP™ while
maintaining compatibility with Microsoft Flight Simulator X. Therefore,
many thousands of add-ons can be used within Prepar3D®.

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Lockheed Martin offers a few different options for licenses. For Version 4,
a Professional License costs $199 and an Academic License costs
$59.95.

X-Plane is an appealing option for flight simulator users as well. Known

for its flight models, graphics, and smooth frame rate, X-Plane 11 is
available via DVD or digital download for $59.99. Laminar Research also
offers a professional upgrade to support commercial use and FAA
certification. No matter which version you have, X-Plane supports various
aircraft models, scenery, and plugins.

Either of these simulation engines is a sensible building block for your

home simulator. Most hardware and additional software that you
purchase will be compatible with Prepar3D® and X-Plane.

FLIGHT SIMULATION COMPUTER

Your flight simulation computer is responsible for powering your flight
simulation software and supporting the additional flight sim gear that you
purchase. To hit the minimum technical requirements for the Prepar3D®
and X-Plane software, you need a computer that looks something like
this:

• Operating System - Microsoft Windows 7 SP1 (64-bit) or newer

• Computer Processor - Intel Core i3, i5, or i7 CPU with 2 or more

cores (or AMD equivalent)

• 3 GHz or more

• Computer Memory - at least 8 GB

• Hard Drive Space - at least 40 GB, with 15 GB on C:\

• Graphics Card Video Memory - at least 2 GB

• Graphics Card Other - at least Full DirectX 11 Support

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For specific versions of each simulation engine, here are the developer
recommendations for your hardware.

Prepar3D v3
• Operating System - Microsoft Windows 10 (64-bit)

• Computer Processor - Quad-Core Processor @ 3.0 GHz +

• Computer Memory - 4 GB +

• Hard Drive Space - M.2 or Solid-State Drive is strongly

recommended

• Graphics Card Video Memory - 4 GB + (GDDR5 or better)

Prepar3D v4

• Operating System - Microsoft Windows 10 (64-bit)

• Computer Processor - Quad-Core Processor @ 3.5 GHz +

• Computer Memory - 16 GB DDR4/2666MHz +

• Hard Drive Space - M.2 or Solid-State Drive is strongly

recommended

• Graphics Card Video Memory - 8 GB + (e.g. NVIDIA GeForce GTX

1080 Ti)

X-Plane 10
• Computer Processor - Quad-Core Processor @ 3.0 GHz +

• Computer Memory - 16-20 GB

• Graphics Card Video Memory - at least 4 GB

• Graphics Card Other - high-performance, DirectX 11-capable

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X-Plane 11
• Computer Processor - Intel Core i5 6600K @ 3.5 GHz +

• Computer Memory - 16-24 GB

• Graphics Card Video Memory - at least 4 GB

• GeForce GTX 1070 or better (or similar from AMD)

• Graphics Card Other – a DirectX 12-capable video card from

NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel

FLIGHT CONTROLS
Once you have a simulation engine and computer, your next purchase
should be flight controls that accurately emulate the experience of flying
an aircraft. A standard computer mouse can help you navigate and learn
the cockpit of an aircraft. However, once you begin performing
maneuvers, a quality yoke, throttle, and a set of rudder pedals will help
immensely.

Yoke v.s. Joystick

Joysticks are a popular controller for many home simulator users.

Especially for combat simulator enthusiasts and pilots of aircraft with
sidesticks, joysticks are an attractive option. However, for the typical pilot
or aviation enthusiast, a high-quality yoke will add the most fidelity to a
home simulator. A good yoke will allow you to experience full control
deflection without increasing spring tension. Force feedback yokes can
add an additional layer of realism, but at a price that generally exceeds
three figures. A high-quality, metal yoke, without force feedback, will
support the goals of most home simulator users.

Aircraft Types

Flight simulation software offers hundreds of aircraft options, and

developers are constantly updating them and adding more. Undoubtedly,
you'll enjoy flying many of them. That said, when you’re building your rig,
you should be realistic about which aircraft you fly the most.

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In addition to influencing the yoke versus joystick debate, the
configuration of your primary aircraft should inform your choice of throttle.
Do you need a vernier or lever style? Do you mostly fly single or twin-
engine aircraft? To get the most bang for your buck, you’d be wise to
factor in aircraft configurations prior to making purchases.

Mounting Your Controls

As you get into the weeds of software and hardware features, the
logistics of setting up your simulator can understandably become an
afterthought. Even so, the realization that you don’t have a plan for
mounting your hardware is a harsh one. Most hardware providers include
information for mounting their equipment to your desk, but you'll definitely
want to a) confirm that, and b) ensure that the manufacturer's
recommendations are congruous with your plans and preferences.
Beyond enabling basic use, your hardware setup should take into
consideration ergonomics as well. If it’s positioned too high or too low for
normal aircraft operations, even an ultra-realistic yoke quickly feels
unnatural. Don’t forget the rudder pedals, too. Sure, they're just going to
sit on your floor, but you should determine whether they'll slide when you
apply force.

Lastly, as you’re shopping the market for flight controls, be sure to check
for compatibility with your software of choice. Most controls are equipped
with a USB port and simple installation instructions. That said, some are
easier than others. Prior to purchasing your controls, you should be
confident that they'll be easy to connect and calibrate.

All-In-One Flight Simulators

Rather than purchasing new simulation software and hardware or
upgrading their current simulator piecemeal, many pilots elect to buy an
all-in-one flight simulator. If you have plans to purchase high-quality flight
controls—like a realistic yoke and throttle quadrant—you should explore
your options for all-in-one simulators. Generally, since all the flight
simulator hardware is included with these devices, complete home flight
simulators allow you to save on individual components and they offer
other advantages, too.

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Pilots often opt for these plug and play options if they want one or more
of the following:
• Guaranteed software compatibility
• Quick and simple setup to start flying (with flight controls, speakers,
and a monitor included)
• Ergonomic and appealing design
• Simplified communication about operating and troubleshooting the
sim
• Competitive pricing

Certified Flight Simulators

In a perfect world, every pilot would have a certified training device at
home. But, it’s not a perfect world. So, here are a few questions you
should ask yourself before reaching a little deeper into your pocket to
upgrade to a certified training device for personal use.

WHAT ARE YOUR TRAINING GOALS?

An honest assessment both of where you stand as a pilot now, and how
much further you think you can advance in the next few years ahead, will
help you determine the requirements you should have for a simulator.

If you’re just getting started with your flight training, how

aggressively are you able to pursue your goals in the immediate future? If
you have aspirations of following up your private pilot’s license (PPL) with
an instrument rating, then a certified training device could make sense for
your training and even your wallet.

An entry-level, certified training device—which is a Basic Aviation

Training Device (BATD) under FAA rules and regulations—allows you to
log 2.5 hours toward your Aeronautical Experience Requirements and 10
hours toward your Instrument Rating (under Part 61).

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Couple that with the fact that you now can maintain your instrument
currency using the same device, and you have a viable use case to
entertain the expense. The time you can log, and the proficiency you can
develop, through early and repeated use of a BATD can save you money
in the long run. However, this scenario makes a few of assumptions:

• You have enough cash up front to cover time in the aircraft, time with
your instructor, and payment for a certified training device

• You have the time and the skill to advance methodically through ab
initio training (which, granted, a certified device will help you if you’re
lacking in either of those categories)

• You have even more time and follow-through to advance through

your instrument training

If you’re concerned about your cash-on-hand, or you understandably

don’t know how long you’ll need to achieve your PPL, then purchasing a
more affordable, non-certified device could make more sense for you
initially. All-in-one simulators and home-built simulators both are capable
of developing and maintaining your proficiency—especially for VFR
flying. Plus, you also can rent time on a flight school’s certified device
when a specific training exercise calls for it. For many student pilots, this
is a more reasonable option.

If you already have a PPL and an instrument rating, then maintaining

your currency from the comfort of your home might be the biggest appeal
of a certified device. However, beyond currency, BATDs have a lot to
offer pilots. Generally, the fidelity of the avionics is the largest difference
between uncertified simulators and BATDs. Regulatory bodies like the
FAA have thorough expectations for the avionics capabilities of certified
training devices.

While those expectations drive up the price tag, they also increase the
performance capabilities for experienced pilots. Many non-certified
devices offer hardware and software that are well-suited for developing
familiarity and proficiency with aircraft controls and maneuvers, but
certified devices drastically increase the fidelity of the instrumentation.
Therefore, you can plan for upcoming flights by using realistic weather
settings, navigating to your destination airport, and practicing your
instrument approaches.

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 Is Monetizing Your Simulator Important and Practical?
Since the device primarily is for personal use, the answer for many pilots
is “not at all.” The simulator is destined for a home office and it’ll be used
to keep the individual pilot’s skills sharp. However, for others, offsetting
the cost of the device—either by renting time on it to other pilots or by
eventually reselling it—is an attractive option.

For pilots in the latter category, a certified device makes a lot of sense.
Generally, non-certified devices—especially if they’re home-built—have
less resale value and they offer fewer prospects for generating revenue
from rentals.

Certified devices, on the other hand, allow you to quickly make your
money back, and even turn a profit, if they’re made available for rent.
Plus, especially if the device is under warranty and the manufacturer
maintains its certification, simulators that are certified have strong resale
value.

However, much like with your flight training, practicality and feasibility are
key considerations. Are you willing to put in the time and effort to
advertise the use of your device? Do you have access to a public space
where pilots can use it? How much will that cost you? For many
individual owners of certified simulators, leasing the device to a flight
school is an attractive middle ground. They still can profit from the device
while reducing the overhead from advertising and facilities.

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2/ Tips for Staying
Proficient
Flight simulation is the best way to practice and maintain flying skills
when you’re away from the airport. However, in the simulation world, it
can be tempting to bend the realities of operating an aircraft. To help you
build and maintain your proficiency from home, here are a few tips to
keep your training focused and your scenarios realistic with a flight
simulator.

1 Have a goal for every simulator session

During gaps in time when you can't fly for several weeks, flying
your flight simulator can keep your brain in the cockpit and your
hand-eye coordination sharp. Yet, if you spend your simulator
time aimlessly flying around, you are more likely to develop bad
habits in the cockpit than you are to develop or maintain
proficiency in it. To avoid becoming rusty, you should have a goal
in mind each time you sit down to fly your simulator.

• Plan a route for your next big adventure. Become familiar with
a new airport diagram, fly a few instrument approaches,
practice your landings, and taxi to your FBO of choice.

• Learn a new avionics configuration. Whether you want to

build proficiency with the GTN 650/750 or the KLN 89, your
flight simulator is an ideal tool to learn the features.

• Practice getting into and out of maneuvers. Without the

distractions of a real airplane, you can focus on the minutiae
of maneuvers training. Configure the simulator for a
maneuver and perform it with an appropriate flow and at the
correct speed.

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2 Consult Your Flight Instructor or Fellow Pilots
Even brief check-ins with your flight instructor or pilot friends can
make a huge difference for your flight training.

• If you are pursuing a license or rating, communicate with your

instructor so you can practice relevant tasks and continue
progressing through your syllabus.

• If you are a licensed pilot, challenge your friends to fly the

same scenario and see who performs the best.

• If you can’t make it to airport, debrief flights over video chat to

hold each other accountable.

3 Use Your Pilot Supplies

You always should fly at home with the same gear that you’d use
in the aircraft.

• Wear your aviation headset. There are several flight

simulation solutions that allow you to fly in the Air Traffic
Control system and receive guidance from controllers. ATC
services add a lot of value, especially for instrument training.

• Use your iPad. Flight simulation is a great way to explore all

the new features of your Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) and start
flying with them in a controlled environment.

• Use your checklists. They will keep your mind in the cockpit
and on the task at hand. Checklists also can help you avoid
bad flying habits while you are away from the aircraft.

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4 Choose Realistic Settings for Weather and Failures
The goal of flight simulator training should not be to challenge
yourself in unrealistic situations.

• Focus on training for isolated emergencies such as VFR into

inadvertent IMC or an alternator failure on a long flight.
Adding several emergencies to one flight only makes the
training event unrealistic, if not inescapable.

• Since you wouldn’t take on a 50-knot crosswind in your

airplane, don’t do it in your simulator either. There are ways to
bring live weather into your home simulator, and—even if you
don’t use them—you should choose weather settings that
make sense for your training event.

• As a general guideline, limit failures and major weather

events to 20 percent of your simulator sessions and only train
for emergencies that make you a more proficient pilot.

5 Know When to Pause a Flight

The pause button is the most powerful feature of a flight simulator
if you use it correctly. If you find yourself in a situation that you
need to think about, hit the pause button and take a moment.

• As a new instrument pilot, pausing the simulator before you

get to a final approach fix gives you valuable time to brief and
execute it.

• If you are practicing a specific task or maneuver, pausing

allows you to debrief in real-time, rather than waiting for the
flight’s conclusion.

• As you first start training for an emergency, frequent use of

the pause button will help ensure that you are using the
correct flow before you develop muscle memory.

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3/ Private Pilot Training
Flight simulators are ideal for developing muscle memory for private pilot
maneuvers and tasks. Simulators enable you to start, pause, and restart
flights. You can begin a flight, evaluate your strengths and weaknesses,
and immediately adjust the difficulty of the scenario.

Repetition of a maneuver or task on your flight simulator will help you

develop a baseline proficiency. Then, after weeks of training different
maneuvers, you should perform the initial maneuver again. Over time, by
tracking your progress, you can determine if/when a maneuver or task
has become second nature. For critical maneuvers like stalls and steep
turns, this is an effective way for student pilots and new private pilots to
build and maintain their confidence while flying at home.

As the FAA will tell you, ‘overlearned skills’ are useful to pilots when it
matters most. Overlearned skills help pilots automatically identify and
execute the correct procedures. Under stress, skills that are drilled into
the pilot’s psyche tend to persist. These skills help pilots evolve from
“knowing” to “feeling and reacting,” which is critical in the cockpit.

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 Tips for Mastering Maneuvers on a Sim

Aim for a Good Landing

The most common issue for precision landings is overshooting or

undershooting a touchdown target. There are two critical parts to using
an aiming point: refraining from pitching up until that target completely
vanishes from view and having just enough energy to float the correct
distance as you raise the nose further to bleed off your speed before
touch down.

Once you can make that transition consistently, you fine-tune it with
power. The earlier you reduce the throttle to idle, the shorter distance
you’ll float. So if you’re consistently floating too far, reduce power to idle
earlier.

If you’re consistently not floating far enough, you have two choices.
Either reduce power later, even as you begin to raise the nose, or move
the aiming point closer to where you want the wheels to touch down.

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Get Your Personal Spot Right for Steep Turns

The single secret to steep turns is holding the correct spot where the
horizon passes through the glareshield or engine cowling. The only tough
part is that everyone sees this point a bit differently. So, the best thing
you can do is get the angle that looks right to you. Once you get that
dialed in, it’s like magic. You’ll make steep turns every time with altitude
deviations of 30 feet or less. Tip: fixing your bank problems first is critical
to keeping small problems from becoming big ones.

Get Lazier to Master Your Eights

Perhaps the most difficult concept with a lazy eight is that while the pitch
and bank of the aircraft are constantly changing, you should not
constantly move the controls.

What you’ll find is that if you start banking by turning the yoke, and then
hold the yoke steady, the airplane will continue to bank steeper on its
own. You only need to add more yoke twist when the bank stops getting
steeper. The same is true with pitch; pull back on the yoke and then hold
it steady. Only add more backpressure when you need to.

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You’ll need to add more backpressure before you need to add more yoke
twist, so here’s a good tip: start the lazy eight with a little twist of the yoke
and then hold it steady while you focus on pitch. From then on, alternate
between adjusting for changing pitch and adjusting for changing bank,
every few seconds.

Another tip for lazy eights is to just focus on hitting 90-degrees correctly.
If you have your audio turned on, you’ll hear the stall warning horn in the
background. That’s ideal; you should be just a few knots short of a stall
when your nose slices through the horizon.

Nail the low speed as well as the zero pitch and 30 degrees of bank at
just those two points in the maneuver, and the rest of the stuff will start to
fall into place naturally—and you’ll be well on your way to a fantastic lazy
eight.

Private Pilot Scenarios to Fly

A few of our favorite tasks to focus on with a simulator are checklist
usage, radio communications, traffic pattern entries, and practicing solo
cross-country routes. Cross-country scenarios, in particular, are great to
do on your home simulator, as they allow you to practice dead reckoning,
radio calls, avionics familiarization, scans, flows, and checklists over the
course of a flight.

In the FAA Safety Briefing magazine, James Williams suggests that “a

week before a planned trip you can ‘fly’ to your destination virtually,
practice any approaches you might encounter, and even vary the
weather conditions. This activity gives you more experience, even if it’s in
a virtual world. Both a continuous skill improvement plan and specific trip
training are far more practical in the virtual world. You can fly to any
airport in the world with a few mouse clicks in simulation. You can give
yourself more training opportunities in less time.”

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Here are a few adventures that are perfect to practice on a simulator:

1 Prep for Oshkosh (KOSH, Oshkosh, WI)

Get familiar with the Fisk arrival at Oshkosh by flying it in the
simulator before you go. Discover RIPON, Fisk Avenue, and the
railroad tracks on the simulator so that each is easier to find
when you get there. And then test your land-on-the-dot skills by
practicing a stable approach when you’re instructed to land half-
way down the runway.

2 Fly the Hudson River Corridor (EWR or LGA Approach)

Planning to fly the Hudson River Corridor and check it off your
bucket list once and for all? Practice your radio communication
and get familiar with your GPS navigation skills before you go.
Whether you fly the VFR transition or the exclusion, you’ll be
busy on the radios and busy navigating the airspace, too.
Practice navigating with your GPS and steering clear of restricted
airspace while making your required position reports and/or radio
calls to approach.

3 Go Camping Near Aspen (KASE, Aspen, CO)

Whether you’re off on a family camping trip or heading out on a
fishing excursion with your friends, the mountains are calling and
you must go. But don’t load up all your camping gear and friends
and depart for the mountains and canyons without first getting
proficient in mountain flying. You should get specific mountain
flying instruction if it’s your first time, of course, but even pros
should review density altitude and mountain flying proficiency for
the specific airport and weather conditions before going. And if
you can’t go camping? Try out an approach in the simulator to
Aspen on a hot, humid summer day just for fun. Add a summer
afternoon thunderstorm to make it more challenging.
.

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4 Test Your Crosswind Skills at Ocracoke Island (W95,
Ocracoke Island, NC)
Ocracoke Island is a wonderful beach destination to fly into, but
it’s not without challenges for the pilot. It’s a (relatively) short strip
next to the ocean, and it’s surrounded by trees, which means
crosswind and wind shear conditions are common. Take the
opportunity to get into the simulator and practice short field
crosswind landings in bumpy conditions before heading out.

WANT MORE EXERCISES?

Check out the Redbird Private Pilot Training Events Workbook.

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4/ Instrument Training
As an instrument-rated pilot or instrument student, a home flight
simulator can really improve your techniques. Every scenario you fly can
include a different starting and ending point, the use of SIDs, STARs,
towered or non-towered airports; and multiple types of approaches and
holds. Simulators are extremely useful for practicing scan technique, as
well as hold entries and corrections. By the time you get in the plane,
you will be far more equipped to handle the variables of real-world IFR
flying.

In the FAA Safety Briefing magazine, Susan Parson offers a few

important ways that appropriate use of simulation can enhance your IFR
navigation skills:

“First is mastery of onboard navigation devices, both handheld and

installed equipment. Fully understanding both the “knobology” (i.e., the
mechanical operating scheme) and the content organizational scheme of
your navigation equipment is important for any kind of flying, but it is
absolutely critical to safe instrument flying. Reading the manual is always
an option, but the desktop- or tablet-based navigation simulators most
manufacturers offer for their products are usually more engaging — and
thus generally more effective than just reading the operating manual.

To get the most from this kind of simulation, either work from the
exercises the manufacturer’s manual suggests, or use your own flight
plan to master all the basic data entry and content management skills
necessary for IFR navigation.

Once you have mastered the basics of your boxes, simulation provides a
time-and cost-effective way for you to learn (or practice) both the
fundamental principles of IFR navigation and approach procedures, and
to master the mechanical procedures required to execute them with your
onboard navigational devices.

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Before you fly, use simulation • IFR flight plan
devices or apps to ensure you • SIDs and STARs
know how to enter, edit, and • All types of instrument
navigate the following instrument approach procedures (e.g.,
procedures. RNAV(GPS) to LPV, LP, and
LNAV minima; ILS, VOR,
VOR/DME)
• Holding patterns (both
published and randomly
assigned)

Familiarity with the airport environment is perhaps even more important

in IFR flying than in VFR operation. In addition to “flying” the final
approach and landing with your fingertips, map the missed approach
point and the missed approach procedure on your favorite flight planning
app and, add layers that let you see terrain and obstacles. Use the 2D
and 3D options in the Google Earth app to zoom in even further, and
make sure you know exactly where terrain and obstacles lie in relation to
the MAP route you expect to fly.”

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 Instrument Approaches to Fly
Here are some challenging instrument approaches that we like to
practice on flight simulators.

1 VOR-A into Culpepper Regional Airport (KCJR)

The VOR-A approach is a good warm up. The Culpepper VOR is
always very busy serving arrivals into Dulles Airport, so if you
have someone flying with you, he/she can have some fun with
busy radio communications and/or stacking you in a hold at the
IAF. The real test is flying in IMC to minimums, getting down to
the MDA, and then making a decision on how you will approach
the runway for the circle to land.

2 VOR/DME RWY 15 into Martin State Airport (KMTN)

This approach gives you some great practice with arcs – the
entire approach is an arc, then execute the missed approach,
another arc to the hold.

3 LOC/DME-E into Aspen-Pitkin County Airport (KASE)

As you can tell, we like the challenge this airport presents, and—
this approach, in particular—has a well-deserved reputation for
its challenge. You fly near some serious mountain terrain and
have to stay ahead of the numerous step-down fixes. When it’s
time to go missed, you’ll track a localizer back course with correct
sensing!

4 Any of the Instrument Approaches into Martha’s Vineyard

(KMVY)
Haze and fog are common flying into Martha’s Vineyard, and if
you’re not instrument proficient, you may not get into the airport
at all. Flying to MVY offers a perfect opportunity to brush up on
your over-water instrument flying. Challenge yourself to fly
approaches to minimums on the simulator. At night. In the fog.

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5/ Instrument Currency
After the June 2018 Final Ruling in favor of NPRM FAA-2016-6142-0001,
maintaining instrument currency using an Aviation Training Device (ATD)
is easier than ever. As of November 26, 2018, the new regulations allow
instrument-rated pilots to maintain currency on an ATD if—within six
calendar months (instead of two)—they perform the same tasks that are
currently required for a plane. The three extra hours of instrument time
and the unusual attitude tasks are no longer required. The requirement
to have a CFII present also has been removed.

Now, to stay current using an ATD, you simply need to perform the
following tasks within six calendar months:

• Six instrument approaches

• Holding procedures and tasks

• Intercepting and tracking courses through the use of navigational

electronic systems

If you have a Basic Aviation Training Device (BATD), you easily can
maintain your instrument currency from the comfort of your home. Don’t
forget: rudder pedals are required to log your time. It doesn’t matter
whether you have cheap plastic pedals or high-quality metal pedals, but
the FAA requires rudders to log your time and maintain your currency.

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6/ Emergency Training
As previously mentioned, we suggest limiting failures and major weather
events to 20 percent of your simulator sessions. It’s tempting to
challenge yourself frequently with emergency scenarios, but you
shouldn’t do it at the expense of ignoring regular tasks and maneuvers
that you perform every time you’re in the aircraft. That said, given the
controlled environment that your home flight simulator provides, the time
that you do spend training for emergencies can be extremely effective.

Many training organizations tend to emphasize a few emergencies that

the FAA uses to test new pilots, namely engine failures, cockpit fires, and
alternator failures. A flight instructor will make sure that you can obtain
the best glide speed for the aircraft, determine a good place for an off-
field landing, and that you have the Forced Landing checklist
memorized. Of course, these are important tasks to practice, but actual
engine failures are a small fraction of real-world accidents. The main
reasons that engines fail are fuel starvation and fuel mismanagement—
scenarios that often don’t receive as much attention as they should.

Emergencies that commonly occur in light aircraft are often ones that
would be impossible or hazardous to practice in the airplane itself, which
is even more reason to utilize a simulator.

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Here are a few emergency situations that can be difficult to simulate in
the actual airplane, but when practiced in a simulator, can better prepare
you for real-world situations.

For Primary Students/Private For Instrument

Pilots Students/Instrument-Rated Pilots

• An engine failure after takeoff • Lost communications

• VFR into IMC • Vacuum or pitot-static failure

• High-altitude operations, • Engine failure in IMC

including witnessing the
increased takeoff roll and • Icing
landing at a higher true airspeed

• High headwinds/low fuel

situations

• Spin training

• Aborted takeoff

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 8 VFR Emergencies Perfect for the Sim
Flight instructors have been using simulators to augment instrument flight
training for decades, but few use the sim for more than a basic
procedures trainer when it comes to teaching VFR students and
techniques.

These instructors are missing out. And so are their students. “You’re
limited only by your imagination of what could go wrong,” says Michael
Phillips of Aviation Simulator Training in Camarillo, CA. “It keeps it
interesting for you and your student.”

Here are eight VFR scenarios Phillips routinely uses to improve

preparedness and sharpen skills of student pilots and high-time fliers
alike.

1 Get Trapped Above a Cloud Layer on a VFR Flight

Phillips does this with every pre-solo student. They must call
(simulated) ATC, declare an emergency, and get talked down
through the clouds to VFR below. Not only is it a sphincter-
tightening experience to say the “e-word” in anything resembling
an airplane, it might be lifesaving some day. If you’re an
instrument-rated pilot, make it a pop-up clearance to a low-IFR
approach.

2 Temperature set to 35º C and Positioned on a Runway at a

High-Altitude Airport
Flatland pilots rarely appreciate the complexities and planning
required to fly at high-density altitude. The beauty of doing this in
a sim is you can fail repeatedly, yet get a bit further each time.

3 Pop-Up Thunderstorms en Route to a Coastal Destination

This tests multiple skills at once and works best if simulated ATC
is incorporated to discuss diversions. It also helps if real
thunderstorms are in the area and you can use in-flight weather
with an iPad.

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4 Alternator Failure at Night
It’s a more challenging twist on a familiar scenario. Start with a
choice of a closer airport with poorer light and services and a
farther airport with better lighting and service, but one that’s
potentially out of battery range without serious load shedding.

5 Catastrophic Failure of all Instruments Except the Compass

It’s impractical in terms of likelihood, but very practical in terms of
training effectiveness. In today’s GPS-dependent world, old-
fashioned navigation is practically a lost art. Toss in a setting sun
to up the ante.

6 Low Oil Pressure Over a Congested Metropolitan Area

Decision-making at its finest. Set an engine failure to occur at
random to make it more challenging.

7 Engine Failure After Takeoff

As previously mentioned, this is a great exercise for the
simulator, as it combines procedural practice (pre-takeoff briefing)
with immediate application. Failing the engine at different
altitudes necessitates different responses. You also can try the
turn back to the departure runway and see what happens. Once
you have the basics, experimenting with how strong winds,
obstacles, or crossing runways can change the pre-takeoff plan
makes this a valuable life lesson.

8 Pitot-Static Failure During a Climb

We’re surprisingly dependent on this simple, vulnerable system.
You can increase the difficulty by turning on the nighttime so
visual confirmation of altitude vanishes or seeing how strong
winds effect substituting GPS groundspeed for the missing
airspeed.

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7/ ATC
Communications
ATC services amplify the realism and training efficacy of home flight
simulators, especially for instrument-rated pilots. Luckily, with advances
in technology, there are several resources to help you simulate ATC
communications at home. Here are a few of the most popular options.

VATSIM PilotEdge

VATSIM is a free, online platform PilotEdge provides professional

to try. It allows virtual pilots, air traffic control for flight
wherever they reside, to connect simulators. For $19.95 per month,
their flight simulators into a you can work with live air traffic
shared virtual world with live ATC. controllers 15 hours a day and
Controllers on VATSIM do not engage your “flying brain” from
have to be professionally trained. home. PilotEdge allows you to
see other aircraft and hear other
pilots on the radio.

Adding ATC communications to your home flight simulator training is

extremely useful when you’re practicing tasks such as flying to unfamiliar
airports or in unfamiliar airspace, working through emergency checklists
while communicating with ATC, planning and flying cross-country routes,
cockpit resource management, and more.

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8/ Cleaning Your
Simulator
Even if you are using a simulator in isolation, you should occasionally
clean and disinfect the device to prevent residue from building up and to
reduce your risk of contracting any diseases.

The following tips will help you clean your flight simulator thoroughly and
effectively, without damaging any of the circuitry or controls. We focused
on directions for cleaning the acrylic instrument panels found on our
FAA-approved Aviation Training Devices, as the panels both are more
complex to clean and frequently touched during a simulator session.
That said, these tips will assist you in cleaning all the hardware
components of your flight simulator, including the yoke(s), throttle
quadrant, and monitor(s).

• Always use a premium microfiber cloth (nonabrasive and lint-free).

• Never apply or spray any chemicals directly onto the acrylic panel, or
directly onto or near the circuit boards. If you expose the panel to too
much moisture, then you risk causing long-term damage.

• Only use nonabrasive, non-acidic, non-ammonia detergents. To find

viable options, research "clear acrylic cleaning supplies.“

• Lightly spray the detergent directly onto the cleaning cloth. Do not dip
the cloth in the solution or detergent.

• Use the lightly damp cloth to clean the acrylic and immediately dry it
with a dry cloth.

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• Lightly dampen premium cotton swabs in isopropyl alcohol to remove
dust, grime, and fingerprints from hard-to-reach places between the
buttons and knobs. Immediately dry with a dry cloth. Use gently to
avoid leaving any lint in hard-to-reach places. Make sure all residue
is removed to prevent buttons and knobs from gumming up.

• If you overspray or spill on the acrylic, use a handheld dryer on low

heat to dry the surface. Keep the dryer at a safe distance to avoid
overheating the components.

• Never connect a damp or wet acrylic to your flight simulator. Wait

until the panel is completely dry to plug it into your system.

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9/ About Redbird
Redbird Flight Simulations of Austin, TX was established in 2006 with the
specific purpose of making aviation more accessible by using modern
technology and careful engineering.

Since its inception, Redbird has delivered innovative, reliable, and high-
quality training devices to flight schools, colleges, universities, K-12
schools, and individual pilots around the world. With more than 2,000
devices in service worldwide, Redbird has quickly become the fastest
growing and most innovative simulator provider in the industry. For more
information, please visit www.redbirdflight.com.

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