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Flight Simulators

There are two main reasons why General Aviation pilots use a simulator: for Proficiency and for logging training experience towards FAA requirements.

Proficiency

This practice is for pilots who want to stay sharp for their own satisfaction and confidence in their flight skills, rather than just logging official flight hours.

Home setups can work well for this, as long as they’re used correctly and the pilot understands their limitations. The main benefits of proficiency simulators are convenience and cost-effectiveness.

Equipment required: The A-SIM

I have a Proficiency Flight Simulator in my home office. I call it the A-SIM.

Besides my personal use, I provide unofficial instruction and coaching. Although this type of training cannot be logged, it saves my learners a lot of money and helps them get the most valuable flight experience out of their formal training.

By the time my learners move on to FAA approved simulators and/or actual flight training, they are well-prepared to handle the demands of actual flight, with a solid foundation of knowledge and practical skills, which they first acquired in my A-SIM.

How much does it cost to rent the A-SIM?

The A-SIM is not for rent. But its use is included in my hourly rates. We even use it in the classroom a as a visual aid, only when it is pertinent to the subjects being covered in Ground School.

Where is the A-SIM located?

The A-Sim travels with me to deliver classroom instruction to my students at their home airport or study facilities. Face 2 Face, on-site hourly rates apply.

The experience with the A-SIM is most vivid in my home office near Sunset Blvd in Los Angeles, across the street from the UCLA campus. Learners are welcome to make an appointment and drop by. hourly rates for instruction at Chuck’s home office apply.


Out of town learners can also benefit from the A-SIM in “multiplayer” mode, or by video-conference. My computer runs FSX-SE, MSFS, XP11 and XP12, and is capable of sustained video-conference while maintaining flight. For instructional and/or simulator coaching services online, the hourly rates for video-conference apply.

Getting YOUR home simulator up and running

I’m always happy to assist with setting up home simulators. I have experience with choosing and using third-party plugins and services to make your simulator experience more representative of reality and to help you achieve your goals. I can assist in person or via video-conference, and the appropriate hourly rates apply.

Logging experience

The second reason is to meet FAA experience requirements for certification or recency.
In this case, the simulator needs to be FAA-approved. The learner needs to rent the equipment to gain access to the facility and additionally bring an instructor who will log the practice and sign their logbook, endorsing the achievement of the learning outcomes.
Equipment rental fees are separate from the instructor’s Face 2 Face, on-site hourly rates.

Equipment required: an FAA Approved Sim

– At KCMA, Camarillo, my favorite resource is Michael Philips’ Simulator Training Center. Michael is my mentor and good friend. His guidance has been instrumental in helping me continuously improve my instruction delivery skills. While he should be your top choice, I am also available to provide simulator training in his Redbird MCX. This versatile AATD with 260° of visual, control loading, dual axis Autopilot with HSI and WAAS can be configured to re-create experinece in the C182 G1000, C182 with steam gauges and G530W, BE36 Bonanza, and BE58 Baron.
To work with me, feel free to schedule directly via SMS.


The learner arranges the rental of the equipment in the facility of their choice.
The following offer Full-motion flight simulators for rental by the hour.

– At KCCB, Upland, I have access to DCflightsimulation. Ask them about their monthly subscription plan and schedule with me by SMS.

– At The San Fernando Valley, KVNY, there are several options. Ask me directly.

Not all 25 hrs need to be instructor led. Depending on the learner’s progress and goals, part of the 25 hrs in the plan may be assigned to the learner on their own, as self-guided practice, with the learner expected to show improvement in our next session. While this solo practice will not incur an instructor’s fee, it also can’t be logged.

Minimum booking:
2.5 hours, including pre-flight briefing, a 2 hr simulator session, and the post-flight briefing.

Purpose: Seeking certification

Regulations allow for certificate applicants to log a certain amount of simulator time towards the flight experience required for the certification practical test. The following are the times allowed by regulations when applying under parts 61 and 141.

Purpose: Currency

 

As for Instrument Rated pilots, at any day in which they want to be able to start a flight under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), according to 14 CFR 61.57(c)(1), they need to have performed and logged within the 6 calendar months prior the following tasks, under actual or simulated Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC):

– 6 instrument approaches
– holding procedures and tasks
– intercepting and tracking courses through the use of navigational electronic systems



According to 14 CFR 61.57(c)(2), these tasks can be performed in a Flight Simulator that is approved by the FAA, as long as it is configured to represent Instrument Weather Conditions (IMC) and the appropriate aircraft for which the pilot is rated, except gliders.