Flight simulators have gained acceptance as excellent tools to practice emergency and instrument procedures, but little progress has been made in simulating the critical interaction between pilots and Air Traffic Control — until now. PilotEdge is a new online service that redefines your simulator experience, allowing you to work with ATC over the radio, all the while seeing and hearing other online aircraft.
Time and money make it hard to stay proficient, and until now, simulators just haven’t been able to replicate the experience of flying “in the system.” PilotEdge helps you stay on top of your game, getting you in the air and shooting approaches in less time that it takes most people to even get to an airport, according to company officials.
The included software connects the pilots’ simulators to the PilotEdge network. Controllers use custom ATC radar software, and the voice system mirrors real world operations of VHF radio, so pilots only hear nearby transmissions that are on the same frequency. Pilots simply need a headset, a compatible flight simulator, and a network connection.
Commercial simulator operators will soon be offering access to the same network from their training devices. Precision Flight Controls, a leading simulator manufacturer in Mather, Calif., is the first company to integrate PilotEdge into its equipment. Pilots will be able to try the service first hand at the AOPA Aviation Summit, which kicks off Nov. 11 in Long Beach, Calif. Precision Flight Controls will be showing off its five-screen, motion-enabled Modular Flight Deck loaded with PilotEdge service and will allow pilots to take a quick VFR or IFR hop around Long Beach under the watchful eye of ATC.
For more information: PilotEdge.net, FlyPFC.com
