User Guide

Flight Simulator
20002000
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2000
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Microsoft
Whether attracted to the technology, the speed, or
the simple beauty of the sky, all pilots share a
passion for what they do. They climb up the
aviation ladder one step at a time, increasing and
improving their skills along the way. They study
hard, spend many hours getting instruction and
building flight time, and pass knowledge and
practical examinations to mark their progress.
A similar systematic approach will help you build
your skills as a Microsoft
®
Flight Simulator 2000
pilot. You’re free, of course, to explore the
simulation on your own. But if you really want to
learn to fly in Flight Simulator, read on. First we’ll
take a look at the training real-world pilots
receive. Then we’ll present a step-by-step course
you can follow to work your way up the ranks
from zero experience to the cockpit of a Flight
Simulator jet.
Getting Certified In the
Real World
Requirements for pilot certification vary from
country to country, but the training is similar no
matter where you are. In this section, we’ll
examine the typical career path a pilot takes in
the United States. The Federal Aviation Regula-
tions concerning pilot certification are quite
detailed. What follows is a simplified overview.
Private Pilot Certificate
Becoming a private pilot is the first step in an
aviation career, and one many pilots never go
beyond. Although it’s possible to get a Private
Pilot Certificate in a multi-engine airplane,
seaplane, glider, helicopter, balloon, blimp, or
gyroplane, most students do their initial training
in a single-engine, land-based airplane.
In ground school, a pilot-to-be learns about
regulations, navigation, radio communication,
weather, aircraft operation and performance,
aerodynamics, aircraft systems, emergency
procedures, and decision-making.
In flight training, the work focuses on acquiring
basic skills: preflight preparation and procedures,
airport operations, flight maneuvers, navigation,
basic instrument maneuvers, emergency opera-
tions, night operations, and post-flight proce-
dures. A typical student spends 20 to 30 hours
flying dual with an instructor, and practices his or
her skills by flying solo for another 20 hours or so.
To get the Private Pilot Certificate, the student
must pass a simple medical examination, a
computerized knowledge test, and oral and flight
examinations given by an examiner designated by
the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
While some private pilots use an airplane as a
means to the end of personal or business
transportation, most fly just for the fun of it.
Private pilots can take their family and friends
flying during the day or at night. Without an
Instrument Rating (described below) private pilots
can fly only when they can stay out of the clouds
and when the visibility is good enough to see
other aircraft and the ground. While private pilots
can share expenses with their passengers, they
can’t be paid for their flying. The Private Pilot
Certificate has its limitations to be sure, but for
thousands of recreational aviators, it’s all they
need to have fun on the weekends or to get from
here to there quickly and in style.
Instrument Rating
For private pilots who are tired of being stuck on
the ground when the weather’s bad, or for those
pilots with career aspirations, the next logical step