One of the hardest things for many new pilots to overcome is their fear of dealing with air traffic control, and a new simulation system aims to offer a real-time ATC experience in the simulator. PilotEdge uses live controllers synced with pilots flying in simulators to give a real-world experience without all the expense of actually flying. “Becoming comfortable with ATC is not necessarily that difficult but it can be expensive,” Smith said. Because the other pilots and the controllers are live, the interaction and consequences of incorrect interaction are also real.
However, because it is after all an artificial environment, the consequences are less severe and the tone of the controllers is a little different. “It’s more of a nurturing environment,” Smith said. Flight schools have been among the early adopters of the technology but there are plenty of individuals who have also signed on to brush up on or learn ATC skills.
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