Using Microsoft Flight Simulator

I'm a fan of the effectiveness of using Microsoft Flight Simulator to practice instrument flying. Several years ago, having done little flying for five or so years, none instrument, I was able to jump into a plane and pass an IPC with flying colors. This was only because I had got back into the flying with Flight Simulator.

Instrument flying is mostly about routine and following procedures. From my experience, I don't think it matters much whether you're sitting in plane or at a computer desk when you practice those procedures. And you can bet that a computer flyings much more cheaply that an airplane.

There's also a great time savings. You can position a computer airplane where you need it to be, allowing you to practice the important parts multiple times without having to ride back to the initial or where ever it is you want to start from. You also have control over the weather, forcing you to fly with approach to minimums without the possibility of cheating. While you're at it, might as well practice some partial panel.

If you use Flight Simulator too, this short survey will help researchers determine its effectiveness:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=kVYUSBaAfMpBkGxO1KgTdA%3d%3d