This glossary is written for virtual airline and flight simulation use within Virtual Air Canada Airline. It is not intended as a real-world aviation reference.
SIM
Simulator
In aviation, a simulator is a device that replicates the experience of operating an aircraft for training, evaluation, or research purposes. At the highest level, Full Flight Simulators (FFS) are motion-platform enclosures with a complete replica cockpit, visual system, and aerodynamic model certified to regulatory standards. These devices are used by airlines and training organisations to qualify pilots for type ratings, conduct recurrent checks, and practise emergency and abnormal procedures without any safety risk. Below the FFS, Fixed Training Devices (FTDs) and Flight Training Devices (FTDs) provide varying degrees of fidelity for procedural and instrument training.
Simulator sessions are a mandatory component of airline pilot training and recurrency requirements in most regulatory frameworks. Pilots must complete initial type rating training, line-oriented flight training (LOFT), and periodic proficiency checks in approved simulators. The high fidelity of modern FFS devices - including realistic weather, systems failures, and aircraft performance - means that much of what a pilot encounters in a real aircraft will already be familiar from simulator training. Simulator hours are logged separately from actual flight hours but carry significant weight in a pilot’s training record.