Precision Pilot

Introduction

“Precision Pilot” by “The Associates” is a navigation trainer. In other words, it includes tutorials and training exercises, which teach the user how to use various aircraft instruments, how to navigate using navigational fixes, how to land using an ILS approach, and more.

It is a stand-alone product, meaning it does not require any flight simulator to be installed on your computer.

Precision Pilot includes many tutorials. Among them are:

1. How to use the EFIS or OBI instruments.
2. How to track a VOR or an ILS.
3. How to calculate wind drift headings.
4. How to execute radial interceptions at various degrees.
5. How to enter a holding pattern.

And more.

The program does not come with a lot of documentation. It only includes some general information, installation instructions, and how to get started. This is really all that is needed. The program is very user friendly and has an easy to use interface.

Installing the program was no problem at all, quick and efficient.

The minimum requirements, according to the box are:

1. Windows 95/98/NT4/2000
2. Pentium 166
3. CD-ROM drive
4. 8 MB of RAM
5. Video Card and monitor with minimum 800x600 screen resolution and 16-bit color.
6. 15MB of hard disk space

The requirements really aren’t that harsh, however a 1024x768 resolution video card with 24-bit colors is recommended. Regarding the resolution, I believe that this is very important. The tutorials open many windows simultaneously, including the text, the animation, the instruments, and other data. Therefore, lower resolutions might result in less discernable text.

This is what the program is really about. It tries to answer questions such as "What is an OBI?" or "How do I track an ILS?". These are questions that many flight simmers ask themselves, usually while they're still “beginners”. However, the program includes tutorials which advanced users might find useful as well. Even if you know all of the procedures and instruments, this program might help you perfect them.

All of the tutorials are well explained, and usually include an animation, which helps clarify the explanation even further. For example, the tutorial on Radial Interception includes an animation of an aircraft intercepting a VOR. The animation includes a window with the RMI and OBI, which shows what the instruments should read while executing the interception. This is indeed very helpful in understanding how to perform the interception more accurately.

The program includes a Practice Option. One can practice a certain tutorial by controlling a small airplane using a very simple control interface (viewing the airplane and its surroundings from above). This is a nice exercise, but in my opinion, real practice for perfecting skills can come only from the flight simulator itself.

I found the program to be useful for both novice and advanced flight simmers. Novice users can use it to learn how to use some of the cockpit instruments, how to perform certain procedures and even how to read approach plates. Advanced users can use the program to help perfect their skills, and fill in any gaps of knowledge they may have in the terms mentioned above.

One must keep in mind though, that this program includes a lot of written tutorials. The user should therefore know English at a good level (I am not sure if this product exists in other languages), and be able to dedicate several hours to learning the tutorials. Novice flight simmers who consider buying this program, should be sure they're serious enough about flight simming to sit and read for at least a few hours.