Volume 25: Flight Simulator Instructor
Checklists! Training Pilots for Precision and Safety
✈️Introduction
Every time you settle into your seat on a commercial flight, you’re trusting the skills of the pilots in the cockpit. What many passengers don’t realize is that those skills are grounded in one of aviation’s most powerful safety tools: the checklist.
From engine start to emergency shutdown, nothing in aviation happens without running a checklist. And behind every checklist run in the simulator is a flight simulator instructor who trains pilots not only to follow the steps, but also to understand why they matter. Their role is often invisible to the public, but it is absolutely essential to aviation safety.
👨🏫What a Flight Simulator Instructor Does
At its heart, the job of a flight simulator instructor is about preparing pilots for situations they might never face, but must be ready for if they do.
Initial Qualification: Helping pilots transition onto a new aircraft type, whether that’s an Airbus A320, a Boeing 737, or a Gulfstream business jet.
Recurrent Training: Running the mandatory flight review checks that every professional pilot must pass in order to stay current.
Scenario Mastery: Presenting abnormal and emergency situations, engine fires, hydraulic failures, rejected takeoffs, and rapid depressurizations in a safe but realistic environment.
Evaluation: Observing, grading, and debriefing pilots with detailed feedback.
Operating the Simulator: Managing some of the most advanced machines in aviation, including:
Full Flight Simulators (FFS) with full-motion and wrap-around visuals.
Fixed Base Trainers (FBT) cockpits without motion, but perfect for procedures.
VR and next-gen trainers are increasingly used by regional airlines and universities.
The instructor’s cockpit may be virtual, but the skills they build are very real.
📝CRM, Checklists, and the Discipline of the Cockpit
One of the most important lessons flight simulator instructors teach is the discipline of using checklists within a Crew Resource Management (CRM) framework.
Checklists as Lifelines: They remove doubt, prevent oversight, and standardize every action in the cockpit. Instructors constantly drill their use so that, in high-stress scenarios, crews don’t rely solely on memory.
CRM in Action: It’s not just about flipping switches; it’s about how pilots communicate, verify, and cross-check. Instructors emphasize sterile cockpit procedures, where non-essential conversation stops during critical phases of flight.
Delta Air Lines Flight 1141 (1988): A stark reminder of what happens when checklists and CRM are neglected. The crew failed to set flaps and slats before takeoff, distracted by casual conversation in the cockpit. The aircraft crashed shortly after liftoff from Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, killing 14. The NTSB cited checklist discipline and sterile cockpit violations as key factors.
Simulator Training Today: Following accidents like Flight 1141, instructors now create scenarios specifically designed to reinforce checklist use under pressure. Pilots must demonstrate not only technical skill but also communication discipline. i.e., one pilot reads, the other verifies, and nothing interrupts the process.
In short, flight simulator instructors are guardians not just of flying skills, but of cockpit culture. They ensure that every checklist is followed, every communication is clear, and every crew leaves the simulator prepared to work as a disciplined team.
🛡️Impact on Pilots and Aviation Safety
Simulators provide pilots with the opportunity to practice the unimaginable: a double-engine failure, volcanic ash ingestion, or a microburst during approach. These scenarios can’t be safely reproduced in the real world.
The impact is profound:
Muscle memory: Pilots rehearse emergency checklists until they’re automatic.
Judgment: Instructors guide decision-making under pressure.
Consistency: Crews worldwide train to the same ICAO standards.
Confidence: Pilots who have faced chaos in the simulator walk into the cockpit ready for anything.
After the Boeing 737 MAX grounding, for example, simulator instructors played a central role in retraining pilots on new procedures, serving as a vivid reminder of their importance to aviation safety.
📋From Accident to Training Scenario
When tragedy strikes, flight simulator instructors become the frontline implementers of change.
Investigators (NTSB, TSB, BEA) issue findings.
Regulators (FAA, Transport Canada, EASA) mandate new training requirements.
Airlines and training providers adapt their programs.
Flight simulator instructors are the ones who bring those changes to life. They test new modules, evaluate whether scenarios feel realistic, and provide feedback that refines both the simulator and the training itself.
Examples:
Following the Air France 447 crash (2009), stall recognition and recovery training were overhauled worldwide.
Following the US Airways 1549 incident (Hudson River, 2009), bird-strike and dual-engine failure drills were added to the programs.
Following the 737 MAX crashes, instructors validated Boeing’s software fixes and trained pilots on how to manage MCAS failures.
They may not sit at the NTSB table, but without instructors, those hard-won safety lessons would never be put into practice.
🎓Qualifications and Certifications
Flight simulator instructors are not hobbyists. They are licensed pilots who bring their flight skills and experience into the classroom.
Pilot Licenses:
Minimum: Commercial Pilot License (CPL).
Preferred: Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate.
Type Ratings: Instructors must hold the type rating for the aircraft they’re teaching (A320, B737, B787, etc.).
Instructor Credentials:
FAA: Check Airman, LOFT Instructor, or Simulator Instructor authorizations.
Transport Canada: Flight Simulator Instructor Authorization.
EASA: TRI (Type Rating Instructor) and SFI (Synthetic Flight Instructor).
Experience: Thousands of flight hours are common, with many instructors being retired or semi-retired airline captains.
Soft Skills: Clear communication, coaching, and the ability to train pilots ranging from ab-initio cadets to 20,000-hour captains.
This video illustrates that a commercial pilot’s career is not over when they reach age 65.
🌍Where They Work
The demand for simulator instructors is global. They work in:
Airline training centers: Delta at Atlanta, United at Denver, Lufthansa at Frankfurt, Emirates at Dubai.
Independent providers: CAE at Montreal HQ & worldwide, FlightSafety International at Wichita, L3Harris in UK/US.
Military programs: U.S. Air Force, NATO, Lockheed Martin training contracts.
Universities and colleges: Embry-Riddle in the U.S., Seneca College in Canada, Oxford Aviation Academy in the UK.
Wherever there are pilots, there are instructors guiding them through simulators.
This video provides guidance on where to find flight simulator instructor job opportunities.
✈️Beyond the Airlines: Non-Commercial Pilot Training
Not every flight simulator instructor trains airline crews. Their work also extends into:
General Aviation & Flight Schools: Ab-initio students log hours in certified training devices toward private and instrument ratings.
Business & Corporate Aviation: Pilots flying Gulfstreams, Challengers, and Falcons undergo recurrent training at centers like FlightSafety and CAE.
Helicopter Operations: EMS, offshore oil, and police helicopter crews train with instructors for autorotations, NVG operations, and confined-area landings.
Military Aviation: Combat simulators are among the most advanced in the world; many instructors transition into civilian roles after service.
Flight Clubs & Universities: Redbird, Elite, and desktop trainers supplement real-world flying — with instructors using them to cut costs and reinforce fundamentals.
In short, simulator instructors shape the skills of all kinds of pilots, from private flyers to fast-jet captains.
💵Compensation in North America
While pay varies by employer and aircraft type, typical ranges are:
Full-time airline or training center instructors: USD $70,000–$120,000.
Senior captains with multiple type ratings: Up to $150,000+.
Contract/part-time instructors: $50–$150/hour.
It’s a role often chosen by pilots nearing retirement — or those seeking stability and a teaching-oriented career after years of line flying.
🔧Career Pathways
For many, simulator instruction is a natural progression.
Retiring captains can stay active in aviation without the physical demands of line flying.
Instructors may advance to Chief Instructor or Training Manager roles.
Some move laterally between airlines, corporate operators, and military contractors.
With the global pilot shortage, demand for instructors is only expected to grow.
✈️ Sidebar: Who Else Benefits from Simulator Training Besides Pilots?
Although simulators are primarily for pilots, others in aviation also benefit:
Mechanics: Gain cockpit perspective through familiarization sessions.
Dispatchers: Observe simulator flights to appreciate workload during reroutes and weather diversions.
Cabin Crew: Participate in joint emergency scenarios that link the cockpit and cabin.
ATC Trainees (rare but growing): Some programs let them interact with simulator pilots in complex traffic scenarios.
👉 Breaking down silos helps everyone understand how their piece of the puzzle affects safety.
This video provides another glimpse into the role of a flight simulator instructor.
Conclusion – Building Safer Skies 🌟
Flight simulator instructors are the unseen mentors of aviation. They don’t carry passengers, but they prepare those who do. They implement lessons learned from tragedies, shape pilots into professionals, and increasingly serve as bridges between the silos of the aviation industry.
The next time you hear about pilots handling an emergency with calm precision, remember: somewhere in a simulator, under the guidance of an instructor, they’ve already been there — and lived to tell the tale.
✈️ Stay curious!
Rob Kennedy
AvGeek in Residence
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LM Notebook generated a video version of this article for you.
Editor’s Note: I write the articles on AvGeek in Residence in collaboration with ChatGPT. This wonderful AI tool functions as my research assistant, my editor, and my brainstorming partner. ~ Rob Kennedy