Advanced Flight Simulation Lab in Sarasota
Cirrus Aviation's Flight Simulator Lab provides pilots with access to advanced, FAA-approved simulation technology designed to enhance proficiency, safety, and training efficiency.
What Is the Flight Simulator Lab
The Flight Simulator Lab is a dedicated training space equipped with modern aviation simulators that replicate aircraft systems, avionics, and flight environments with a high level of realism. These simulators allow students to practice maneuvers, procedures, and scenarios that may be impractical, unsafe, or inefficient to conduct exclusively in an aircraft.
Simulator training complements in-aircraft instruction by allowing repeated practice of instrument procedures, emergency situations, and advanced flight profiles. This approach improves knowledge retention, enhances situational awareness, and supports a more cost-effective and structured training experience.
A Revolution in Flight Training
Flight simulators have played a major role in military and airline flight training for decades. Now, thanks to recent advancements in flight simulation technology and the amazing work of companies like Alsim, that same quality and realism is available for training General Aviation pilots.
What's more, the FAA allows pilots to count some training in these "Advanced Training Devices" toward flight certifications. Using these advanced technologies, Cirrus Aviation has built an on-premises "Flight Simulation Lab" with a way to integrate flight simulators into primary flight training. The results are a game-changer. Students are not only showing a markedly better mastery of flight maneuvers and procedures, they're learning faster.
Say It, Sim It, Fly It
To help easily explain how Cirrus Aviation incorporates flight simulation into the training curriculum, we've coined the phrase: "Say It, Sim It, Fly It". Flight students begin by learning the fundamental concepts of a maneuver, and then demonstrate basic understanding by explaining it to their instructor.
From there, the lesson moves on to the Flight Simulation Lab, where the student learns to fly the maneuver in the simulator. What's the advantage? These high-realism flight simulators allow the student to experience what it will be like in the airplane, yet in a totally-controlled environment. Imagine being able to "push pause" at any moment in the flight to ask a question or point out an observation, or to immediately transition straight from start up to the maneuver without having to taxi, takeoff, and fly out to the proper practice area and altitude.
Bottom line, the flight simulator allows you to learn more in 15 minutes than you could in an hour of actual flight time. Finally, having learned the maneuver in the flight simulator, the student flies the lesson in the airplane, demonstrating the mastery they learned from their preparation on the ground.
Master Maneuvers in Our State-of-the-Art AATD Simulators
The Flight Simulator Lab is an essential component of Cirrus Aviation's modern training environment, offering students the opportunity to build skills efficiently and confidently. Whether you are pursuing a professional pilot career, working toward an advanced rating, or refining specific competencies, simulator training provides measurable benefits at every stage.
Prospective and current students are invited to explore how simulator-based training can support their goals. Our team is available to answer questions, explain training applications, and help schedule simulator sessions that align with your training plan.