Weather
Build the Conditions You Want to Practice
Weather settings turn a basic simulator flight into a focused training session.
Weather Controls
| Setting | What it changes | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Time of Day | Dawn, day, dusk, or night visuals. | Use night for night scan and lighting practice. |
| Visibility | How far you can see. | Lower it for instrument work or marginal VFR decision-making. |
| Wind | Direction, speed, and gusts. | Use crosswind to practice centerline control and stabilized approaches. |
| Turbulence | Aircraft movement and workload. | Add light/moderate turbulence after the basic procedure is comfortable. |
| Cloud Coverage/Base | Cloud amount and altitude. | Use overcast and a low base for IFR approach practice. |
| Rain/Snow | Precipitation type and rate. | Add only when it supports the training objective. |
Example Scenarios
First Pattern Flight
Day, 10 miles visibility, wind calm, no turbulence, clear skies, runway start.
Crosswind Landings
Day, 10 miles visibility, wind 30 to 60 degrees off runway heading at 10 knots, light gusts optional.
IFR Approach in 500-Foot Ceilings
Choose the destination airport, load the approach, set overcast cloud base near 500 feet AGL/appropriate MSL value, reduce visibility, and start outside the initial approach fix or vectors-to-final area.
Missed Approach Practice
Set low visibility and clouds below minimums. Fly the approach to DA/MDA, then execute the published missed approach.
Instructor Tip
Change one variable at a time. If you add night, gusty wind, turbulence, and low visibility all at once, it becomes harder to learn from the result.
