What to Expect at Your First Flight Simulator Lesson

What Happens During the Pre-Flight Briefing?

Every lesson at Aviator.NYC starts with a 30-minute briefing before you touch the simulator. Your instructor sits down with you, pulls up the current weather at the airport you'll be "flying" from, and walks through what the conditions mean for your flight. This is where you start learning to think like a pilot — checking winds, visibility, and cloud cover before every flight.

The briefing is also where your instructor personalizes the lesson. If you've been watching YouTube videos about flying and have specific questions, this is the time to ask. If this is your very first exposure to aviation, your instructor will start from scratch and explain everything in plain language. The majority of our instructors are active airline pilots, so they bring real-world experience to every explanation — not just textbook answers.

By the end of the briefing, you'll know exactly what you're going to practice, why it matters, and what to look for on the instruments. Then it's time to get in the sim. Want to know more about choosing the right instructor? Read our guide on how to choose a flight instructor.

What Will You Actually Do in the Simulator?

After the briefing, you'll spend the remaining time — about 90 minutes — in a Redbird TD2 simulator equipped with a Garmin G1000 glass cockpit. This is the same avionics system used in modern Cessna 172s at flight schools across the country. Your instructor sits next to you and guides every step, starting with the basics: how to read the instruments, how to use the flight controls, and how the airplane responds to your inputs.

In a typical first lesson, you'll work through the pre-flight checklist to start the engine, taxi the airplane to the runway, take off, fly a rectangular traffic pattern around the airport, and attempt your first landing. Most students are surprised by how much they actually do in the first session. You're not watching a demonstration — you're flying from the left seat, with your instructor coaching you through every maneuver.

The simulator lets you pause, reset, and repeat any part of the lesson. If your first landing attempt doesn't go well (it probably won't — and that's completely normal), your instructor can reposition the airplane and let you try again immediately. In a real airplane, you'd need to fly the full pattern again, which takes 5-10 minutes. In the sim, it takes seconds. This is why simulator training is so effective for building foundational skills quickly.

What Should You Bring to Your First Lesson?

You don't need any special equipment for your first simulator lesson. Come in comfortable clothes — you'll be sitting in a cockpit seat for about 90 minutes. That's really it. If you have an iPad with a flight planning app like ForeFlight already installed, feel free to bring it, but it's completely optional. Most new students don't have one yet, and your instructor will help you get set up with the right tools after your first few lessons.

If you already have a pilot logbook, bring that too. If you don't, your instructor will give you one at the end of your lesson. A logbook is the official FAA record of your flight training, and every simulator session gets logged just like time in a real airplane. Your instructor will make your first entry and show you how the logging system works.

Do You Need Any Experience Before Your First Lesson?

No — and that's the whole point. Your first simulator lesson is designed for people who have never touched an airplane or a flight simulator before. You don't need to study anything in advance. You don't need to memorize any checklists. You don't need to know how to read aviation charts. Your instructor handles all of that and teaches you as you go.

Every student starts at a different place. Some people come in having watched hundreds of hours of flight training videos. Others walk in knowing nothing beyond "I want to learn to fly." Both are perfectly fine. Your instructor will figure out your level in the first few minutes and adjust the entire lesson accordingly. That personalized approach is a core part of how we teach — it's one of the reasons we match each student with an instructor who fits their learning style. Learn more about getting your student pilot certificate when you're ready to formalize things.

Where Is the Simulator Located?

Our simulator facility is at 131 Varick St in Hudson Square, Manhattan — right in Lower Manhattan, easily accessible by subway. When you arrive, ring apartment 4A and your instructor will buzz you in. The space is a dedicated training environment, not a storefront, so it's by appointment only.

The location is convenient for anyone commuting from Midtown, the Financial District, Brooklyn, or New Jersey. Most students train on weekday evenings or weekends. If you're curious about where you'll eventually fly a real airplane, check out our guide to the best flight training airports near NYC.

What Happens After Your First Lesson?

At the end of your first session, your instructor will log your simulator time in your pilot logbook, answer any remaining questions, and give you a few resources to review before your next lesson. You won't have homework in the traditional sense, but there are a few things that will help you get more out of future sessions.

One of the most useful things you can do between lessons is listen to live air traffic control communications. The website LiveATC.net streams real radio traffic from airports around the country. Your instructor will suggest tuning in to Republic Airport (KFRG) or Morristown Airport (KMMU) — two of the airports where our students typically do their airplane training. At first, the radio calls will sound like a foreign language. After a few weeks of casual listening, you'll start picking out patterns. For a deeper look at radio communications, see our guide to setting up your aviation radio.

Your instructor will also walk you through what your next lessons will cover: weather interpretation, aircraft performance, flight planning with ForeFlight, aircraft systems, and airspace rules. Each lesson builds on the previous one, and the order is adjusted based on your progress and goals.

How Does Simulator Training Fit into Your Pilot Journey?

After your first lesson, most students follow one of two paths. The first option is to complete two or three more simulator sessions to build a strong foundation — learning checklists, basic maneuvers, and radio communications — before transitioning to a real airplane at a nearby airport. The second option is to alternate between simulator and airplane training from the start, using the sim on weekday evenings and the airplane on weekends.

Both approaches work well. The simulator is particularly effective for practicing procedures and emergencies that are difficult or dangerous to replicate in a real airplane. You can practice engine failures, instrument approaches, and unusual attitudes without any risk. As your training progresses, the sim becomes a tool for reinforcing what you learn in the airplane and preparing for your private pilot checkride.

The FAA allows up to 2.5 hours of approved simulator time to count toward your private pilot certificate, and up to 20 hours toward an instrument rating. For students pursuing an instrument rating, the simulator becomes an even bigger part of the training program.

What Apps and Resources Should You Get?

Don't rush to buy anything before your first lesson. After you've completed a session or two and decided to continue training, here are the tools your instructor will likely recommend:

• ForeFlight ($200/year) — The industry-standard flight planning app used by student pilots and airline pilots alike. It handles weather, charts, flight plans, and aircraft performance calculations. Only purchase this after you've started training and your instructor confirms you're ready for it.
• FltPlan Go (free) — A solid free alternative to ForeFlight for basic flight planning and weather. Good option while you're deciding how far to take your training.
• AeroWeather (free) — A simple app for reading METAR and TAF weather reports. Your instructor will teach you how to decode these during your first few lessons.
• LiveATC (free) — Listen to live air traffic control at airports near NYC. Great for getting your ear used to aviation radio calls between lessons.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need any flying experience for my first simulator lesson?

No. Your first lesson is designed for complete beginners. Your instructor will start from scratch and adapt the pace to your level. Many of our students have never been in a cockpit of any kind before their first session.

How long is a simulator lesson?

A standard lesson is two hours. The first 30 minutes is a briefing with your instructor, and the remaining 90 minutes is hands-on time in the simulator. You can also book shorter or longer sessions depending on your schedule.

What should I bring to my first simulator lesson?

Just yourself and comfortable clothes. If you have a pilot logbook or an iPad with ForeFlight, bring those, but neither is required. Your instructor will provide a logbook if you don't have one.

Is simulator time counted toward my pilot certificate?

Yes. The FAA allows up to 2.5 hours of approved simulator (AATD) time to count toward your private pilot certificate, and up to 20 hours toward an instrument rating. Every hour you log in our simulator is real training time in your logbook.

Can kids take simulator lessons?

Yes. We offer simulator lessons for young aviators as young as 7 years old. The sessions are tailored to be age-appropriate and engaging. Check our Young Aviators page for details on youth programs.