Originally Posted by
DirectTo
If you're a potential student reading this...please don't. I speak these words as a former full-time CFI. The students who "studied ahead" using Flight Sim were some of the biggest pains in the asses, clearing up bad habits they had obtained before even touching an airplane and especially getting them to keep their eyes outside.
I disagree. While there are certainly examples of people picking up bad habits, I found that my students who admitted to using flight simulator did much better overall, and picked things up quicker. I was sure to let them know that they are to do what I say, not what they've been practicing at home, but I also gave advice for ways to use the flight simulator to enhance their training (Yes, even VFR).
Picking a house that would be a good spot to start a base turn, for example.
As an instructor, you have to be more proactive to guard against the bad habits, but I made myself available and open to answer any questions about anything they had been doing on the simulator, and I would say that those students benefited from the simulator.
From my 3 short years of full time instructing, that's my view.