FlightSimExpo 2019 was bigger than ever with a 50% growth in attendance compared to the inaugural event last year! Traveling from around the globe, more than 1,600 flight simulation and aviation enthusiasts gathered in Orlando, Florida to test the latest technology and network with industry professionals.
Gleim Aviation was one of 63 exhibitors this year, (compared to 45 exhibitors last year). We set up two Gleim Virtual Cockpit™ flight simulators with X-Plane 11 and the Gleim X-Plane Flight Training Course. Simmers and pilots of all ages were astounded by the realism of the graphics on our cockpit display. When there wasn’t a line of people waiting to get behind the controls, there was always an audience watching others fly.
Friday’s schedule kicked off bright and early at 8 a.m. with attendee registration and check-in, followed by a personal welcome by the event organizers, Evan Reiter and Phil Coyle.
“The community has once again proved that simulation to be invaluable as a training aid for real-world pilots. The conference welcomed almost 400 attendees who were new to simulation, and offered comprehensive workshops and seminars to help them get started,” Reiter said.
The Expo featured multiple vendor exhibits and seminars, all with slightly different takes on simulation, accessories, and networking. The Gleim Aviation team gave a presentation on “Making Connections with Flight Simulation.” Paul Duty, Gleim Chief Instructor, and Callie Wilkes, STEM Coordinator, discussed the growing global demand for pilots, mechanics, and other aviation industry professionals and how Gleim is using simulation to fill the needs created by the pilot shortage. From desktop simulation at home to STEM programs in high schools to flight schools, Gleim is working with the flight training industry on a number of fronts to train pilots faster and safer, all while helping keep costs affordable.
During the seminar on Friday, June 8th, Paul Duty, Aviation Product Manager and Chief Instructor, announced the release of our brand new multi-user version of the X-Plane Flight Training Course.
The multi-user version of the training course is an excellent resource for flight schools and high schools that want to utilize flight simulators for training while monitoring student performance and proficiency. The X-Plane Flight Training Course has been updated to allow an instructor to manage multiple users’ flight profiles, the reporting system that displays individual student performance during each flight training lesson.
“This course is already used by thousands of individual students at home. Flight schools, high schools, and other types of training centers can now use the power of this course with unlimited instructors and students on a network. This will further reduce the overall training time and cost, reduce frustration and abandonment, and ultimately retain more student pilots,” Duty said.
Saturday’s schedule ended with an evening social, where exhibitors and attendees had an opportunity to mix and mingle over drinks and appetizers.
Hundreds more attended the expo on Sunday. A series of seminars continued throughout the day including topics such as Military Flight Training: Past, Present, and Future, at-home flight simulation, and a landing competition where simmers used X-Plane to vie for the title of “best lander.” Robert Jex, FAA Aviation Safety Inspector from the Orlando FAA office even presented a WINGS Pilot Proficiency Program seminar.
As the Expo wrapped up Sunday afternoon, the event organizers revealed that the location of 2020 FlightSimExpo would be returning to the same city as last year, Las Vegas!
For more information about our flight training resources or flight simulation, call one of our knowledgeable Aviation Training Consultants at (800) 874.5346, ext. 471, or reach out to us online.
Written by Callie Wilkes, Gleim Aviation Marketing & STEM Coordinator