A desktop flight simulator can be an enjoyable way to explore aircraft and navigation. It can also help a student become familiar with some concepts when used alongside instruction. An ordinary computer game is not automatically an approved training device, and time spent playing does not automatically count toward a pilot certificate.
What a home simulator can help with
With a suitable aircraft model and guidance, a simulator can introduce instrument layout, the sequence of a planned flight and how navigation information is presented. Pausing a session makes it possible to discuss a question or repeat a task without the cost and distraction of a real flight.
Set a purpose for the session. Practicing a specific concept your instructor has explained is more useful than trying to reproduce everything at once. Compare the simulation with the documentation and equipment used in your actual training.
Where games can mislead
Controls, visual cues and the feeling of movement differ from a real aircraft. A simulated model may simplify systems or behave differently at the edges of its performance. Software can also permit actions that would be unsafe, unauthorized or impossible in an actual operation.
Repeating an incorrect technique can reinforce it. Ask an instructor which tasks are suitable for home practice and which should wait for instruction. The ability to complete a difficult game scenario is not evidence that a person is qualified to perform the equivalent flight.
Approved devices are a different category
The FAA has specific processes for qualifying flight simulation training devices and approving aviation training devices. Its National Simulator Program and training-device guidance explain the applicable categories and documentation.
Whether a particular session can receive training credit depends on the device’s approval, the rule and the instruction involved. Check those details rather than relying on a game’s marketing. Enjoy a home simulator as a learning aid and hobby, while treating actual qualification and safe flying as separate responsibilities.