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52 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I AUGUST 2023 According to the Federal Aviation Adminis- tration's flight time limitations and rest require- ments, a commercial pilot is restricted to 36 flight hours in a week, 100 hours in 28 days, and 1,000 hours in any calendar year 1 . e cycle time depends heavily on the aircra they fly and length of time in the air. It can oen be long and grueling, so these limits are there to ensure the safety of the flight. But before these pilots even start flying the friendly skies, they spend considerable time in a flight simulator. Airline pilots go through about a month of simulator training before they can fly on the line, and this comes aer two to three weeks of systems and operations training. Circuit Simulation, SPICE, and AI Most airlines maintain a rigorous simulator training program of 18–24 simulated flights lasting four hours each. During these flights, they train on system reviews and procedures, including checklists and "flows"—special maneuvers, and real-world problem situa- tions. All that can add up to 96 hours of simula- tor training before they walk aboard an actual plane. is level of training is done every six months to ensure that their regular and non- normal operation capabilities are up to stan- dard. Why? In the simulator, pilots have a con- trolled, safe environment to practice various flight maneuvers, emergency procedures, and critical decision-making without the risks Elementary, Mr. Watson Feature Column by John Watson, CID, ALTIUM