Do real-world pilots use Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020/2024, and if so, why?

Yes — plenty of real-world pilots use MSFS (2020/2024), but mostly for “soft skills,” not for logging training time.

I’ll break it down into what it’s genuinely good for, what it’s not, and how pilots typically use it at home.

What real-world pilots use MSFS for (and why)

• Procedural rehearsal (“chair flying” with visuals)
  MSFS is great for running flows and checklists in a believable environment. Even if every system isn’t 1:1 with the real airplane, the act of stepping through the sequence helps with memory and workload management.

• Familiarization with airports and routes
  Learning taxi layouts, runway options, terrain, common arrival/departure paths, and local landmarks can help reduce surprises. It won’t replace real charts/briefing, but it can make the first real visit feel less “new.”

• IFR scan and basic instrument habits
  You can practice holding headings/altitudes, tracking courses, intercepts, and staying ahead of the airplane. It’s especially useful for basic mental rhythm: aviate/navigate/communicate and staying organized.

• Radio/ATC workflow (conceptually)
  Even with imperfect ATC options, you can practice the cadence: clearance → departure → enroute → arrival → approach, and get used to when you’d typically be setting frequencies, briefs, bugs, etc.

• General stick-and-rudder “keeping current-ish”
  This is very dependent on your hardware and aircraft add-on, but it can help you keep your brain in the loop: crosswind awareness, pattern planning, stabilized approach thinking, etc.

• Fun / stress relief
  A lot of pilots simply enjoy flying for enjoyment without the costs, weather hassles, schedules, or checkrides attached. Sometimes it’s also a way to scratch the itch when you’re away from flying.

Where MSFS is NOT a substitute

• It’s not an FAA/EASA-approved trainer on its own, so it generally doesn’t count toward logged time the way an approved BATD/AATD/FTD/full-flight sim can.
• The feel is the big limitation: seat-of-the-pants cues, control loading, peripheral cues, and real turbulence/windshear effects are hard to replicate on a home setup.
• Real-world IFR training is about strict procedures, instructor oversight, and failure modes. You can “practice” failures in MSFS, but it’s not the same as being evaluated in a controlled training device.

How pilots get the most value out of it (practical at-home method)

1. Pick one aircraft (preferably the same type/category you fly in real life, or something close).
2. Use real-world checklists and do proper briefings: takeoff brief, approach brief, missed approach plan.
3. Fly realistic legs: one departure, one arrival, one approach. Focus on being stable and ahead of the airplane.
4. Keep the weather reasonable at first; then gradually add crosswinds/low ceilings once you’re consistent.
5. Be careful about practicing “bad habits” (yanking it around, sloppy power management, diving at the runway, etc.). The sim will let you get away with things reality won’t.

One important nuance
A lot depends on what you mean by “real-world pilot.” A private pilot doing weekend flying may use MSFS differently than an airline pilot, and a student pilot may need to be extra careful not to ingrain poor technique. Used correctly, though, it’s absolutely a helpful tool.

A couple quick questions so I can tailor this to what you’re looking for

• Are you asking as a student pilot, a licensed pilot, or a simmer thinking about training?
• Which sim are you focusing on (MSFS 2020 vs 2024), and what aircraft type(s) do you care about (GA, airliners, helicopters)?
• Do you want a “guide” oriented more toward VFR skills, IFR procedures, or airline-style flows?