If you’re new to the simulator, our Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Beginner Guide explains the essential setup, controls, and first-flight knowledge that make the terms in this Flight Simulation Glossary much easier to understand.
A clear, beginner-friendly flight simulation glossary explaining common aviation and simulator terms used in Microsoft Flight Simulator and modern flight sim flying. This page is designed to be evergreen, beginner‑friendly, and useful whether you’re brand new or a long‑time simmer.
A
Addon / Add‑on
Extra content that expands a simulator, such as aircraft, airports, scenery, weather engines, or utilities.
Airspeed (IAS / TAS / GS)
- IAS (Indicated Airspeed): What the aircraft’s airspeed indicator shows.
- TAS (True Airspeed): Actual speed through the air mass.
- GS (Ground Speed): Speed over the ground, affected by wind.
APU (Auxiliary Power Unit)
A small onboard engine that provides electrical power and air when the main engines are off.
Autopilot (AP)
A system that automatically controls the aircraft’s attitude, altitude, speed, or navigation.
B
Base Simulator
The core flight simulation platform, before any add‑ons are installed.
Bush Flying
Low‑level flying to short, remote, or unprepared airstrips, often in rugged terrain.
C
Cold and Dark
An aircraft state where everything is powered off, simulating a realistic startup from scratch.
Control Sensitivity / Curves
Settings that adjust how your joystick, yoke, or pedals respond to input.
Cruise Altitude
The planned altitude at which the aircraft flies most efficiently during the cruise phase.
D
DAW (Digital Audio Workstation)
Software used to record and edit audio for videos or cockpit sounds.
Dead Reckoning
Navigating by time, speed, heading, and distance without electronic aids.
E
EFB (Electronic Flight Bag)
A tablet‑style interface used for flight planning, aircraft setup, weights, and performance.
Elevation
Height above mean sea level, used for airports and terrain.
F
FMC / FMGS / MCDU
The aircraft’s flight management computer is used to program routes, performance, and automation.
Flight Model
The mathematical system that determines how realistically an aircraft flies.
Frame Rate (FPS)
How many frames per second does your simulator display? Higher FPS usually means smoother motion.
G
Gate‑to‑Gate
A full flight simulation from parking-gate departure to arrival-gate shutdown.
Glass Cockpit
A cockpit using digital displays instead of traditional analog instruments.
H
Heading
The direction the aircraft’s nose is pointing, measured in degrees.
Holding Pattern
A racetrack‑shaped flight path is used to delay an aircraft before continuing.
I
IFR (Instrument Flight Rules)
Flying primarily by instruments and procedures, often in low visibility.
Immersion
How realistic and convincing does the simulation feel overall?
J
Joystick / Yoke
Primary flight controls are used to steer the aircraft in pitch and roll.
L
Livery
The paint scheme or airline colours applied to an aircraft.
LOD (Level of Detail)
A performance technique where distant objects are rendered with less detail.
M
Managed Mode
Automation, where the aircraft follows programmed speeds, altitudes, or routes automatically.
METAR
A coded weather report used for real‑world and simulated weather.
N
Navdata
Navigation database containing airways, procedures, and waypoints.
Night Lighting
Airport and cockpit lighting quality during night operations.
P
Payload
Passengers, cargo, and baggage are carried by the aircraft.
Procedures (SID / STAR / Approach)
Standard routes for departures, arrivals, and landings.
R
Real‑Time Weather
Live weather is injected into the simulator based on real‑world conditions.
Re‑amping (Audio)
Recording a clean signal first, then processing it later for the best sound quality.
S
SimBrief
A popular flight planning tool that generates realistic operational flight plans.
Stutters
Momentary pauses or uneven motion caused by performance issues.
T
Terrain Mesh
The underlying 3D shape of the landscape.
Traffic (AI / Live)
Simulated aircraft moving realistically around airports and airspace.
V
VFR (Visual Flight Rules)
Flying primarily by visual reference to the ground and horizon.
Virtual Airline (VA)
An online community that simulates airline operations for fun.
W
Weights & Balance
Aircraft loading calculations that affect performance and handling.
World Updates
Large simulator updates that improve scenery and landmarks for specific regions.
About This Glossary
Flight simulation has its own language. This glossary is here to remove confusion, lower the learning curve, and help you enjoy the hobby more — whether you fly casually or aim for deep realism.
This page will continue to grow over time as new terms and technologies appear.