For a normal Pilot Training Flight Simulator takeoff, start the engine, taxi onto a clear runway, raise throttle smoothly, keep the aircraft aligned, and add gentle pitch as it becomes ready to fly. For landing, line up early, lower gear when fitted, use flaps when supported, slow until the flight kit shows the aircraft’s landing-speed range, follow the approach lights, and flare gently before the main gear touches.
Controls used in the circuit
Keyboard community documentation maps engine to E, throttle up/down to W and S, gear to G, pushback to P, camera lock to X, and flap movement to Y and H where fitted. Controller players use the live prompts, including bumpers for throttle and D-pad Down for gear. Mobile players use the engine and pushback icons, throttle slider, touch thumbstick, and aircraft-specific buttons.
Always open the flight kit Controls panel after choosing an aircraft. A Piper Cub, airliner, amphibious aircraft, and military jet do not expose the same equipment. The current panel is more reliable than applying every control from a general list.
From the stand to the runway
At a gate, look behind the aircraft and check wing clearance. Use pushback only when you need to move away from the stand. Stop it, start the engine, and add low power. Taxi speed should leave time to turn and stop; high throttle makes it easy to overshoot a taxiway or enter a runway without checking traffic.
Choose a runway that gives your aircraft enough room and a straightforward departure path. Large international airports such as Greater Rockford, Perth, Larnaca, Tokyo, and Izolirani are documented as supporting the widest aircraft selection. Small strips such as Lukla or Saba are challenge destinations, not ideal first practice fields.
Hold short until the runway is clear. Align the nose with the centerline before using full takeoff power. If another player is landing, wait rather than trying to launch underneath them.
Takeoff sequence
Increase throttle steadily and make small steering corrections. Keep the wings level while speed builds. Raise the nose gently; a sudden full pitch input can create a steep climb, stall, or tail strike. Once the aircraft is climbing and clear of the runway, retract gear if the model has retractable gear.
Do not chase one universal rotation speed. The flight kit reports the selected aircraft’s speed, and different categories behave differently. Learn the model by repeating the same runway circuit. If the aircraft will not lift, confirm that the engine is on, throttle is actually increasing, and you are using the correct movement input.
Climb straight ahead until there is room to turn. Shallow turns preserve speed and keep the airport easy to find. Avoid engaging Cruise Mode or Altitude Hold during the first circuit; learn the manual controls before adding assistance.
Build a stable approach
Approach the runway from far enough away to make small corrections. Match the runway heading and keep the aircraft parallel with the centerline. PTFS community landing guidance explains that runway numbers correspond to approximate compass headings: runway 36 points near 360 degrees, runway 18 near 180, and so on.
Lower landing gear if fitted and select flaps gradually if the aircraft supports them. Reduce throttle until the flight kit shows the landing-speed state. Too much speed increases the chance of a hard landing or runway overrun; too little speed can cause a stall before the threshold.
Many runways use four PAPI lights. Two white and two red indicate the target path. More white means high; more red means low. Use power for the overall descent path and small pitch changes to keep the aircraft controlled. Do not dive at the runway and try to solve the entire approach in the final seconds.
Flare, touchdown, and rollout
Near the runway, gently raise the nose to reduce descent. This flare should soften the touchdown, not send the aircraft climbing again. Aim for the main landing gear to touch before the nose gear on a conventional tricycle-gear aircraft. If you float too far, reduce the size or timing of the flare on the next attempt.
After touchdown, keep the aircraft aligned and reduce throttle. Let speed fall before making a sharp taxi turn. Clear the runway when safe, then stop and review what happened. A stable but firm landing is a better learning result than a dramatic last-second correction.
If the approach is unstable—too fast, badly misaligned, or requiring large inputs—go around. Add power, climb straight ahead, retract equipment only when safely airborne, and set up again. A go-around is a control decision, not a failure.
Common failure cases
Aircraft will not move
Confirm engine state, raise throttle, and check whether pushback is still active. Make sure you occupy the pilot seat.
Aircraft swerves on takeoff
Reduce steering input, align before applying high power, and use advanced-mode rudder carefully.
Stall on final
Lower the nose enough to regain speed, add power, and go around if runway alignment is no longer safe.
Runway overrun
Begin the approach farther out, enter the model's displayed landing-speed range, and touch down nearer the aiming area.
Where to practice next
Use a long runway and a light aircraft until the sequence is repeatable. Then practice a passenger aircraft, helicopter, or seaplane using its own controls. Consult the runway guide before choosing a short or obstacle-heavy airport, and use the airport map to identify a nearby alternate.
Evidence note and sources
The general procedure and PAPI guidance are community reported from the PTFS Wiki’s current tutorial pages, checked September 22, 2026. Exact aircraft speeds and equipment must be read from the live flight kit.