Hi Andy
Interesting Poll and I voted NO...
Reason:
[glow=yellow,2,300]Microsoft does not make Flight Simulators.[/glow]
They make programs to run certain flight training devices but Microsoft does not make a Flight Simulator.
From FS98, FS2000, FS2002, FS2004, FSX and Flight are just programs to work with a few Flight Training Devices or games to be used on a home computer.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_SimulatorThe below information was taken from the above Link which should be read in it's entirety before commenting...
Qualification and approval
Procedure
In order for a Flight Simulation Training Device (FSTD) to be used for flight crew training or checking, it must be evaluated by the local National Aviation Authority (NAA), such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States. The training device in question is evaluated against a set of regulatory criteria, and a number of both objective and subjective tests are conducted on the device. The results of each test, along with other significant information about the FSTD and its operator, are recorded in a Qualification Test Guide (QTG).[citation needed]
The result of the initial evaluation of the FSTD, called the Master QTG (MQTG), details the baseline performance of the device as accepted by the qualifying authority. A periodic re-evaluation, called a recurrent qualification, is performed regularly, generally in one year intervals (although the interval can be as low as six months for some FAA evaluations and as high as three years for some European evaluations), and the performance of the device is evaluated against the MQTG. Any significant deviations may result in the suspension or revocation of the device's approval.
The criteria against which an FSTD is evaluated are defined in one of a number of regulatory and/or advisory documents. In the United States and China, FSTD qualification is regulated in 14 CFR Part 60. In most of Europe as well as several other parts of the world, the relevant regulations are defined in JAR-FSTD A and JAR-FSTD H. The testing requirements vary for the different levels of qualification, but almost all levels require that the FSTD show that it matches the flight characteristics of the aircraft or family of aircraft being simulated.
The main exception to the above process is the evaluation of an ATD by the FAA. Rather than other FSTD, where each device is evaluated on an individual basis, ATDs are evaluated as an entire model line. When a manufacturer wishes to have an ATD model approved, a document that contains the specifications for the model line and that proves compliance with the appropriate regulations is submitted to the FAA. Once this document, called a Qualification Approval Guide (QAG), has been approved, all future devices conforming to the QAG are automatically approved and individual evaluation is neither required nor available.
Until the publication of Part 60, qualification was called certification, and QTGs were called Approval Test Guides (ATGs). The terms certification and ATG no longer have any regulatory meaning other than for FSTD that remain qualified under FAA AC 120-45 or any other legacy standard.
Flight Simulator "levels" and other categories
The following levels of qualification are currently being granted for both airplane and helicopter FSTD:
US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Flight Training Devices (FTD)[7] FAA FTD Level 4 - Similar to a Cockpit Procedures Trainer (CPT), but for helicopters only. This level does not require an aerodynamic model, but accurate systems modeling is required.
FAA FTD Level 5 - Aerodynamic programming and systems modeling is required, but it may represent a family of aircraft rather than only one specific model.
FAA FTD Level 6 - Aircraft-model-specific aerodynamic programming, control feel, and physical cockpit are required.
FAA FTD Level 7 - Model specific, helicopter only. All applicable aerodynamics, flight controls, and systems must be modeled. A vibration system must be supplied. This is the first level to require a visual system.
Full Flight Simulators (FFS)[8] FAA FFS Level A - A motion system is required with at least three degrees of freedom. Airplanes only.
FAA FFS Level B - Requires three axis motion and a higher-fidelity aerodynamic model than does Level A. The lowest level of helicopter flight simulator.
FAA FFS Level C - Requires a motion platform with all six degrees of freedom. Also lower transport delay (latency) over levels A & B. The visual system must have an outside-world horizontal field of view of at least 75 degrees for each pilot.
FAA FFS Level D - The highest level of FFS qualification currently available. Requirements are for Level C with additions. The motion platform must have all six degrees of freedom, and the visual system must have an outside-world horizontal field of view of at least 150 degrees, with a Collimated (distant focus) display. Realistic sounds in the cockpit are required, as well as a number of special motion and visual effects.
European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA, ex JAA)
Flight Navigation and Procedures Trainer (FNTP)[9] EASA FNPT Level I
EASA FNPT Level II
EASA FNTP Level III
MCC - Not a true "level" of qualification, but an add-on that allows any level of FNPT to be used for multi-crew cooperation training.
Flight Training Devices (FTD)[9] EASA FTD Level 1
EASA FTD Level 2
EASA FTD Level 3 - Helicopter only.
Full Flight Simulators (FFS)[9] EASA FFS Level A
EASA FFS Level B
EASA FFS Level C
EASA FFS Level D
Credits
The training or checking credits allowed for an FSTD are based on the level of qualification and the operator's training curriculum. For some experienced pilots, Level D FFS may be used for Zero Flight Time (ZFT) conversions from one type of aircraft to another. In ZFT conversions, no aircraft flight time is required and the pilot first flies the aircraft (under the supervision of a training captain) on a revenue flight.[citation needed]
Manufacturers
Notable full flight simulator manufacturers include:
AXIS Flight Training Systems (Austria)
CAE Inc., (Canada)
FlightSafety International (FSI) (United States),
Frasca International, Inc.
Havelsan (Turkey)
Indra Sistemas in Spain
L-3 Communications - Link Simulation & Training Division
Mechtronix Systems (Canada)
Rockwell Collins
Thales Training & Simulation (France and UK)
Here is another interesting Link which should be read...
http://www.bruceair.com/msfs/fs_in_training.htmThe below has been taken from the above Link which should be read in it's entirety...
FAA Approval of PC-Based Simulations
Questions about FAA approval of Microsoft Flight Simulator pop up as often as, say, inquiries about logging flight time (see below).
As noted above, the experiences of many individuals and organizations over the years demonstrate that PC-based simulations, including Microsoft Flight Simulator, can make your training or proficiency flying more efficient and less costly, even if time spent using the tools doesn