Navigraph Academy Launches: Free Professional Pilot Training Now Available to All Flight SimmersIn a move that could fundamentally change how the flight simulation community learns to fly, Navigraph has officially launched Navigraph Academy – a completely free, structured online training platform built around real-world aviation standards.
The centerpiece of the new academy is the Virtual Private Pilot License (VPPL) course, a comprehensive program that guides students from zero experience all the way through private-pilot-level knowledge and skill, using Microsoft Flight Simulator as the primary cockpit environment.What sets Navigraph Academy apart from the countless YouTube tutorials and scattered forum guides is its pedigree: every lesson has been designed and is delivered by active professional pilots and certified flight instructors.
The curriculum mirrors actual flight-school syllabi, complete with phased objectives, knowledge checks, interactive video lessons, downloadable materials, in-simulator training missions, and – perhaps most importantly – instructor feedback on your performance.“Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and 2024 have brought an incredible level of realism to our desktops,” said Martin Trankell, Training Lead for Navigraph Academy.
“But realism without structure can be overwhelming. We saw simmers spending hundreds of hours yet still struggling with basic VFR navigation or radio phraseology. Navigraph Academy exists to close that gap – and we’re making it free because learning to fly in the sim should not come with a paywall.”Key features of the platform include:
- Instructor-led video lessons with real airline and GA pilots
- Progressive syllabus modeled on FAA/EASA private pilot training
- Built-in simulator missions that automatically track completion
- Quizzes and practical tests with detailed feedback
- Certificates upon course completion
The VPPL is only the beginning. Navigraph has already hinted at future instrument rating, commercial, and type-rating-style courses in the pipeline.For a community that has long relied on a mix of official manuals, third-party payware add-ons, and generous volunteer mentors, the arrival of a free, professional-grade academy backed by one of the industry’s most trusted names feels like a watershed moment.Navigraph Academy is live now at academy.navigraph.com.
Registration is free, no Navigraph subscription is required, and the first cohort of the VPPL course is already underway.Whether you’re a complete beginner who still gets lost taxiing at your home airport or an experienced simmer looking for a more disciplined path to IFR proficiency, Navigraph may have just handed the entire community the structured training program many of us have been asking for – for years.Welcome to flight school, simmers. And this time, it’s on the house.
