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Aviation · head to head

ARINC Flight Operations Services vs Lockheed Martin Prepar3D

ARINC Flight Operations Services logo

ARINC Flight Operations Services

Aviation

Airline flight operations and communications platform

From
$50000/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Lockheed Martin Prepar3D logo

Lockheed Martin Prepar3D

Aviation

Professional-grade flight simulation and training platform

From
$9.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: ARINC Flight Operations Services the Internet Archive's capture of arinc.com on 3 January 2016 shows the domain already redirecting to Rockwell Collins branding, confirming ARINC's flight operations business was absorbed into Rockwell Collins (now Collins Aerospace/RTX) rather than continuing as an independently branded product.; Lockheed Martin Prepar3D high system resource requirements with 85 GB base installation and 32 GB RAM recommended
  • They diverge on capability: ARINC Flight Operations Services covers ACARS messaging, Lockheed Martin Prepar3D covers Flight simulation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ARINC Flight Operations Services and Lockheed Martin Prepar3D actually diverge.

Attributes where ARINC Flight Operations Services and Lockheed Martin Prepar3D differ
AttributeARINC Flight Operations ServicesLockheed Martin Prepar3D
Starting price$50000/year$9.99/month
PlatformsWeb, SystemsWindows, Vr
Founded19292010

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Aviation).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in ARINC Flight Operations Services

  • ACARS messaging
  • Flight operations
  • Communications
  • Weather data
  • Data services
  • Airline systems
  • Aircraft avionics
  • Ground systems

Only in Lockheed Martin Prepar3D

  • Flight simulation
  • Aircraft systems
  • Realistic physics
  • Training scenarios
  • Performance analysis
  • Hardware controllers
  • VR systems
  • Motion platforms

Both cover

  • Data encryption

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

ARINC Flight Operations Services

  • Flight operationsnot Lockheed Martin Prepar3D
  • Communicationsnot Lockheed Martin Prepar3D
  • Data servicesnot Lockheed Martin Prepar3D
  • Weathernot Lockheed Martin Prepar3D

Lockheed Martin Prepar3D

  • Pilot trainingnot ARINC Flight Operations Services
  • Type rating trainingnot ARINC Flight Operations Services
  • Proficiency maintenancenot ARINC Flight Operations Services
  • Scenario trainingnot ARINC Flight Operations Services
  • Aircraft developmentnot ARINC Flight Operations Services

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

ARINC Flight Operations Services

  • The Internet Archive's capture of arinc.com on 3 January 2016 shows the domain already redirecting to Rockwell Collins branding, confirming ARINC's flight operations business was absorbed into Rockwell Collins (now Collins Aerospace/RTX) rather than continuing as an independently branded product.

Lockheed Martin Prepar3D

  • High system resource requirements with 85 GB base installation and 32 GB RAM recommended
  • Expensive Professional and Professional Plus licenses for commercial and business use
  • Limited backward compatibility with older 32-bit aircraft modules
  • SimDirector scenario creation tool requires programming knowledge for advanced customization

Pricing, plan by plan

ARINC Flight Operations Services

$50000/year
  • Flight Operations$50000/year
    • ACARS services
    • Flight operations
    • Communications
  • Enterprise$100000/year
    • All services
    • Multi-airline
    • Custom integration

Lockheed Martin Prepar3D

$9.99/month
  • Standard$9.99/month
    • Flight simulation
    • Basic aircraft
    • Training tools
  • Professional$99.99/month
    • Advanced simulation
    • Full aircraft systems
    • Advanced training

Which should you pick?

Choose ARINC Flight Operations Services if

  • You need acars messaging.
  • You work on Web, Systems.
  • You also want flight operations.
ARINC Flight Operations Services review

Choose Lockheed Martin Prepar3D if

  • You need flight simulation.
  • You work on Windows, Vr.
  • You also want aircraft systems.
Lockheed Martin Prepar3D review

Questions people ask

Is ARINC Flight Operations Services or Lockheed Martin Prepar3D better?
Neither clearly leads. ARINC Flight Operations Services starts at $50000/year and Lockheed Martin Prepar3D at $9.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ARINC Flight Operations Services or Lockheed Martin Prepar3D?
ARINC Flight Operations Services starts at $50000/year and Lockheed Martin Prepar3D at $9.99/month.
Does ARINC Flight Operations Services or Lockheed Martin Prepar3D run on more platforms?
ARINC Flight Operations Services runs on Web, Systems. Lockheed Martin Prepar3D runs on Windows, Vr.
What is ARINC Flight Operations Services best used for?
ARINC Flight Operations Services is most often used for flight operations, communications, data services, weather. Of those, flight operations and communications are not what Lockheed Martin Prepar3D is typically brought in for.
What can ARINC Flight Operations Services do that Lockheed Martin Prepar3D cannot?
ARINC Flight Operations Services covers ACARS messaging, Flight operations, Communications, Weather data. Lockheed Martin Prepar3D covers Flight simulation, Aircraft systems, Realistic physics, Training scenarios. Both handle Data encryption.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Lockheed Martin Prepar3D: What are the license options for Prepar3D?

Prepar3D offers three license tiers: Personal ($59.95) for personal training and K-12 education, Professional ($350) for professional pilot training and commercial uses, and Professional Plus ($2,750) for businesses with advanced features. Developer monthly licenses are available at $9.99 and $50 for Professional and Professional Plus respectively.

Source
Lockheed Martin Prepar3D: What are the system requirements?

Prepar3D v6 requires approximately 85 GB storage, 32 GB RAM or more for optimal performance, 8 GB or more VRAM, and a DX12-capable GPU with 64-bit architecture. Detailed scenery and aircraft add-ons can significantly increase storage and performance requirements.

Source
Lockheed Martin Prepar3D: Can I create custom training scenarios?

Yes. Prepar3D includes SimDirector, a scenario generation tool that allows users to create training scenarios across aviation, maritime, and ground domains. Users can place world objects, define scenario logic, create missions, and provide instruction sessions, making it suitable for cockpit training, flight planning, and emergency response preparation.

Source
Lockheed Martin Prepar3D: Is Prepar3D compatible with third-party add-ons?

Prepar3D v5 and v6 maintain compatibility with many Microsoft Flight Simulator X add-ons. However, 32-bit aircraft modules are not compatible with 64-bit Prepar3D versions, and third-party add-ons must be updated for the specific Prepar3D version being used.

Source
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