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CAE Flight Training vs simBrief

CAE Flight Training logo

CAE Flight Training

Software

World leader in professional flight training

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
S

simBrief

Software

Free online flight planning for flight simulators

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only simBrief has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: CAE Flight Training mostly delivered through physical full-flight simulators and training centres rather than as software a customer installs; simBrief the free version uses a navigation database the vendor describes as slightly outdated by default
  • They diverge on capability: CAE Flight Training covers Full-flight simulators, simBrief covers Flight planning.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CAE Flight Training and simBrief actually diverge.

Attributes where CAE Flight Training and simBrief differ
AttributeCAE Flight TrainingsimBrief
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelusage-basedfree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsOn-siteWeb
Founded19472009

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 CAE Flight Training

  • Full-flight simulators
  • Type rating training
  • Crew resource training
  • Maintenance training
  • Certification
  • Airlines
  • Regulators
  • Learning platforms

Only in simBrief

  • Flight planning
  • Weather integration
  • NOTAM analysis
  • Fuel calculation
  • Briefing generation
  • Real weather
  • NOTAM data
  • Aircraft database

What people use each for

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

CAE Flight Training

  • Type rating and recurrent training for airline and business jet pilotsnot simBrief
  • Cadet to captain airline training programmesnot simBrief
  • Cabin crew and maintenance technician trainingnot simBrief
  • Flight data analysis and operations management through Flightscapenot simBrief
  • Courseware and training records management with CAE Pelesysnot simBrief

simBrief

  • Generating realistic flight plans and briefing packs for flight simulationnot CAE Flight Training
  • Calculating fuel, routing and weight and balance for simulated flightsnot CAE Flight Training

Where each one falls short

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

CAE Flight Training

  • Mostly delivered through physical full-flight simulators and training centres rather than as software a customer installs
  • The software pieces, Flightscape, CAE Rise and CAE Pelesys, are sold to airlines and operators rather than to individual pilots
  • Pricing is not published

simBrief

  • The free version uses a navigation database the vendor describes as slightly outdated by default
  • Current navigation data updated every 28 days requires a separate Navigraph subscription
  • Jeppesen IFR and VFR charts require the higher Navigraph Unlimited subscription
  • Neither subscription price is stated on the SimBrief site, since both are sold by Navigraph

Pricing, plan by plan

CAE Flight Training

On request
  • Pilot TrainingFree
    • Full-flight simulators
    • Type ratings
    • Crew training
  • Maintenance TrainingFree
    • Technical training
    • Systems training
    • Certification

simBrief

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Flight planning
    • Weather analysis
    • Fuel planning

Which should you pick?

Choose CAE Flight Training if

  • You need full-flight simulators.
  • You work on On-site.
  • You also want type rating training.
CAE Flight Training review

Choose simBrief if

  • You need flight planning.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want weather integration.
simBrief review

Questions people ask

Is CAE Flight Training or simBrief better?
Neither clearly leads. CAE Flight Training starts at On request and simBrief at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CAE Flight Training or simBrief?
simBrief has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for CAE Flight Training and Free for simBrief.
Does CAE Flight Training or simBrief run on more platforms?
CAE Flight Training runs on On-site. simBrief runs on Web.
Can I use simBrief for free?
Yes. simBrief has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. CAE Flight Training starts at On request.
What is CAE Flight Training best used for?
CAE Flight Training is most often used for type rating and recurrent training for airline and business jet pilots, cadet to captain airline training programmes, cabin crew and maintenance technician training, flight data analysis and operations management through flightscape. Of those, type rating and recurrent training for airline and business jet pilots and cadet to captain airline training programmes are not what simBrief is typically brought in for.
What can CAE Flight Training do that simBrief cannot?
CAE Flight Training covers Full-flight simulators, Type rating training, Crew resource training, Maintenance training. simBrief covers Flight planning, Weather integration, NOTAM analysis, Fuel calculation.
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