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X-Plane 12 vs ARINC Flight Operations Services

X-Plane 12 logo

X-Plane 12

Software

Professional flight simulation software

From
$59.99/lifetime
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ARINC Flight Operations Services logo

ARINC Flight Operations Services

Software

Airline flight operations and communications platform

From
$50000/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: X-Plane 12 commercial and professional use requires a separate licence at $1,000, against $59.99 for the personal digital download; 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.
  • They diverge on capability: X-Plane 12 covers Flight physics, ARINC Flight Operations Services covers ACARS messaging.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which X-Plane 12 and ARINC Flight Operations Services actually diverge.

Attributes where X-Plane 12 and ARINC Flight Operations Services differ
AttributeX-Plane 12ARINC Flight Operations Services
Starting price$59.99/lifetime$50000/year
Pricing modelone-timesubscription
PlatformsWindows, Macos, LinuxWeb, Systems
Founded19951929

Identical on both: free tier (No), 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 X-Plane 12

  • Flight physics
  • Global scenery
  • Realistic aircraft
  • Weather simulation
  • ATC system
  • Plugins
  • Add-ons
  • VR headsets

Only in ARINC Flight Operations Services

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

What people use each for

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

X-Plane 12

  • Flight simulation for private pilots and enthusiastsnot ARINC Flight Operations Services
  • Procedure practice and aircraft familiarisationnot ARINC Flight Operations Services

ARINC Flight Operations Services

  • Flight operationsnot X-Plane 12
  • Communicationsnot X-Plane 12
  • Data servicesnot X-Plane 12
  • Weathernot X-Plane 12

Where each one falls short

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

X-Plane 12

  • Commercial and professional use requires a separate licence at $1,000, against $59.99 for the personal digital download
  • The personal edition therefore cannot be used for paid training or commercial simulation
  • The professional edition is a distinct product rather than an upgrade path

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.

Pricing, plan by plan

X-Plane 12

$59.99/lifetime
  • X-Plane 12$59.99/lifetime
    • Full simulator
    • Global scenery
    • Realistic physics

ARINC Flight Operations Services

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

Which should you pick?

Choose X-Plane 12 if

  • You need flight physics.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux.
  • You also want global scenery.
X-Plane 12 review

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

Questions people ask

Is X-Plane 12 or ARINC Flight Operations Services better?
Neither clearly leads. X-Plane 12 starts at $59.99/lifetime and ARINC Flight Operations Services at $50000/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, X-Plane 12 or ARINC Flight Operations Services?
X-Plane 12 starts at $59.99/lifetime and ARINC Flight Operations Services at $50000/year.
Does X-Plane 12 or ARINC Flight Operations Services run on more platforms?
X-Plane 12 runs on Windows, Macos, Linux. ARINC Flight Operations Services runs on Web, Systems.
What is X-Plane 12 best used for?
X-Plane 12 is most often used for flight simulation for private pilots and enthusiasts, procedure practice and aircraft familiarisation. Of those, flight simulation for private pilots and enthusiasts and procedure practice and aircraft familiarisation are not what ARINC Flight Operations Services is typically brought in for.
What can X-Plane 12 do that ARINC Flight Operations Services cannot?
X-Plane 12 covers Flight physics, Global scenery, Realistic aircraft, Weather simulation. ARINC Flight Operations Services covers ACARS messaging, Flight operations, Communications, Weather data.
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