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Aviation · head to head

FlightSafety International Training vs X-Plane 12

FlightSafety International Training logo

FlightSafety International Training

Aviation

Advanced flight crew training and certification

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
X-Plane 12 logo

X-Plane 12

Aviation

Professional flight simulation software

From
$59.99/lifetime
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: FlightSafety International Training flightSafety International gates training course pricing behind a Full-Service customer agreement; its own FAQ states courses are offered at no charge or a reduced fee only to customers under such an agreement, with pricing not published for others.; X-Plane 12 commercial and professional use requires a separate licence at $1,000, against $59.99 for the personal digital download
  • They diverge on capability: FlightSafety International Training covers Flight training, X-Plane 12 covers Flight physics.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which FlightSafety International Training and X-Plane 12 actually diverge.

Attributes where FlightSafety International Training and X-Plane 12 differ
AttributeFlightSafety International TrainingX-Plane 12
Starting priceOn request$59.99/lifetime
Pricing modelusage-basedone-time
PlatformsOn-siteWindows, Macos, Linux
Founded19511995

Identical on both: 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 FlightSafety International Training

  • Flight training
  • Type ratings
  • Recurrent training
  • Simulator time
  • Certification
  • Airlines
  • Operators
  • Regulatory bodies

Only in X-Plane 12

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

What people use each for

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

FlightSafety International Training

  • Type ratingnot X-Plane 12
  • Recurrent trainingnot X-Plane 12
  • Upgrade trainingnot X-Plane 12
  • Initial trainingnot X-Plane 12

X-Plane 12

  • Flight simulation for private pilots and enthusiastsnot FlightSafety International Training
  • Procedure practice and aircraft familiarisationnot FlightSafety International Training

Where each one falls short

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

FlightSafety International Training

  • FlightSafety International gates training course pricing behind a Full-Service customer agreement; its own FAQ states courses are offered at no charge or a reduced fee only to customers under such an agreement, with pricing not published for others.

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

Pricing, plan by plan

FlightSafety International Training

On request
  • Type Rating TrainingFree
    • Professional training
    • Simulators
    • Certification
  • Recurrent TrainingFree
    • Ongoing training
    • Currency maintenance
    • Checkrides

X-Plane 12

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

Which should you pick?

Choose FlightSafety International Training if

  • You need flight training.
  • You work on On-site.
  • You also want type ratings.
FlightSafety International Training review

Choose X-Plane 12 if

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

Questions people ask

Is FlightSafety International Training or X-Plane 12 better?
Neither clearly leads. FlightSafety International Training starts at On request and X-Plane 12 at $59.99/lifetime, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, FlightSafety International Training or X-Plane 12?
FlightSafety International Training starts at On request and X-Plane 12 at $59.99/lifetime.
Does FlightSafety International Training or X-Plane 12 run on more platforms?
FlightSafety International Training runs on On-site. X-Plane 12 runs on Windows, Macos, Linux.
What is FlightSafety International Training best used for?
FlightSafety International Training is most often used for type rating, recurrent training, upgrade training, initial training. Of those, type rating and recurrent training are not what X-Plane 12 is typically brought in for.
What can FlightSafety International Training do that X-Plane 12 cannot?
FlightSafety International Training covers Flight training, Type ratings, Recurrent training, Simulator time. X-Plane 12 covers Flight physics, Global scenery, Realistic aircraft, Weather simulation.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

FlightSafety International Training: Where can I find FlightSafety training pricing?

Pricing is not displayed on the homepage. You can find pricing for specific courses by accessing the course search page to make a reservation request, or by contacting FlightSafety directly through their contact page.

Source
X-Plane 12: How much does X-Plane 12 Personal Edition cost?

X-Plane 12 Personal Edition is priced at $59.99 for digital download, the same price on Steam, or $99.99 for the DVD set.

Source
FlightSafety International Training: Can I enroll directly online or do I need to contact sales?

You can either enroll through an online enrollment link or make a reservation request through the course search tool. Existing customers can sign into their accounts directly.

Source
X-Plane 12: What is the pricing difference for professional use of X-Plane 12?

Professional-use versions are significantly more expensive, ranging from $1,000 for digital downloads to $1,250 for USB keys.

Source
FlightSafety International Training: Does FlightSafety offer a free trial or sample training?

The homepage does not mention a free trial or introductory offer. Pricing and course details are available through the course search and reservation request process.

Source
X-Plane 12: How do I activate X-Plane 12 after purchasing the digital download?

When you purchase the digital download edition, you will receive an email confirmation with instructions on how to use and activate X-Plane 12.

Source
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