Developer PropairFlight has released its Piper Cheyenne III twin-engine turboprop for Microsoft Flight Simulator. Notably, the addon is accompanied by a structured SkyPass Type Rating program designed to teach virtual pilots how to operate the aircraft realistically. Available for both Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and 2024, the bundle combines the high-fidelity turboprop with a training program based on real-world type-rating principles.
The SkyPass program takes users through ground school, aircraft systems, and progressively more demanding flight training, with performance evaluatation after each mission. According to PropairFlight, the program provides approximately 50 hours of practical training and uses an AI-assisted evaluation system to provide feedback on pilots’ performance.
The Piper PA-42 Cheyenne III is a pressurized twin-turboprop business aircraft designed for high-altitude and all-weather operations. Powered by two Pratt & Whitney PT6A-41 engines, the aircraft can reach altitudes of up to 33,000 feet and has a maximum operating speed of 246 KCAS, making the Cheyenne III a seriously capable and versatile aircraft for its size. Notably, the type was used beyond the executive market, with examples operated by airlines, including Lufthansa and Alitalia, for flight training.
To achieve its performance, the Cheyenne III features a range of systems to manage, including cabin pressurization, hydraulics, pneumatic airframe de-icing, and engine and propeller ice protection. The addon also features both passenger and medevac configurations, alongside six liveries and a choice between the Garmin G1000 glass cockpit and a traditional analogue flight deck.
The SkyPass Type Rating Program
What makes this release unique, is the fact that the aircraft was developed together with SkyPass Type Rating. SkyPass integrates learning based on real-world methods and resources directly into the flight sim experience. For the Cheyenne, official training material for the type was used to create a type rating course that uses the fundamental structures of real-world training, streamlined into the flight simulator context.
During flight, the system records performance data of the aircraft. Once a mission is complete an an AI-assisted evaluation system provides the user with written feedback on what went well, where procedures were deviated from, and what to improve upon in the next flight. SkyPass works with a credit system, and the bundle contains 100 SkyPass credits, allowing users to complete the 50-hour course and take missions multiple times.
The PropairFlight Cheyenne III is available for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and 2024 for around €40 on the official product website. The developer notes that while the SkyPass system is integrated with the addon, users are not expected or forced to purchase further credits beyond the 100 included with the bundle. The PropairFlight Cheyenne III is a fully standalone aircraft and will function without limitation on both sims, should the user not wish to utilize SkyPass functionality. A detailed description of all features and the SkyPass system can be found on the official PropairFlight website, where extra credits are also available for purchase.
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