Private Pilotage of a Flight Simulator in Paris

Taking the captain’s seat of an Airbus A320 is the main event here. At AviaSim, you get a private cockpit session with a professional pilot instructor, not a quick arcade-style game. You learn the controls, start the engines, and then handle the flight yourself.

I like the private format, which lets the instructor adjust the session to your interests and experience. I also like the useful balance of 10 minutes of briefing and 35 minutes of flight, enough time to get past the buttons and enjoy takeoffs, landings, and changing flight conditions. The main concern is scheduling: several customers have reported poor communication, address confusion, or last-minute changes, so confirm every detail before setting out.

Key points at a glance

• Fly an Airbus A320 from the captain’s seat, with a professional pilot instructor beside you.
• Spend about 45 minutes inside the simulator, including a 10-minute cockpit briefing and 35 minutes of flight time.
• Choose your own kind of session, with the chance to work on takeoffs, landings, airports, weather, or aircraft handling.
• Bring children from age 10, making this a good parent-and-child activity for an aviation-minded family.
• Receive a pilot diploma at the end, a small but welcome souvenir.
• Plan carefully around customer-service risks, including reported changes to times, outdated map information, and occasional equipment problems.

Taking the controls in an Airbus A320

This is not a sightseeing flight over Paris. You will not see the Eiffel Tower from the cockpit or ride in a moving aircraft. Instead, you sit at the controls of a full airliner simulator and work with a pilot instructor who guides you through the basic steps.

That distinction matters. The appeal is hands-on participation. You are not watching someone else fly. After the briefing, you become the captain for the session, with the instructor helping you understand the instruments and respond to the aircraft.

The A320 is one of the world’s most widely used passenger aircraft, and its cockpit can look intimidating at first. There are many screens, switches, controls, and unfamiliar abbreviations. The briefing is designed to make that wall of equipment manageable. You learn what matters for the flight rather than trying to memorize every control.

The session is open to beginners, and the minimum age is 10. You do not need a pilot’s license or prior simulator experience. If you already fly professionally or have spent time in a Boeing 737 simulator, the experience can still be useful. One experienced 737 pilot used the session to compare the Boeing and Airbus systems and found the A320 easy to handle after a short introduction.

The 10-minute briefing: getting comfortable before takeoff

The first part takes about 10 minutes. Your instructor introduces you to the simulator cockpit, explains the main instruments, and starts the engines with you. This is the point where the session either becomes accessible or feels rushed, so the instructor’s approach matters.

The strongest part of the operation is its teaching style. Instructors such as Arnaud, Marc, Martin, and Ryan have been singled out for being friendly, patient, and clear, although the instructor assigned to your booking may be different. Arnaud, in particular, has experience working with people preparing for airline assessments and can give more technical guidance when needed.

For a first-time flyer, ask questions early. Tell the instructor if you want a simple introduction or a more detailed session. If you have flown another simulator, mention that too. The Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 do not handle every task in the same way, and the instructor can spend more time on the differences rather than repeating basic material you already understand.

A good briefing should leave you knowing where to look when the aircraft climbs, turns, or descends. You will not become an airline pilot in 45 minutes, but you can learn why cockpit teamwork, instruments, speed, altitude, and direction all matter.

Thirty-five minutes of flight time

After the briefing, you get approximately 35 minutes of flight. The exact shape of that time depends on your instructor and what you want to do. You can take the controls and work through the basics, or use the time to practice a few takeoffs and landings.

The experience can be set up with different airports and conditions. Extended simulator sessions have included flights between several airports, along with changes to weather, aircraft weight, and starting position. A shorter session will not allow every possible combination, but you can still ask for the type of flight you find most interesting.

For a first visit, I would use the time for one careful takeoff, some basic handling, and at least one landing. Takeoffs give you the satisfying feeling of getting the aircraft airborne, while landings show how much coordination is involved. If you are already comfortable with flight simulators, ask to try several approaches or more demanding conditions.

The instructor remains beside you throughout the flight. That makes this suitable for someone who likes aviation but would feel lost alone in a cockpit. The instructor can explain what is happening and help you recover if your approach goes wrong. You are still the person making the decisions and handling the aircraft, but you are not left to guess.

The simulator gives you the chance to repeat a task without the cost or risk of operating a real airliner. That is the real value of the session. You can make mistakes, correct them, and see how small changes to speed, heading, or attitude affect the flight.

What makes the private format worthwhile

The booking is for your group alone. That is a major advantage over a shared demonstration, especially if you are buying the experience as a gift or bringing a child. You can ask questions without feeling that you are holding up a room full of strangers.

The private setting also lets you choose the level of detail. An aviation fan may want to discuss aircraft systems and compare the Airbus cockpit with the Boeing 737. A parent and child may prefer a simple introduction, with the child taking part in the takeoff or landing.

A parent and daughter used one session as a shared activity, with the daughter acting as co-pilot and actively helping with takeoffs and landings. That points to an important detail: this need not be a solitary experience. Ask the instructor how another person in your group can participate.

Still, private does not necessarily mean flexible in every practical matter. Your booked time remains important, and the activity lasts only about 45 minutes. Arriving late can reduce your flying time rather than shifting the whole schedule. Build in extra time to find the address.

Price and value at $119.48

At $119.48 per person, this is not a cheap way to fill a spare hour in Paris. It is a specialist activity aimed at people who want to operate an airliner simulator, not a general sightseeing attraction.

The price makes more sense if you value personal instruction. You get a private session, a professional pilot instructor, about 35 minutes at the controls, and a pilot diploma. For a parent sharing the cockpit with a child, or for someone preparing for a flight assessment, those details add practical value.

The experience is less compelling if you mainly want a quick aviation-themed photo or a passive look inside a cockpit. The simulator requires your attention and participation. You pay for the chance to fly, not simply to sit in a realistic cabin.

I also would not compare this directly with the longer packages used for professional preparation. A 45-minute introductory session gives you a taste of the aircraft and time for basic flying. Longer sessions can support repeated approaches, multiple airports, and changing weather or weight settings. If your goal is assessment preparation, ask about a longer booking rather than expecting this short format to do everything.

The diploma is a modest extra, but it helps turn the session into a gift experience. It gives younger participants something physical to take home after the cockpit lights go dark.

Getting to 16 Rue Raymond Aron

The meeting point is 16 Rue Raymond Aron, 75013 Paris, and the activity ends there. The location is near public transportation, though the information provided does not specify a particular station or route.

Give yourself time to locate the entrance. One customer reported that a map service directed them to an old AviaSim address, where the premises were empty, and that the business had moved without a clear alert to previous customers. This is exactly the kind of small problem that can spoil a short appointment.

Before leaving your hotel, check the current address in your confirmation and contact the provider if anything looks unclear. Save the booking details on your phone. If you are taking a taxi or ride service, show the full street address rather than relying only on the company name.

Opening hours are Tuesday through Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The activity is not listed for Sundays or Mondays. Since confirmation may take up to 48 hours for bookings made within two days of the experience, last-minute planners should not assume that a request is final until they receive confirmation.

The customer-service question

The biggest weakness is not the simulator itself. It is communication.

Several experiences have gone smoothly, with staff helping correct booking mistakes and instructors providing warm, clear guidance. Martin has been praised for flexibility, and Marc for working hard to meet customer needs. These are encouraging signs once you are in the room.

But there have also been serious problems. Calls and emails have sometimes gone unanswered. One booking had to be rescheduled after the simulator was unavailable. Another customer dealt with a time moved first by 15 minutes and then by another 30 minutes, an old address, and a session shortened after arriving late.

These accounts do not prove that every booking will have trouble, but they give you useful advice. Confirm the date, time, address, and expected duration. Keep all correspondence. If you have a fixed train, restaurant booking, or airport transfer afterward, leave plenty of space.

The overall rating is 4.4 from 65 reviews, which suggests that the actual cockpit session is usually the stronger part of the experience. The operational side deserves more caution.

Who will enjoy this most

This works best for an aviation enthusiast, an aspiring pilot, or anyone who likes technical hands-on activities. It is also a good birthday or family gift for someone aged 10 or older who has always wanted to sit in an airliner cockpit.

You do not need previous experience. The instructor can explain the basics and help you make sense of the controls. At the same time, a licensed pilot or experienced simulator user can ask for more demanding practice and a comparison between aircraft types.

The experience may not suit someone who wants a relaxed, scenic outing. There is no food included, no city tour, and no sightseeing component. You spend the session focused on instruments and flight handling.

Service animals are allowed, and the activity is near public transportation. The supplied information says most people can participate, but it does not give more specific details about cockpit access or mobility needs. If those details matter to you, ask before booking.

How to get the most from 45 minutes

I would arrive early and decide what you want before the engines start. You have limited time, so a simple plan helps.

For a beginner, request this order:

• A quick explanation of the main cockpit screens and controls
• One takeoff with the instructor’s help
• Basic turning and altitude changes
• One approach and landing
• Time for questions at the end

If you have simulator experience, ask about different airports, weather, aircraft weight, or starting positions. A 737 pilot used the A320 session to study the differences between the two aircraft, while longer bookings allowed repeated flights in places such as Hong Kong, Ajaccio, and Fort-de-France.

Do not worry about making mistakes. The instructor is there to guide you, and the simulator is the right place to learn by trying. Tell the instructor if you want to handle more of the flight yourself. Some people want close coaching, while others want to see how far they can get before asking for help.

Should you book this Paris flight simulator?

Book it if you want a focused, private aviation experience and are happy to spend an hour working with a professional instructor. The A320 cockpit, personal guidance, flexible flight setup, and pilot diploma give the activity real substance for the price.

I would be more cautious if your schedule is tight or if you are booking close to the date. Confirm the address and time, watch for the final confirmation, and keep a buffer around the appointment. The simulator experience itself appears to be the draw, while communication and scheduling are the areas that need your attention.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund. With those precautions in place, this is a strong choice for an aviation fan, a curious teenager, or a parent looking for an unusual Paris activity beyond the usual monuments.

FAQ

Where does the flight simulator experience begin?

It begins at 16 Rue Raymond Aron, 75013 Paris, France.

Where does the activity end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point.

How long does the experience last?

It lasts approximately 45 minutes, including about 10 minutes of briefing and 35 minutes of flight time.

What aircraft simulator will I use?

The experience is conducted in an Airbus A320 flight simulator.

Is a professional pilot instructor included?

Yes. A professional pilot instructor accompanies you during the briefing and flight.

What is the minimum age?

The experience is available to participants from age 10.

Is the activity private?

Yes. Only your group participates in the private activity.

What is included in the price?

A pilot diploma is included. Snacks are not included.