ChatGPT Voice Copilot for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 via SimConnect

Official Microsoft Flight Simulator Wishlist
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Hello Microsoft Flight Simulator community!

I’d like to suggest a feature that I think would be extremely useful and exciting for aviation enthusiasts, flight simulator users, and ChatGPT itself.

My suggestion is a ChatGPT voice copilot for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 using Microsoft’s SimConnect interface.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 provides SimConnect, as you know which allows compatible applications to access live simulator data. I’d love to see ChatGPT connect with this data through a companion application running on a Windows PC.

Imagine being able to talk naturally with ChatGPT your flight sim copilot while flying and have it understand what’s happening in the aircraft in real time!

For example, I could ask:

  • “What’s our current position?”
  • “What’s our heading and altitude?”
  • “Are we on course for Martha’s Vineyard?”
  • “How far are we from the airport?”
  • “Why aren’t we climbing?”
  • “What’s my current airspeed?”
  • “Can you help me troubleshoot this aircraft system?”
  • “What should I be doing next in the traffic pattern?”

With access to the appropriate simulator data, ChatGPT could provide useful information about the aircraft’s position, altitude, airspeed, heading, navigation, flight plan, autopilot settings, and other available simulator variables.

It could also help with preflight checklists, flight planning, navigation, understanding aircraft systems, and learning proper flying procedures.

The goal would be an interactive AI copilot and flight instructor that can communicate naturally with the pilot while understanding the current flight situation.

Ideally, this could work through a small Windows companion application that connects to MSFS 2024 through SimConnect and securely provides relevant flight data to ChatGPT through a supported integration.

I understand that SimConnect integration would require additional software and that ChatGPT would need a supported way to receive and interpret the simulator data. However, I believe this is a very achievable and worthwhile direction for AI-assisted simulation.

This would be especially useful for people who enjoy realistic flying but would also appreciate an intelligent copilot who can answer questions, explain procedures, and help them learn as they fly.

Thanks,

RhodyPilot

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Why not just go with Say Intentions AI that does all that already

2 Likes
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correct. SI standalone version has all that with a few voices. No subscription necessary

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3 posts were merged into an existing topic: Sayintentions AI ATC Master Thread

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Either way there are options for what the OP might want to do.

Essentially Voice → text → SimConnect, and vice versa. You could do that with SPAD, if you could figure out the TTS bit.

Something like VoiceAttack could probably do. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Comparing WAV’s for example. You record yourself saying a thing, and confirm that the software correctly identfies what you said, like “Gear Up” or similar. That then needs to be pushed to SPAD somehow, either by script, command or something similar. SPAD allows for external control, I think.

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Not even close to real interaction.

Say Intentions is not a true voice copilot, speaking to you as real person would.

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I’m not sure how or what you’re basing your response on. No woories ! There is a free 24 hrs trial.

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What would? What would it need to do differently? Does it need to talk back to you? How would you pay for the back end processing needed to have many users of this product having their voices interpreted, and then simulated speech relayed back to the client?

SI is probably the closest we have to that, and that requires a monthly subscription. All that processing isn’t free, or cheap for that matter.

Looking at your list of questions you cited, some would be relatively easy, others no so much. Location, altitude, distance from an airport would in theory be simple. Some already exist as simvars, others would have to be interpreted, such as the Vinyard one.

Others, such as “Why aren’t we climbing?” could have a dozen or more diferernt explanations, or even worse the troubleshooting a given system one. That might be moving into the territory of an expert system, which would need to be programmed with every permutation you could think of, and on top of that it would have to be cater for any given plane you happen to be flying. Some thing like that could exist one day, but it might take years of tinkering to make it happen.

For giggles, and since I happen to have it to hand, I posed MS Copilot the following question:

“Theoretical situation. I’m flying a Cessna 172. I’m at 4000ft, and I am unable to climb. What might be the reason for this?”

This was its response.

Summary

In a Cessna 172, being unable to climb at 4,000 ft could have many causes. Assuming you’re at full power and trying to climb, I’d think about them in four broad categories:

1. Aircraft Performance Limitations

The aircraft may simply not have enough excess power available.

  • High density altitude (hot day, high pressure altitude, high humidity):

    • Even though you’re indicating 4,000 ft, the engine, propeller, and wings may be performing as if you’re much higher.
    • A C172 that climbs well on a cool day may struggle significantly on a hot summer afternoon.

  • Aircraft overweight

    • Extra passengers, baggage, or fuel reduce climb performance.
    • An overloaded aircraft may be unable to maintain the expected climb rate.

  • Aft or forward centre of gravity

    • Extreme CG positions can reduce climb performance.
    • A very forward CG typically requires more tail-down force, increasing drag.

2. Powerplant Issues

The engine may not be producing rated power.

  • Incorrect mixture setting

    • At 4,000 ft, especially on a warm day, a full-rich mixture can reduce power.
    • Leaning appropriately may restore performance.

  • Carburettor icing (on carburetted models)

    • Can cause gradual power loss even in seemingly good weather.

  • Magneto problems

    • Running on one magneto can significantly reduce power.

  • Partial engine failure

    • Fouled spark plugs.
    • Fuel contamination.
    • Induction blockage.
    • Exhaust restrictions.

  • Throttle not fully opening

    • Mechanical issues with throttle linkage.

3. Pilot Technique

A surprisingly common cause.

  • Too high a pitch attitude

    • The aircraft may be flying below Vy (best rate of climb speed).
    • Excessive pitch can result in little or no climb and may approach a stall.

  • Flying at the wrong speed

    • Too slow = increased induced drag.
    • Too fast = excess parasite drag.
    • Either condition reduces climb performance.

  • Flaps not fully retracted

    • Leaving climb flaps extended can significantly reduce climb rate.

4. Environmental Factors

Sometimes the aeroplane is performing normally relative to the air mass.

  • Downdrafts

    • Mountain wave activity.
    • Mechanical turbulence.
    • Localized sinking air.

  • Strong sink in convective conditions

    • You may be climbing through the air but descending relative to the ground.

  • Wind shear

    • Can create the impression that climb performance has suddenly degraded.

Quick Troubleshooting Priorities

If I were teaching a student in this scenario, I’d immediately check:

  1. Airspeed - Are we at Vy?
  2. Full power - RPM, manifold pressure (if fitted), engine indications.
  3. Mixture - Correctly set?
  4. Carb heat - Any possibility of carb ice?
  5. Flaps - Fully retracted?
  6. Density altitude - Is today’s performance actually sufficient?
  7. Weight and balance - Within limits?

If the aircraft truly cannot maintain altitude despite full power and correct airspeed, I’d start suspecting an engine power-loss issue or severe environmental conditions.

A useful follow-up question in the cockpit would be: Is the aircraft maintaining 4,000 ft but unable to climb, or is it actually descending despite full power? The causes differ significantly between those two situations.

You could even use an accessiblity feature here to read to you what has been printed to screen, and that woudn’t require any bandwidth or remote processing.