Since the launch of FS 2024, I focused so much on Career Mode that I totally forgot Free Flight.
It happens that today I decided to really test Free Flight and discovered that everything that won’t work in Career Mode works perfectly in Free Flight, and I mean a huge list of features. I think it makes sense, as Free Flight is the mode which targets pilots who focus on the simulation aspect only.
Now it’s clear to me how they planned this launching, and I really believe they didn’t expect so many users wanting Career Mode. It’s an addictive mode, true. For now I’ll just study my aviation and piloting skills and focus on Free Flight, using Career Mode only to have some fun until they fix it properly.
That’s it, don’t even try to compare both modes, just stick with Free Flight for now. Career Mode has a huge potential, but by no means we can expect it to be fixed soon. Somehow they are tied to different project frameworks, otherwise we wouldn’t be seeing such a big difference between both modes.
My Career Mode missions are roughly following the route of my Free Flight world tour, so each mode becomes a rest from the other one. I find they work perfectly hand in hand…
I use A Pilot’s Life 2 in order to bring a career mode into free flight. It’s an amazing addon and fully compatible with 2024. For pax simulation, I use Self Loading Cargo. Having both addons at the same time gives me a third-party career mode experience that is way superior to the built-in career.
Nevertheless, I also play the built-in career mode when I’m in the mood for a more relaxed and casual experience, and to deal with things like aircraft maintenance, which I find to be the most fascinating feature within the mode.
I’m a licensed ATP in the built-in career and have the airline pilot specialization fully unlocked, so in my mind, I’ve earned the right to use A Pilot’s Life in free flight.