What if there was a way to get flight instruction over the Internet or a LAN? What if a friend on the other side of the world could take you for a flight over their favorite spot in Kathmandu? How about acting as a crew member on one of Flight Simulator's airliners?

That's all possible using Flight Simulator's shared skies feature.

Flight Simulator Multiplayer allows you to share control of a single aircraft. This is a great tool for giving or receiving instruction over the Internet or a LAN with someone far away (or down the hall).

Sharing the aircraft can also be a fun way to have a friend show you some beautiful scenery without you ever having to travel to their part of the world.

Note: As a participant in a Multiplayer session, you either host a session or join someone else's session. The host must enable the sharing option on the Advanced Options screen to allow other participants to share with players other than the host.

How to Share an Aircraft

The essential thing to know about sharing aircraft is that you can pass control of the aircraft back and forth between two participants in a Multiplayer session. An instructor can demonstrate a maneuver, then hand control to a student to have them try the same maneuver. Or you can take turns showing each other scenery in your part of the world.

Note: The host can share his aircraft at any time but the host cannot join another player's shared aircraft. The host must enable other players to share aircraft with each other.

To allow players to share the host aircraft On the Multiplayer screen, sign in using GameSpy or a Local Area Network. Note: You must set up a GameSpy account before trying to sign into GameSpy. Click Host a Session. Select the Session is visible to others option (Internet, LAN, or both). Click Next. Select a role, aircraft, location, weather, etc., then click Next. Under Sharing, select the Share my aircraft check box. Click Next. When you're ready to start flying, click Fly Now.

Players can also share their aircraft with each other when the host enables that option. When a player uses this option, the next player in the session to click the Join button is the one who will share that aircraft.

To allow players to share their aircraft with other players See Player Options in the Advanced Host Options article.

There are two options that you can select when sharing:

• Disable sharing after session begins if no one has joined
  This option prevents anyone from joining after you click Fly to start the session.
• Enable shared voice communication
  This option simulates an intercom system in the aircraft. The advantage of this option is that players do not need to press a button to talk to each other.

All players see a list of shared aircraft when they reach the Briefing Room (the last screen before the session starts). Unless the shared aircraft has been password-protected, any player can join one of them.

How to Join an Aircraft

You can join the host's aircraft if the host has made their aircraft available to join. You can also join another players aircraft if:

1. The host has enabled sharing for all players.
2. Another player has chosen to share their aircraft.

Note: The host can share his aircraft at any time but the host cannot join another player's shared aircraft.

To join a shared aircraft In the Briefing Room, click Join next to the aircraft that you want to join. Click Join Session.

Transferring Aircraft Control

Once you start flying in a Multiplayer shared-aircraft session, you can transfer control of the aircraft back and forth with the other pilot.

The pilot in control is the only one who can fly the aircraft. However, the other pilot can still operate aircraft systems and radios.

To transfer aircraft control Press SHIFT+T. The other pilot receives a message asking if they want to accept control of the aircraft. To accept aircraft control Press SHIFT+T.

Voice Communication

If you have a Windows-compatible headset (or a microphone and speakers) and want to use voice communications while sharing an aircraft, you must select the voice communication option. A broadband Internet connection is required for voice communications.

The advantage to using the intercom is that players don't have to push a button to talk. This feature simulates a “hot” microphone that is always on.

This option is only available when you share an aircraft.

To enable voice communication (broadband Internet connection required) On the Multiplayer screen, sign in using GameSpy or a Local Area Network. Host or join a session. Under Sharing, select the Enable shared voice communication check box.

Stop Sharing an Aircraft

At some point in your session, you may wish to stop sharing control of the aircraft with the host without ending the session.

Important: If the host presses ESC to exit to the Briefing Room, it will end the session entirely.

To stop sharing aircraft control Press ESC to exit to the Briefing Room. The other pilot receives a message that the aircraft is no longer shared.