The roar of the engines fills the cockpit.
In a few seconds, the speed exceeds 200 kilometers per hour.
The ground moves away.
We fly away!
Fingers clenched on the joystick, we believe for a moment that we have successfully taken off an airliner.
But the lack of a push sensation quickly brings us back to reality.
We are at the Mercure Porte de Versailles Expo hotel, in the west of Paris.
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A faithful reconstruction of an Airbus A320 cockpit, the simulator is part of the Aviasim network, a company that offers simulations of airliners, fighter planes and helicopters all over France.
The French company has entered into a partnership with the hotelier Accor to install cockpits in three establishments: the Mercure Porte de Versailles, the Mercure Bordeaux Chartrons and the Novotel Massy Palaiseau.
We have an appointment with Damien Panetta, 26, pilot and simulator manager.
Here we are in the left seat, that of the captain.
Our one-day instructor sits in the co-pilot's place, on the right.
On the other side of the cockpit windows, three screens show a model of the take-off runway at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport.
Various buttons, joysticks and control screens surround the two seats.
Immersion is successful.
" Where do you want to go ?
asks
the co-pilot.
Aviasim's software can recreate a trip to and from over 24,000 destinations.
We opt for a stroll above the capital, a prank usually reserved for the Patrouille de France.
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like a video game
The many cockpit controls.
In the center, the throttle.
Pierre Morel / Le Figaro
First source of astonishment: the piloting is carried out thanks to a joystick located on the left, closer to the joystick of a video game console than to the idea that one has of the joystick.
Then comes the review of the different commands.
Their number makes you dizzy.
Handbrake, spoilers, flaps, throttles, radio, on-board computer, GPS, terrain radar and dozens of other mysterious buttons… Fortunately, Damien Panetta will take care of activating most of them, or will invite us to press some at the appropriate time.
The first, which must be activated before take-off, is accompanied by jubilant pleasure: it tells our 180 imaginary passengers to buckle up, which generates the characteristic sound signal.
After takeoff, the experience is revealed without great difficulty.
In reality, the flight plan is recorded upstream and the aircraft automatically takes the appropriate heading to reach the requested destination.
But to spice up the experience, our instructor deactivates the automatic mode.
Do not expect to fly on sight.
We fix the screen on which it is necessary to position, using the joystick, the small black cross (the course taken by the plane) on the small green cross (the course to adopt to move towards the selected destination).
For example, if the green cross is in the lower half of the screen, the on-board computer believes the aircraft has gained too much altitude.
It is then necessary to push the joystick forward, which makes the device nose dive.
After a few minutes, the controls become familiar.
We venture to admire the landscape.
Below, the Eiffel Tower.
This is the time to test the limits of the device.
We frankly push the joystick down.
The Haussmann buildings are getting dangerously close.
In the cockpit, the alarms are linked.
When you decide to straighten out, you simply pull on the stick: the plane immediately regains altitude as if it weighed only a few kilos.
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5% of features in an hour
Second challenge: we cut the gas.
The plane begins to hover slowly.
Speed is surprisingly little affected, but we are slowly losing altitude.
We then try to straighten the aircraft: the speed drops instantly.
We are close to stalling, a speed too low to allow the plane to glide.
But to avoid disaster, the on-board computer automatically restarts the engines and positions the nose of the plane downwards so as to regain speed.
All this is reassuring about flight safety.
Aviasim also offers courses against fear in the sky.
Comes the hour of the landing, the most difficult for the end.
Again, follow the green arrow on the screen until you see two light signals on the ground.
They mark the entrance to the track.
Our co-pilot explains to us that we must aim between the two.
It is also he who, fortunately, thinks of extending the landing gear.
The track is only a few meters away.
A last flick of the joystick forward, and the noise of the wheels makes us aware that we are on the ground.
We crush the brake pedals with both feet and then slow down until rolling gently on the track.
It succeeded !
In the cabin, our passengers applaud.
We already imagine ourselves as an airline pilot.
After all, we have just operated the take-off, flight and landing of an A320 without incident.
Our instructor puts our feet back on the ground:
“We explored about 5% of the device's features”
.
It must be said that while we were playing with the joysticks, the professional set the course, told us the speed to respect and strummed on various controls without us paying attention.
"What is wonderful is that people sometimes come out of their session amazed"
, slips Damien Panetta.
In our case, the wonder is accompanied by the unavowable feeling that in the event of the pilot's discomfort during our next flights, we could take control and successfully land the plane.
Who knows...
Stay & Getaway Pack with one night at the
Mercure Paris Porte de Versailles hotel in a double room with breakfast and 2 drinks + 1 hour flight for 1 or 2 people: €299.
Hotel Mercure Paris Porte de Versailles Expo, 36-38 rue du Moulin, 92170 Vanves.
Such.
: 0 825 80 57 57.
AviaSim Paris - Flight simulator, 16 rue Raymond Aron, 75013 Paris.
Such.
: 01 45 70 87 63.