Can two people fly in the same aircraft in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 multiplayer?
No. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 multiplayer does not natively let two human players operate one aircraft in a true shared cockpit. You can fly together in the same session, see each other, and coordinate the same route, but each person normally needs their own aircraft unless a specific third-party aircraft or tool adds its own multi-crew system.
Does Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 have shared cockpit?
In the usual simming sense, shared cockpit means two people are inside the same aircraft at the same time, looking at the same cockpit, with synced switches, avionics, radios and flight controls. One person might be the pilot flying while the other handles checklists, radios, navigation or systems.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 does not provide that as a standard built-in multiplayer feature. Native multiplayer is designed around multiple players flying in the same world, not multiple players occupying one aeroplane.
What multiplayer in MSFS 2024 actually allows
You can still fly with another person very easily. Both of you can join multiplayer, choose the same airport, weather style and server region, then depart together in separate aircraft.
That works well for:
- formation flying
- airline flights on the same route
- bush flying in a group
- training side by side in separate aircraft
- shared events and group tours
What it does not mean is a combined cockpit with one set of systems shared between two human players.
Same flight vs same aircraft: the important difference
| Scenario | Supported natively in MSFS 2024? | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Two players in the same multiplayer session | Yes | You can see each other and fly together in the same world |
| Two players following the same route | Yes | Both aircraft can depart, cruise and land together |
| Two players sharing one cockpit with synced controls | No | No native shared cockpit or built-in co-pilot multiplayer |
| Passing control between two human crew members in one aircraft | No, not as a standard feature | This needs aircraft-specific or external support |
Can one person be the pilot and the other be the co-pilot?
Not in the default multiplayer system, no. If you and a friend want a proper captain and first officer setup in one airliner or GA aircraft, the base simulator does not currently handle that by itself.
Some advanced add-ons and external multi-crew solutions may offer their own version of shared cockpit on PC. When they do, support is usually aircraft-specific. One aeroplane may support it while another does not, and the quality of synchronisation can vary from excellent to frustrating.
What about Xbox?
On Xbox, you should assume that true shared cockpit is not available unless an aircraft explicitly provides the entire feature inside the simulator environment. In practice, shared-cockpit style solutions are far more common on PC because they often rely on extra software, deeper aircraft systems modelling, or networking methods outside the stock sim workflow.
So if your question is really, “Can my friend and I sit in one aircraft on Xbox and split the flying duties?” the practical answer is no.
How can two people fly together anyway?
If your goal is simply to fly with a friend, native multiplayer is enough. The trick is making sure both of you match the same basic session settings so you actually see each other.
- Choose the same server region. If you are on different multiplayer servers, you may not appear to one another even if you are at the same airport.
- Use the same multiplayer visibility settings. Traffic and player-display filters can affect whether nearby aircraft show up.
- Start from the same airport or parking area. Using the same runway or stand makes rendezvous simpler.
- Agree on aircraft type and route. Similar performance helps if you want to taxi, depart and cruise together.
- Match weather expectations. If one of you is using live conditions and the other is not, the experience can feel disjointed even if you are both visible.
- Use voice chat outside the cockpit workflow. Since you are not actually sharing switches and controls, clear coordination matters more.
Why people expect shared cockpit in MSFS 2024
The confusion is understandable. “Multiplayer” sounds like it should include sitting in the same aeroplane, and many long-time simmers remember shared-cockpit style features from older platforms, add-ons or network tools.
MSFS 2024 is strong at the shared world side of multiplayer: live traffic, visible players and group flying. That is different from multi-crew simulation, which needs deep aircraft-state synchronisation. Every switch, display page, FMS entry, radio change, autopilot mode and engine parameter has to stay matched between two machines. That is much harder than simply showing another aircraft nearby.
Can add-ons provide shared cockpit?
Yes, some can, but we would treat it as an aircraft feature or a special PC setup, not as a general MSFS 2024 feature. Before buying or installing anything for this purpose, check three things carefully:
- whether the exact aircraft supports multi-crew or shared cockpit
- whether both players must own the same add-on and same simulator content
- whether the feature works on PC only or also on Xbox
If you are browsing aircraft and utilities for Microsoft Flight Simulator, our library at Fly Away Simulation downloads is a good place to keep an eye on new releases and compatibility notes.
What is the best workaround if we want to train together?
If you want instruction, IFR practice or airline flows with another person, the best native workaround is to fly in separate aircraft on the same route. One of you can act as the instructor or captain over voice while both aircraft mirror the same procedures.
It is not the same as sharing one cockpit, but it works surprisingly well for:
- checklists and flows
- holding patterns
- radio phraseology practice
- approach briefings
- formation and rejoin work
Quick answer
If by “fly in the same aircraft” you mean a true shared cockpit with both people in one aeroplane, the answer is no, not natively in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. If you mean “fly together in multiplayer”, then yes, but each player normally does so in their own aircraft.