Learn what the X-Plane instructor station controls, how to use it on one or two computers, and how to fix weather, failure and network problems.
The X-Plane instructor station is a built-in control panel that lets an instructor monitor a student’s aircraft, change its position and environment, and introduce system failures without taking over the cockpit. Open it on the flying computer for simple use, or connect a second X-Plane computer over a local network.
What can the X-Plane instructor station control?
The Instructor Operating Station, usually shortened to IOS, provides remote control over the training scenario rather than a second set of flight controls. Its layout differs slightly between desktop X-Plane releases, but the principal functions are similar.
- Monitor the aircraft’s position, track and key flight data on a map.
- Relocate the aircraft to an airport, runway or airborne starting point.
- Change wind, cloud, visibility, precipitation, time and other environmental conditions.
- Trigger or clear X-Plane’s simulator-native system failures.
- Pause, repeat or reset parts of an exercise without occupying the student’s cockpit view.
It is not an AI instructor, grading system or ATC controller. The instructor must decide what to change, observe the response and debrief the result.
Should I use one computer or two?
Use one computer for occasional practice and a networked second computer when an instructor needs an uninterrupted working position.
| Arrangement | Best use | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|
| One computer | Solo practice, demonstrations and quick scenario changes | The IOS occupies screen space and can take keyboard or mouse focus |
| Two computers | Instructor-led lessons and fixed training installations | Requires matching network configuration and a working X-Plane installation on both machines |
How do I use the instructor station on one computer?
Open the IOS after loading the aircraft and establishing the student’s initial flight conditions.
- Prepare the flight. Select the aircraft, airport and weather, then configure the cockpit. For a navigation lesson, prepare and activate the X-Plane 12 route before introducing instructor changes.
- Open the station. Choose
Flight > Instructor Operating Station. The wording or window arrangement can differ slightly by X-Plane release. - Arrange the displays. Move the IOS to a second monitor if available. On a single display, keep enough of the flight view visible and return focus to it before using keyboard shortcuts.
- Set the starting conditions. Use the location and weather controls to create the exercise. Pause before a large relocation, and set a sensible altitude, heading and airspeed together when placing the aircraft in flight.
- Introduce the event. Apply one weather change or failure at a clearly chosen point. This produces better training than enabling several random faults at once.
- Recover and repeat. Clear the failure or restore the conditions after the exercise. Removing a fault does not automatically restart an engine, reset a tripped system or return cockpit switches to their former positions; the student must still complete the appropriate recovery actions.
Saved situations can shorten repeated lessons, but highly customised aircraft may not restore every plugin-controlled switch or system state. For those aircraft, use their own panel-state facility as well as X-Plane’s saved flight.
How do I connect an instructor station on a second computer?
Run the student aircraft on the master flight computer and assign the other X-Plane installation the instructor-station role over the same local network.
- Connect both machines. A wired local network is preferable for a fixed setup, although a reliable wireless LAN can work.
- Align the software. Keep both computers on the same X-Plane generation and build. Matching aircraft packages is also the safest arrangement when an add-on or plugin is involved.
- Assign the roles. Open
Settings > Network. Configure the cockpit computer as the master or flying machine and the second computer as the Instructor Operating Station. Enter the master computer’s local IP address where the installed release requests it; some builds discover the other machine automatically. - Allow local traffic. Permit X-Plane through each computer’s firewall on the private network. A VPN or an unused network adaptor can cause X-Plane to select the wrong address.
- Test before the lesson. Confirm that the IOS map follows the student aircraft, then make a harmless weather change. Reserve a fixed local IP address if the connection stops working whenever the router restarts.
Do not configure the second computer merely as an external visual: that role displays another view but does not provide the instructor controls.
Why is the X-Plane instructor station not working?
Most instructor-station faults come from network roles, automatic weather or aircraft add-ons rather than the IOS itself.
- No aircraft appears: confirm that both computers are on the same local network, the instructor points to the correct master IP address and the firewall permits local X-Plane traffic.
- The connection uses the wrong computer: disable an unnecessary VPN or network adaptor, then check the IP address again.
- The map updates but commands do not: make sure there is only one master flight machine and that the two installations use compatible X-Plane builds.
- Weather changes revert: real-world weather downloads or a weather add-on may overwrite the instructor’s settings. Select manual weather for an exercise that requires fixed conditions.
- A selected failure has no effect: the IOS changes X-Plane’s native failure state. A complex aircraft using plugin-controlled systems may require its own failure manager.
- The aircraft crashes after relocation: pause first and check altitude, airspeed, gear state, trim, autopilot mode and terrain clearance before resuming.
- A repaired system remains inoperative: clearing the failure removes the fault but does not necessarily restore electrical power, fuel flow, switches or engine operation.
Major repositioning can also leave built-in ATC working from the previous route or clearance. Restart or update the ATC session after moving to another airport; our X-Plane 12 ATC procedure guide covers clearance, taxi and hand-off setup.
How should I build a useful instructor-station exercise?
A useful lesson starts with one measurable objective, stable initial conditions and a defined point at which the instructor introduces the change.
- Brief the starting position, expected procedure and conditions for pausing or ending the exercise.
- Use fixed weather while teaching a new skill; add changing wind or poor visibility only after the basic procedure is repeatable.
- Introduce one failure at a realistic phase of flight, then allow time for recognition before adding another problem.
- For avionics training, confirm the navigation source and autopilot modes after every relocation. Our G1000 operating walkthrough provides a practical basis for route, Direct-To and approach exercises.
- For instrument lessons, use a repeatable starting position and debrief specific deviations rather than simply declaring the flight successful. We explain this method in our guide to structuring IFR practice in X-Plane 12.