Microsoft Flight Simulator: Achievements list Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 guide, tips

Last update: 15 September 2020

In this section of our Flight Simulator 2020 guide, we present a list of achievements that can be unlocked during gameplay. In addition to the original descriptions, we also provide tips on how to get a given achievement as soon as possible.

You can view a list of your achievements in your pilot profile by selecting the appropriate tab.

Challenge Accepted
Fill 'er Up!
Rubberneck
Mother Nature
Start Me Up
By The Book
In The Wild
Service with a Smile
Back-up Plan
Job Shadowing
Wheels Up, Wheels Down
Look Ma, No Hands!
Light Chop
On The Green
Stay On Target
My Way
Deadstick Landing
Working for the Weekend
Frequent Flyer Miles
Road Trip
A Few Bumps
Short Stuff
Uphill Climb
Fire and Ice
Anemoi
Goldrush
Tour Guide
Pilot Program
Greased
Hydroplaning
Flights of Fancy
Saddle Sore
Century Club
Night Owl
Instrumental
Decathlon
Completionist
SIDs and STARs
Landmarks the Spot
World Traveler
Jack of All Planes
Journeyman
Wing Commander

Challenge Accepted

Description: Complete any activity.

Notes: Complete any mission e.g. hard landing challenge.

Fill 'er Up!

Description: Refuel at any ground fuel station.

Notes: Set the start of the flight at a fuel stop. Activate the fuel menu from the toolbar and change the amount of fuel with the slider.

Rubberneck

Description: Use the Smart Cam to view a star landmark for 3 seconds, from a distance of 550 yards or less.

Notes: Fly to some tourist attraction very close (eg. The Statue of Liberty) and press the SmartCam button for more than 3 seconds (S key by default).

Mother Nature

Description: Adjust the weather during a flight.

Notes: Activate the weather menu from the toolbar and change, for example, the type of clouds.

Start Me Up

Description: Manually start the Airbus A320neo's engines, without using Assistance.

Notes: Start your flight at the parking space/gate and choose Airbus 320neo. Summon the checklist and start the engines according to the actions in the list. Do not use the autostart option.

By The Book

Description: Request landing clearance from ATC at a towered airport, without using ATC assistance.

Notes: Set up arrival at a larger airport (one with a control tower) When you get close to it, call the radio menu (Scroll Lock), set the frequency to the tower, and ask permission to land.

In The Wild

Description: Use the Smart Cam to view animals for 3 seconds, from a distance of 550 yards or less.

Notes: In world map mode, use your search engine to find a place with a group of animals (elephants, giraffes, black bears, flamingos), and set it up as a place of departure. Activate navigation aids and wildlife in the support menu to see where the animals are moving. Fly to them and use a Smart camera (S key by default).

Service with a Smile

Description: Request each type of pre-flight Ground Service while at an appropriate airport gate.

Notes: Set the start of a flight at a large airport terminal gate with a jetway on a passenger plane (Boeing, Airbus). Turn on the battery and call Ground Services. Summon all services one at a time: Ground Power, Catering, Luggage, Sleeve (jetway), Fuel, and Pushback.

Back-up Plan

Description: Use a pre-flight pushback service to move the aircraft for a total distance of 1 mile.

Notes: Use the Pushback feature in parking spaces to collect a total distance of 1 mile while towing the plane.

Job Shadowing

Description: Create a flight plan based on a Live Traffic aircraft, then fly the route without assistance.

Notes: Choose LIVE for air traffic Zoom in on a map somewhere near a major airport and click on one of the green planes that don't have another player's nickname. When you click, select Create a plan and fly this route without any assists.

Wheels Up, Wheels Down

Description: Complete a non-stop flight of at least 300 miles from take-off to landing.

Notes: Fly any route at a minimum distance of 300 miles (482 kilometers) - you must take-off and land on a runway as a part of the flight.

Look Ma, No Hands!

Description: Utilize autopilot for a total of 600 miles.

Notes: Fly on autopilot for 600 miles (965 km). All your flights are counted towards the achievement. Note - This is about the autopilot in Garmin devices, not the AI steering assist. For instructions on how to use Autopilot, see the chapter dedicated to it. In short, during the flight, select NAV Mode and start Autopilot AP with the buttons in the cockpit.

Light Chop

Description: Land at an airport where windspeeds are in excess of 5 knots, without using any assistance.

Notes: The easiest way to achieve this trophy is during one of the challenges that involve landing during strong winds. Alternatively, you can set the weather before landing with strong winds and land without assistance.

On The Green

Description: Land on a grass runway, without using any assistance.

Notes: Land at one of the small, grassy airports. One of the challenges involving landing will ensure you pass that achievement.

Stay On Target

Description: Use the Instrument Landing System (ILS) to complete a landing.

Notes: Land with the ILS system. Choose a modern aircraft and a large airport that offers this system. Ideally, prepare an appropriate flight plan with STAR procedure and runway approach with ILS system. For more information, see Advanced Flying.

My Way

Description: Complete a non-stop 300+ mile flight from parking to parking spot, without assistance.

Notes: Just as in "From take-off to landing" achievement, do a 300-mile flight, but in this case you have to start and finish at a parking spot, which means starting the engines, taxiing to the runway, and taxiing to the parking spot after landing.

Deadstick Landing

Description: After receiving landing clearance, switch off engines and successfully land on the runway.

Notes: After obtaining permission from the ATC to land, approach the runway at approximately 1,000 ft and turn off the engines (e.g. by cutting off the fuel supply). Land on the runway by gliding.

Working for the Weekend

Description: Complete a Weekly Activity.

Notes: Choose a challenge from the game's main menu, right next to the world map mode.

Frequent Flyer Miles

Description: Fly from LFBD airport near Asobo Studio to KSEA airport near Microsoft HQ.

Notes: Create a flight plan between LFDB airport in France and KSEA in Seattle. Choose a Boeing 747 - low passenger weight and plenty of fuel. Do the entire flight without skipping stages, make use of Autopilot.

Road Trip

Description: Taxi aircraft for a total distance of 100 miles.

Notes: accumulate 100 miles (160km) of taxiway between parking lots and runways.

A Few Bumps

Description: Land at an airport where windspeeds are in excess of 15 knots, without using any assistance.

Notes: Before landing, set the winds of at least 15 knots and land.

Short Stuff

Description: Land on a runway shorter than 2,000 feet, without using any assistance or bypassing any travel.

Notes: Land on any runway shorter than 2,000 ft. The length of the runway can be seen when planning the flight on the World Map screen.

Uphill Climb

Description: Land on a runway that has at least a 12 degree incline, without using any assistance.

Notes: Land on a runway that has an incline. You should score this achievement after completing a hard landing challenge called Bugalaga in the Epic category. You can also go to this airport in the World Map mode by entering the airport search code: WX53.

Fire and Ice

Description: Complete the Patagonia Bush Trip, without using any navigation assistance.

Notes: Complete the Patagonia challenge in Bush Trip mode without using navigational aids.

Anemoi

Description: Complete the Balkans Bush Trip, without using any navigation assistance.

Notes: Complete the Balkans challenge in Bush Trip mode without using navigational aids.

Goldrush

Description: Complete the Nevada Bush Trip, without using any navigation assistance.

Notes: Complete the Nevada challenge in Bush Trip mode without using navigational aids.

Tour Guide

Description: Use the Smart Cam to view 25 star landmarks, from a distance of 550 yards or less.

Notes: Fly near tourist attractions marked with blue pins (Tower Bridge, Taj Mahal, etc.) and use SmartCam (S key by default) on them.

Pilot Program

Description: Accumulate 50 hours of flight time in a single pilot profile.

Notes: As in the description. Play on your player profile until you've accumulated 50 hours in the air.

Greased

Description: Complete every Landing Challenge.

Notes: As in the description.

Hydroplaning

Description: Accumulate 50 hours of flight time in rainy weather.

Notes: As in the description. This can be LIVE weather or one activated through the toolbar.

Flights of Fancy

Description: Complete flights of at least 300 miles using a prop, jet and airliner.

Notes: Complete 300-mile flights with three types of aircraft.

Saddle Sore

Description: Complete a flight of at least 8 hours with a propeller or turbo-prop aircraft.

Comment: Contrary to the description, the achievement involves flying with propeller-powered or turbo-prop aircraft - jets and airliners are out. You need one of these machines and embark on a flight lasting a total of eight hours. You can land to refuel, but you can't stop the game and go to the menu.

Century Club

Description: Accumulate 100 hours of flight time in a single pilot profile.

Notes: Play on your player profile until you've accumulated 100 hours in the air.

Night Owl

Description: Accumulate 50 hours of flight time at night.

Notes: As in the description.

Instrumental

Description: Accumulate 50 hours of IFR flight time, including at least one take-off and landing.

Notes: Accumulate 50 flying hours with IFR flight plans - air routes (high or low).

Decathlon

Description: Complete 10 weekly activities.

Notes: Complete 10 weekly challenges accessed from the main menu.

Completionist

Description: Complete every activity.

Notes: Do all Flight Training, Bush Trips, and Landing Challenges.

SIDs and STARs

Description: Land at every star airport shown on the World Map.

Notes: As in the description.

Landmarks the Spot

Description: Use the Smart Cam to view 100 star landmarks, from a distance of 550 yards or less.

Notes: Fly near tourist attractions marked with blue pins (Tower Bridge, Taj Mahal, etc.) and use SmartCam (S key by default).

World Traveler

Description: Land successfully at 500 different airports.

Notes: As in the description.

Jack of All Planes

Description: Complete a 300+ mile flight with every aircraft in the standard edition of Flight Simulator.

Notes: As in the description. A time-consuming task. Take a longer trip on any plane from the game except those from the deluxe and premium versions.