This study explored the effects of expertise (student pilots, n=23; flight instructors, n=10) and task difficulty (wind [20kts, from 20 \(^\circ \) ] and no-wind) on visual attention and flight performance during a visual flight rule (VFR) landing circuit. All flight circuits were completed in a high visual-fidelity flight simulator while wearing non-camera based mobile eye-tracking glasses. Coefficient K, an indicator of dynamic changes between ambient and focal modes of attention, was assessed across three flight phases (downwind, base, final approach and landing). Results demonstrated a significant interaction of expertise, and flight phase (p < 0.001). Students used a greater focal mode of attention in the final flight phase compared to the other phases of flight. This difference was also significant when compared to flight instructors who used a less focal mode of attention in the final phase. Our results demonstrate that examining gaze behaviour during a flight simulation reveals differences between experts and novices for the final phase of a flight.