Logging Sim Time

Mark Kolber

Wednesday, August 23, 2023 at 08:50 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The FAA expanded the use of training devices (FFS, FTD, ATD) for instrument currency, allowing rated pilots to log tasks like instrument approaches, holding procedures, and course tracking without an instructor, provided the device's Letter of Authorization (LOA) supports the logged activity and aircraft category.
When logging training device time for currency, pilots should clearly identify the device (e.g., ATD-ASEL), the time spent, and the specific instrument currency tasks performed in the remarks section.
To prevent misrepresenting flight time, pilots should avoid logging device time in aircraft-specific columns such as "flight time," "PIC," "actual instrument," or aircraft category/class; instead, use the dedicated "ground-trainer" or similar column for simulated instrument time in the device.

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Back in 2018, the FAA expanded our ability to use training devices to maintain instrument currency. Incomprehensible distinctions between aircraft and various types of simulators were removed. Rated pilots may log currency tasks without an instructor. An increased market for training devices and their increased use—often by pilots who logged little or no device time in the past—was predictable and beneficial. Let’s walk through a simulator exercise for currency and see how we might log it.

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