Can You Log That?

Within the IFR community, there has been much confusion over how and when to log instrument approaches. The FAA extended that confusion to logging approaches in a simulator as we wrote in the December issue, Need a Sim Instructor?

Fred Simonds

Wednesday, January 13, 2016 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The FAA's InFO 15012 clarifies specific conditions for logging instrument approaches for both general proficiency and practical tests, applicable to aircraft, flight simulators, and ATDs.
To log an approach, a pilot must operate solely by reference to instruments and be established on all required segments (initial, intermediate, and final) down to minimums.
Approaches in actual IMC can be logged if transitioning to VMC within the final approach segment, while simulated conditions (hood or sim) generally require remaining under simulated IMC until minimums.
For simulator-based approaches and endorsements for instrument currency or proficiency checks, an authorized instructor (typically a CFII) is required to observe and sign off.

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Letters of Authorization for ATDs have approved their use to meet 61.57(c) for instrument currency. However, unlike in an airplane where you fly it and log it, 61.51(g) requires an authorized instructor to observe and to sign off.