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20 Hours of Sim Time for Instrument Students? Well, No

Credit: UMES.edu
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The FAA has withdrawn its recent policy that allowed up to 20 hours of simulator time for instrument ratings and removed the requirement for Foggles in simulators.
  • This reversal reinstates previous regulations, limiting instrument students to 10 hours of simulator time and requiring them to wear Foggles during simulator training.
  • The sole reason for the policy's withdrawal was one negative comment from a CFI who questioned the effectiveness and realism of simulators for critical training aspects.
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Remember when we made a big deal last month about the FAA permitting more training time in flight simulators to count toward the instrument rating? Well forget about it. The FAA formally withdrew that policy today, and then reinstated the mind-boggling requirement that instrument students wear Foggles or other view-limiting devices while flying on instruments in a simulator.

The reason for the withdrawal? The agency received one negative comment from someone who apparently didn’t like the changes.

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