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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  • The FAA has withdrawn its recent policy that would have increased the amount of flight simulator time counting towards an instrument rating from 10 to 20 hours.
  • As a result of the withdrawal, instrument students are now limited to 10 hours of simulator time and must wear Foggles or similar view-limiting devices while flying in a simulator.
  • The reversal was triggered by a single negative comment from a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) regarding the effectiveness of simulators for certain sensory cues, which by rule, forced the FAA to withdraw the direct final regulation.
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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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