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A good pilot is always learning -- how many times have you heard
this old standard throughout your flying career? There is no truer
statement in all of flying (well, with the possible exception of
"there are no old, bold pilots.") It's part of what makes aviation
so exciting for all of us... just when you think you've seen it
all, along comes a scenario you've never imagined.
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Remember... when it comes to being better pilots, we're all in this
together.
Aero-Tips 04.23.06
In a recent Aero-Craft audio
presentation, Pete Combs and I talked about
simulators, Flight Training Devices and other flight simulations as
a means to increase proficiency and safety. One question that came
up was: "When is simulator time loggable?"
Here are the specific references as to when you can log time in
simulation:
FAR 61.51 tells us we can log
time in simulators or approved flight training devices (FTDs)
toward certificate or rating experience or currency requirements if
the time was "training received in a flight simulator or flight
training device from an authorized instructor."
The time can be recorded as simulated instrument and dual
received. It cannot be logged as pilot-in-command time (a logbook
column reserved for experience in aircraft). And you need an
authorized instructor providing instruction to log the simulator or
FTD time.
We need to know, in FAA terms, what "simulator" and "approved
flight training device" mean. Here’s where it gets
fun—because these terms do not appear in the FAR 1
definitions. Google long enough and you’ll find Advisory Circular 120-45A, Airplane Flight
Training Device Qualification. Here we (finally) find
definitions:
An airplane simulator is a "full size replica of a specific type
or make, model and series airplane cockpit, including... equipment
and computer software…necessary to represent the airplane in
ground and flight operations, a visual system providing an
out-of-the-cockpit view, a force (motion) cueing system which
provides cues at least equivalent to that of a three degree of
freedom motion system," and is otherwise in compliance with
requirements in AC 120-45A. (Example: the MD-11 simulator in
FedEx’s training center at Memphis, TN -- MMC, thanks again
for the ride!)
A flight training device is a "full scale replica of an
airplane’s instruments, equipment, panels and controls in an
open flight deck area or an enclosed airplane cockpit,
including…equipment and computer software…necessary
to represent the airplane in ground and flight conditions..." An
FTD "does not require a force (motion)…or visual system,"
and is otherwise in compliance with requirements of AC 120-45A.
(Example: most FlightSafety, SIMCOM, Recurrent Training Center,
Flight Level Aviation, etc., and university/large FBO systems by
any number of FTD manufacturers).
Note: Simulators and FTDs do not earn
designation permitting "loggable" time until the specific device is
inspected and approved in place by the local FAA.
Aero-tip of the day: To know whether you can
log simulation time, you need to know the certification level of
the hardware. Tomorrow—PC-based "simulators" and computer
games.