Does sim time count towards total time?

Sim time does not count as flight time. As the editor of the FAA Aviation
News once said in reply to the same question, "The extension cord isn't long
enough." It is instrument time, it is sim time (if you keep track) but it is
not any kind of flight time. You can certainly log an approach if you want
to, but that doesn't make it flight time.

Bob Gardner

"K. Ari Krupnikov" <ari@lib.aero> wrote in message
news:86n0dg2vyh.fsf@fbsd-machine.lib.aero...
> 0.9 hours of my recent IPC was in a PCATD (Elite). The CFII recorded
> it as dual in my logbook, but made no entry in "total duration of
> flight". He said that sim time isn't flight time and doesn't get
> logged as such. Previously, CFIs logged my sim time as flight time - I
> have a few hours in a GAT from my private and ATC 820 from my
> IR. OTOH, my IPC CFII put an instrument approach "flown" on the PCATD
> in my logbook, which my previous instructors never did. He said they
> were wrong to record things as they did, and he was right.
>
> Who of my instructors was right?
>
> Ari.

Sorry...I should have looked at the Part 61 FAQs before I sent my earlier
reply. This is taken from the FAQ:

"QUESTION: How should aeronautical experience gained in a PCATD be logged in
a pilot's logbook and/or training record?

ANSWER: To be creditable under Parts 61 or 141, aeronautical experience
gained in an approved and qualified PCATD may not exceed 10 hour of
instrument training and should be logged as "Simulated Instrument Time," and
"Training Time Received" in a PCATD. It shall NOT be logged as flight time.
Again, note that the FAA has not authorized the use of PCATD's for
conducting practical tests nor for accomplishing recency of experience
requirements."

Bob Gardner


"K. Ari Krupnikov" <ari@lib.aero> wrote in message
news:86n0dg2vyh.fsf@fbsd-machine.lib.aero...
> 0.9 hours of my recent IPC was in a PCATD (Elite). The CFII recorded
> it as dual in my logbook, but made no entry in "total duration of
> flight". He said that sim time isn't flight time and doesn't get
> logged as such. Previously, CFIs logged my sim time as flight time - I
> have a few hours in a GAT from my private and ATC 820 from my
> IR. OTOH, my IPC CFII put an instrument approach "flown" on the PCATD
> in my logbook, which my previous instructors never did. He said they
> were wrong to record things as they did, and he was right.
>
> Who of my instructors was right?
>
> Ari.