Sim for instrument rating???

Pilot86

Pilot86

Well-Known Member
Hello all,

currently Im in my senior year of college for business and was wondering about using the sim to finish up my instrument rating. I can log 30 hours in the sim before i have to switch to the airplane. Its a fully enclosed motion simulator. The screen gives you the effect but the system itself does not move... This is mostly for cost as Im financing everything and this would be the cheapest route to go. I know the airplane is the only way to get the full effect but can I get just as much out of the sim if I took it as serious in those 30 hours? I currently have about 12 hours in the cockpit on approaches in a piper archer with a score of 90 in the written.


Asking for advice on this route of training...

thanks!
 
A sim is a learning tool, just like an airplane is a learning tool. A good instructor who has a plan to integrate a sim into your training is golden. Treat them well.

An instructor without a plan to integrate a sim into your training isn't golden. :-)

I loved doing my IR, and later teaching, in the sim. We'd learn/practice the procedures in the box then go out in the airplane and perfect them. Seemed to work well but the key was everything was carefully integrated and I was lucky enough to have a stellar instructor. It's been ages and many hours since then, but I don't think I saved a significant amount of money by using a sim. I do think I learned a ton, however.

It's a tool, nothing more, and how valuable it is to your training depends on the skill and commitment of the instructor.

The IR is weird. It's the toughest rating of them all, IMHO, and you don't really feel you'll ever get it until about an hour before your checkride. Then you get out in the real world and the learning really begins. :-)



Pilot86 said:
Hello all,

currently Im in my senior year of college for business and was wondering about using the sim to finish up my instrument rating. I can log 30 hours in the sim before i have to switch to the airplane. Its a fully enclosed motion simulator. The screen gives you the effect but the system itself does not move... This is mostly for cost as Im financing everything and this would be the cheapest route to go. I know the airplane is the only way to get the full effect but can I get just as much out of the sim if I took it as serious in those 30 hours? I currently have about 12 hours in the cockpit on approaches in a piper archer with a score of 90 in the written.


Asking for advice on this route of training...

thanks!
Click to expand...
 
price wise, thats true but i guess you just take the extra time out like pre-flighting ...refueling...etc. lol it is the toughest id agree. I got everything "extra" knocked out on my commercial including the x-country.
 
Whatusername said:
I thought it was only 10 hours of sim time can be counted towards your rating? I would grab my iPad app with the FARs but my iPad is broken.
Click to expand...

Correct, Here is part of FAR61.65

(3) No more than 10 hours of instrument time in a flight simulator or flight training device was credited for the instrument time requirements of this section;
 
Pilotforhire587 said:
Correct, Here is part of FAR61.65

(3) No more than 10 hours of instrument time in a flight simulator or flight training device was credited for the instrument time requirements of this section;
Click to expand...

Sorry but why did you only quote part of the FAR? Your only half right

(g) Use of flight simulators or flight training devices. If the instrument time was provided by an authorized instructor in a flight simulator or flight training device—

(1) A maximum of 30 hours may be performed in that flight simulator or flight training device if the instrument time was completed in accordance with part 142 of this chapter; or

(2) A maximum of 20 hours may be performed in that flight simulator or flight training device if the instrument time was not completed in accordance with part 142 of this chapter.

(h) Use of an aviation training device. A maximum of 10 hours of instrument time received in an aviation training device may be credited for the instrument time requirements of this section if—

(1) The device is approved and authorized by the FAA;

(2) An authorized instructor provides the instrument time in the device;

(3) No more than 10 hours of instrument time in a flight simulator or flight training device was credited for the instrument time requirements of this section;

(4) A view-limiting device was worn by the applicant when logging instrument time in the device; and

(5) The FAA approved the instrument training and instrument tasks performed in the device.



So as you can see a FTD or full motion sim you can do 30 hours part 142, 20 hours non 142, and 10 hours in a aviation training device. Note it does not say what kind of aircraft it has to represent.
 
well, with the sim in my thinking you take out the extra time like preflighting.. and refueling..putting the plane away. the instructor time.. where the sim, I think you could concentrate more on getting directly into approaches. The way I was looking at it. Always something an instructor could just dock on for extra flight time or pay....

I plan on flying for living, if I would keep it as a hobby ifr would not be of a concern till much later.
 
Kind of from the peanut gallery here because I haven't instructed in years, but only a small percentage of training involves approaches.

Much (most? I can't remember) of it involves working with ATC, basic attitude instrument and navigation.

From experience, SimWorld(tm) and "Real World" are appreciably different and I'd heavily suggest as much time in the aircraft, in addition to copious amounts of simulator training, would be optimum.
 
Sims are great for helping pilots develope their scans as well as basic IFR proceedures. A sim can be a great tool during the initial phases of instrument training. In the long run, I doubt that using the sim will have saved you an appreciable amount of money, but I would take advantage of its availability. You may as well get used to a sim now because if you plan to fly for a living you will spend plenty of time in them.
 
Ok, using a full motion simulator, what can be logged towards "total flight time"? Or is it not even considered? If you are practicing approaches with a CFI can it be logged towards total flight time? Looking at the regs Im slightly confused with the wording when it mentions under part such and such. How to logbook it?
 
Pilot86 said:
Ok, using a full motion simulator, what can be logged towards "total flight time"? Or is it not even considered? If you are practicing approaches with a CFI can it be logged towards total flight time? Looking at the regs Im slightly confused with the wording when it mentions under part such and such. How to logbook it?
Click to expand...


Sim can only be logged as SIM, that is all.
 
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