Thanks for all the information guys... I'm aware of the FAA certification requirements, but my question is how can one determine whether hours in a logbook are in an FTD device so approved. If a student has FTD hours at a school and from another instructor that are unknown to me, and the student wants to count those hours towards the commercial requirements per part 61.129(i), can I proceed accordingly?
Rickair, it sounds like you're saying that the time can only be logged in the first place if it was in an approved FTD/sim. Do I need to call the other school to verify before endorsing a student for the commercial practical test?
And if he already has an instrument rating, and the FTD time was used to meet the requirements of that rating, is that further assurance that the hours are in an approved device because they have already been accepted by the FAA for a rating?