Logging Simulator Time
 

Looking for some advice as how to handle logging Level D Sim time I've acquired at my regional. I'm starting to apply and have an interview coming up and do not want to be asked any questions over something silly like logging SIM time in my logbook. A lot of places I have applied do not want SIM Time counted toward their Total Time requirement, so I have set my logbook Pro up to not count it towards TT, but I do have the entries in there. Is it required to but the FAA Sim registration number in the logbook, possibly the location (e.g. Flight Safety)?

Sim time is logged in one column: "simulator". It's never flight time; you never left the ground. You do not count it as total flight time, since you were not flying.

Otto, thanks for your post. I understand what you mean by flight time, but the question then could be asked, what does Total Time mean, only flight time? And do you know if when entering SIM time, if the SIM FAA number is required?

I've never entered the FAA number, but then I don't care anymore. After 7 airline type ratings and annual sim flying, it doesn't matter to me. I've put every "loggable" sim in the sim column. I doubt anyone would want the FAA number or level. If its at an airline, they can verify you flew it in training.

Total time is total flight time, so I never put it there. Simulator is logged as simulated flight time.

Airlines are concerned with Flight Time in aircraft and Total Time is generally meant as Total Flight Time. Some pilot logbooks are set up for pilots in training to log sim time because it can be counted towards a rating. However, in an airline interview I wouldn't bother emphasizing sim time. If you do have a "sim" column in your logbook that you're adding into the "Total" column, just make sure Total-Sim=Flight Time.

Is there any need to even log sim time?

Otto and HSLD, thank you both for your contributions and guidance on this topic

For currency.

Agree with what others have posted. SIM time is not part of your total time.

I always logged the type of sim (ex ATC920) and the location. Tribal knowledge was that this was an FAA requirement, and it does make sense so there's some accountability if anyone (the FAA) ever needs to go back and verify your history.

As others have said, sim time is not "flight time", which has an FAR definition requiring an aircraft that actually flies.

"Total Time" is defined by the FAA, it can be whatever you want it to be.

But be very careful mixing flight time with anything else. When employers (especially 121) ask about flight time or total time they mean actual aircraft. If you give them a number including sim time or any other non-flight time without calling that out they'll probably assume you're trying to pad your time. Buh-Bye!

If you need more instrument time, or to credit simulator time towards a certificate, then you can "log" it, in fact, you can always log it however you want, it's just a matter of what you are going to credit it to. You obviously can't credit it towards something that is "flight time" or understood to be such.

Yes.

If training is received, the instructor giving the training is required to enter it in your log or training record.

If you use the simulator experience toward a certificate or rating, then it must be logged.

If you use the simulator experience toward a legal requirement (currency, flight review, etc) then it must be logged, and if it's with an instructor, by regulation the instructor must sign your log and also keep a record.

Keeping a record of simulator experience is useful for other purposes, such as showing recent flight training, which can lower insurance rates. It also eliminates needing to keep another record handy if you need to show having met the requirements of a flight review or instrument proficiency check.

Simulator time is not flight time, and shouldn't be recorded as such, nor category/class, or any other classification other than simulator and perhaps instruction received.

In my own logbooks, simulator experience is recorded only in the simulator column, to show training received.

If an N number is issued for the simulator, it should also be recorded. Alternately, another FAA identification for that specific simulator should be referenced, to show it approved.

thank you all for your responses, all great info

Sims don't get an N number, they're not aircraft. The FAA does issue ID numbers. If you're bored, here's the list. Not very up to date because it shows the company I used to work for which went out of business 5 years ago still having a sim.

http://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives...a/All_FSTD.pdf

The FAA keeps "inactive" or previously certified but no longer in use sims on that list, so that might be the case with your former company. The list you linked to is current as of January 2, 2013.



This is how I personally log it:

Date: 2/7/2013

Aircraft make and model: BD-700-1A10-S (I add -S at the end of the official aircraft designation so I can break it out from the time in actual aircraft using sort in my excel based logbook.)

Aircraft ID: FAA-1286 (FAA sim ID from the link above)

Route of Flight: Bombardier YUL (I simply insert the training provider and sim location.)

4.0 hours in Simulator Column. (I keep two separate columns for "non-aircraft" time. One for Sim (Full motion Level D) and one for FTD (Frascas, Redbird Sims, fixed base simulators (FAA Level 5), FAA PCATD, etc). I don't log sim or FTD time in any other column than Sim or FTD.

In the notes section, I log the instructor name, title, and the purpose of the simulator training session. (IE: John Doe, Bombardier Sim Instructor, FAR 61.58 PIC Recurrent Sim #2)

I don't bother logging landings or approaches, since the offical training record has much more detailed info about what was covered in each sim period. Those records can serve as legal "logging of experience" from an FAR standpoint if the FAA/FSDO ever wants to see them for currency purposes. They also include sim instructor signatures (to meet the instructor signature requirements of the FAR's for instruction received) so I don't bother having the instructors sign my logbook. I keep those records on file in the same place I keep my logbook.

This is a good idea, I would have done it too if I had thought about it early enough.

We had an N number for our simulator, and it was referenced in our training and training records.

That's interesting, what was the number?

I don't know, off hand. I'd have to look in my records.

Shows K4 having a -200 and a -400 sim and a -400 FTD....... th3 -400 sim has been certified since the fall of 2011 and the FTD in the last 8 or 9 months...for are part its spot on.

I'm guessing the "N number" was a local thing only used during training and by your company. Most likely not official and not actually registered with the FAA. I don't think I'd put an N number in my logbook for a sim. I too have seen sims with N numbers on the panel for use during training, but it didn't correspond with the FAA sim designation.

But I'd be interested in seeing what that N number comes back as when you search it in the FAA database.

They're probably better at adding new stuff than deleting old but when the airline's OpsSpecs are no more you'd think they'd realize we're not using the sim anymore.

Josh, I was thinking the same thing, something like N100AA or N500NW just used inhouse for reference.

Logbook entries are only needed if you are going to use the time for a rating or for currency. Once I got all my ratings I did a bunch of proficiency time in the simulators with another CFII running the sim...there was no entries made in anybodys logbook, nor was there a need to.

I simply do not log simulator time anymore, nobody ever questioned it. My logbook is for FLIGHT time...simulator time is just cluter.

Really? What does the regulation say?

How about that?

No need to make any entry, other than that required under the regulation, right?