Frasca time is NEVER considered airplane time. It can count INSTEAD of some of the required flight time for ratings, but that does not make it flight time.


Level D is technically flight time as far as aircraft training requirements go, but it normally DOES NOT count towards flight minimums at real airlines. I know your school maybe told you otherwise, but they lied. RJ sim time might give you a slight competetive edge, but nowhere enough to be worth the cost (unless it was free).

Don't use any sim or FTD when calculating airline mins...they normally specify flight time in fixed-wing aircraft.

AWAC: No
XJT: No (sim time does not equal total time, and DO NOT use it for multi time)

You low time guys just need to go out and build time and experience the old fashioned way...which is any way you can and stop worry about sim time, safety pilot time, etc. If you're getting hired with less than 1000TT it's already a shortcut.:rolleyes:

In the FAR 61.1 it says nothing about not being able to log FTD time as total time. I am going through this same thing in getting my INST and COMM. I know that after 40 or 50 hours it doesn't count, but it does up to then as long as you have an instructor in the FTD with you. Why would they say you can do up to 50 hours of FTD time towards your COMM if you can't count it as TT? I think it counts.

You can log level D because it replicates the ENTIRE cockpit environment of an actual aircraft type. The Frasca simulates a Frasca, which doesn't exist. I could even log my full-motion sim time on the KC-135, since the circuit-breaker panel on the back wall isn't replicated which dequalifies it from level D.

NO, no , and no even if it is level D!!!

You can log anything you want to. We are just trying to save you the trouble of being sent home from an interview for claiming flight time you don't have. Hint: The airlines are interested in actual airplane experience; they don't care what the FAR's say about it. Actually their websites are usually pretty clear on that..."Fixed Wing Airplane Time" means exactly that and does NOT include sim, FTD, helicopter, blimp, or the space shuttle (which is a glider).

61.129 says you can CREDIT 50 hours of sim/FTD towards the commercial requirements. That means you can use it INSTEAD of actual flight time...that does not mean it IS actual flight time.

You can also interpret the FAR's any way you like, they are often ambiguous. Unfortunately, so can the FAA. I have found that the best way to interpret the FAR's is find an AC or an FAA legal opinion that explains the issue in question.

Look at any guys resume that does this for a living...check out the total time block. Add single engine hours and multi-engine hours together(along with glider, helo, etc., if rated). The sum is the total time. Nobody cares about sim time when it comes to pilot hiring. Does anyone even put it on the resume? I never did.

"Why would they say you can do up to 50 hours of FTD time towards your COMM if you can't count it as TT? I think it counts."

See Rickair's post. It doesn't count. TT is commonly considered "flight time" and an FTD doesn't fly. I've always thought the 50 hour rule was a stretch. I own a couple ATC610's and have instructed many IFR pilots in them. They are usually good for 10 hours of teaching, maybe 20 hours in a stretch, but no way you'll get any good use out of it for 50 hours.

Amen!!! what happened to actually wanting to get flight time and experience and as many ratings as one could?! I can understand wanting to get on as soon as possible but not wanting to get on with as little experience as possible. Not necessarily the guys on this thread but on some others the attitude seemed to be "why do i need hours they're not required. low timers unite" to actually aspire to be less qualified would make me nauseous.:confused: