Hey OP, I realized I never answered you directly. Please read above as I think it may help. More to your question, though --

Total airplane is just that - sim/FTD goes separate. I can't recall the columns exactly, but it should add them for you. I do remember a tech glitch for some folks a while back where IACRA wouldn't accept because it wasn't adding the sim/FTD time in and thus was rejecting as insufficient time; I believe that was fixed so that now they're adding up automatically to meet the total pilot time or multi time or whatever category you need the sim/FTD to meet per the reg.

Just be sure you aren't using BATD/AATD time; the ATP requires FTD/simulator (the fancy stuff); this is a big difference from the instrument rating.

Congrats and good luck!!

This topic couldn't have popped up at a more perfect time. I have questions regarding this as well. Currently I have more than enough XC and total time (actual "flight" time in an airplane) for an R-ATP. The only two categories I'm short on are multi-engine and instrument time. Does anyone know if the time spent in the sims during CTP count towards those two marks, instrument and multi? After reading the above comments, it's wise to keep sim time separate from "flight time", so if CTP sim DOES count, I probably won't log it as total time, (no need to since I'm set on total time). These are the full motion sims at CTP by the way.

There may be nuances to what airline applications want, but sim time is never counted as flight time, nor total flight time. Sim time is only good for training towards a rating, currency, or landings (e.g., level D sim).

So again, it may be ok for job applications to utilize sim time, but never for total time as a pilot, or flight time,, or PIC time. A sim is on the ground.

Instrument time is time manipulating controls in instrument conditions or while training in the air for currency with a view limiting device. Again, airline applications may want different numbers, but the FAA says instrument time is while personally manipulating the controls in less than VMC.

Log the simulator time as simulator time and nothing else.

When you need to meet a requirement that allows the inclusion of simulator time, add the applicable simulator time to the applicable flight time to get a total for that specific purpose.

When I commute to work I log that time too. Kidding.


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Yes, FAA is different that way. I was talking about logbooks and airline employers...keep the sim time separate so as not to confuse potential employers (the point of confusion being whether or not you're honest...).

For the FAA, fill out their form however they want it. Much easier to explain to the FAA why your logbook total time does not include sim, than to explain to a major airline why it does.

Not exactly. IMC is a condition of flight (like night), so both required crewmembers (PIC and SIC) can log it, even with the auto-pilot on.

You need to be the PF to log holds and approaches for currency, but again you can use the auto-pilot.

I log my GA currency in an airliner, just to check the box. But before I fly GA I get a CFII and practice to proficiency in a piston ASEL or FTD before I do it for real. Currency =/= Proficiency.

But seriously I feel Im qualified for an honorary type in the 737, 757, and A320. God knows ive spent enough time in the jumpseat staring at the overhead panel.

Agree entirely.

That last part is absolutely incorrect. Total time as a pilot, by reg definition, absolutely includes simulator and FTD (but not ATD), as well as flight time. Flight time, by definition, does not include sim/FTD time, you're right on that part. That said, total time as a pilot has limited value (it's useful in part for the ATP, and I'm not sure of anything else). As discussed above, most of us log "total time" as "total FLIGHT time" and log sim/FTD separately.