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Chapter 1 - Starting Your Instrument Rating 1-5

Fig. 7A Fig. 7B Fig. 7C
Courtesy NASA Collection Courtesy Frasca Simulator
Full Flight Simulators (FFS) are devices that come as close as it gets to simulating reality for real (Figure 7A). In fact, it’s possible
to obtain a type rating for some airplanes by using these devices and never once having to fly the real airplane. Frasca’s Piper Seminole
(Figure 7B) is a Flight Training Device (FTD). Some FTDs have motion while others do not. Aviation Training Devices (ATDs) are often
smaller desktop units, such as the one in Figure 7C, which is a sub-category of ATDs known as a basic ATD or BATD.

via an ATC-directed routing, with at least one landing at gories: full flight simulators (FFS), flight training devices
an airport more than 50 nautical miles from the original (FTD) and aviation training devices (ATD). The latter
point of departure. The purpose of this flight is to give you being further categorized at either a Basic ATD (BATD) or
experience flying IFR over long distances. It’s also helpful Advanced ATD (AATD). Here’s a quick way to make sense
in getting you away from your home area, where you feel of these definitions.
most comfortable because you have everything memo- Only a device that moves (i.e., has motion) can use the
rized. Part of IFR flying is being capable of coping with word “simulator” in its name (just because it moves, how-
sudden changes and unfamiliar circumstances without ever, doesn’t automatically allow it the official distinction
getting rattled. of being called a FFS or “full flight simulator”).
You’ll be required to make an instrument approach at Thus an FFS is the real deal, a big machine with many
each airport on your long cross country, and to make at least degrees of motion and classified as Level A through D
three different kinds of instrument approaches (either a (Figure 7A). These simulators are so real and life-like
GPS, VOR, Localizer, LDA, SDF, NDB and/or an ILS that pilots have actually had heart attacks in them dur-
approach. Don’t worry. You’ll learn about these abbrevia- ing exhaustive training sessions. I guess you could also
tions later). You aren’t required to make approaches to three call them heart attack simulators, too (although I don’t
different airports (although this is certainly a good thing to think the instructor’s objective is to stop an engine and
do for the experience it offers). If you think about it, you the pilot’s heart at the same time).
must make approaches to a minimum of two airports, one of FTDs fit into seven different levels, the first three of
which may be your home airport. Getting an IFR rating is
which are no longer used. Levels 4, 5 and 6 all represent
costly in both time and money, but invaluable in terms of
different forms of “airplane” simulation, with Levels 5
what it gives you for the rest of your piloting life. And there
and 6 requiring FAA approval in situations where time in
is a way to help reduce the cost of this training and make the device is used to evaluate pilot skills and/or meet pilot
it more effective in the process. This involves using some- qualification times. The Frasca Piper Seminole simulator
thing known as a simulator or a flight training device.
(Figure 7B) is a flight training device (FTD). Just to be
Aviation Training Devices (ATDs) & Flight Training Devices (FTDs) clear, an FTD is not a machine that gives you flowers
Baskin Robins managed to give 31 different meanings when you push its buttons (that device is known as a hus-
to the term “ice cream.” In today’s aviation world, the band).
FAA has accomplished something similar with the term Most of the general aviation training you’ll experience
“flight simulator.” It’s a generic term that separates will use either ATDs or BATDs (Figure 7C). The regula-
devices that simulate flying into one of three broad cate- tions allow you to these to obtain a maximum of 10 hours

The FAA’s Ruling on the Long “250 Nautical Mile” Instrument Cross Country Flight
QUESTION: Do the approaches required under § 61.65(d)(2)(iii)(C) need to be completed at three different airports?
ANSWER: Ref. § 61.65(d)(2)(iii); No. Under § 61.65(d)(2)(iii), a pilot seeking an instrument-airplane rating must perform three dif-
ferent kinds of approaches with the use of navigation systems, but the approaches may be performed at one or more airports. In
addition, in order to meet the aeronautical experience requirements under § 61.65(d)(2)(iii), the pilot also must (1) land at one or
more airport(s), other than the airport of original departure, using an instrument approach; (2) return to the airport of original depar-
ture using an instrument approach; (3) travel a total distance of 250 nautical miles or greater along airways or ATC-directed routing;
and (4) choose an airport for landing that is separated by a minimum straight line distance of more than 50 nautical miles from the
airport of original departure (see § 61.1(b)(3)(ii)(B)). Given the requirement that the pilot land at a minimum of one airport other than
the airport he or she originated from, it is most efficient if a different approach is used for each landing so the requirements under
§ 61.65(d)(2)(iii)(C) partially are met. FAA Question & Answer Response