ຊົ່ວໂມງຈຳລອງເຄື່ອງດົນຕີ: ພາກທີ 142 ອະນຸຍາດໃຫ້ໃຊ້ໄດ້ສູງສຸດ 30

You need 40 hours of actual or simulated instrument time for the instrument rating, but regulatory caps limit how many of those hours can come from simulators and training devices under 14 CFR §61.65. An authorized instructor must observe and sign off that simulator training for it to count, and a Letter of Authorization (LOA) governs exactly what each device is approved to credit. We walk through the numbers, the logging rules under 14 CFR §61.51, and what to verify before you rely on any of it.

TL; DR:

• An FAA approved Part 142 course raises the FFS or FTD allowance to 30 hours; otherwise, all device categories share a 20 hour cap.
• BATD credit is limited to 10 hours and AATD credit to 20, but neither device can replace required aircraft experience or be used during a practical test.
• Log the device model, applicable LOA reference, procedures practiced, instructor signature, and certificate number; record approaches separately when claiming recent experience currency.
• Before training, match the device model and serial number to its LOA, check restrictions and expiration, and keep the LOA and QAG for review.

ສາ​ລະ​ບານ

• How many simulator hours count toward the 40-hour instrument minimum
• FFS, FTD, BATD, and AATD: what each device actually offers
• Logging instrument time correctly in your logbook
• Verifying a device’s LOA and QAG before you trust the hours
• What devices examiners allow on practical tests
• Structuring simulator lessons that actually maximize your credit
• Why compliance discipline matters as much as stick-and-rudder skill
• Complete your instrument rating with Part 141 training built around simulator credit
• FAQ
• ແຫຼ່ງຂໍ້ມູນ

How many simulator hours count toward the 40-hour instrument minimum

The instrument rating requires 40 hours of actual or simulated instrument time, and a meaningful share of that can come from a device rather than an aircraft. Under ordinary circumstances, the combined cap for simulators, flight training devices (FTDs), and aviation training devices (ATDs) is 20 hours, per 14 CFR §61.65. When your training occurs under an FAA-approved Part 142 course, §61.65(h)(1) permits a higher allowance of up to 30 hours in a full flight simulator (FFS) or FTD.

Aviation training devices carry their own, narrower limits within that structure:

• A Basic Aviation Training Device (BATD) credits a maximum of 10 hours toward the instrument rating.
• An Advanced Aviation Training Device (AATD) credits up to 20 hours.
• Absent the Part 142 exception, §61.65(j) caps total device credit at 20 hours, regardless of how those hours are split across device types.

A typical training plan might apply 20 hours in an AATD toward instrument procedures and holding patterns, then complete the remaining 20 hours of instrument time in the aircraft, covering approaches, intercepting courses, and the cross-country requirement that a device cannot satisfy. That combination reaches the 40-hour total while respecting every cap in the regulation.

FFS, FTD, BATD, and AATD: what each device actually offers

FAA Advisory Circular AC 61-136A defines the device categories that show up throughout Part 61 and Part 141 training. A full flight simulator replicates an aircraft’s flight deck and motion cues with the highest fidelity; a flight training device mimics the cockpit environment without full motion; and an aviation training device, split into Basic (BATD) and Advanced (AATD), delivers a lower-cost but still FAA-recognized platform for procedural training.

What matters for credit is less the device’s category label and more its documented capability:

• Visual system fidelity and instrument panel accuracy determine which tasks the device can legitimately simulate.
• AATDs generally support more realistic avionics flows and glass cockpit procedures than BATDs.
• Neither BATD nor AATD time may be used for a practical test, and no ATD can substitute for required aircraft experience such as solo time, night operations, or takeoffs and landings.

Pilots preparing for a glass cockpit transition often find that AATD sessions build procedural fluency faster than early aircraft time alone, which keeps billable flight hours focused on tasks a device simply cannot replicate.

Logging instrument time correctly in your logbook

Under 14 CFR §61.51, you log instrument time only when operating solely by reference to instruments, whether that occurs in actual instrument meteorological conditions or in an approved simulator or device. An instructor logging that session as dual instruction must sign the entry with their certificate number, and the entry should tie back to the device’s LOA where applicable.

A complete log entry should include:

1. The device type and model, since generic descriptions like “simulator” invite questions later.
2. The LOA reference number, if the device requires one for credit.
3. A brief description of the training content, such as the approaches or holding procedures practiced.
4. The instructor’s signature, certificate number, and the date.
5. Approach details recorded separately if you intend to use the session toward recent-experience currency under §61.57©.

A natural logbook phrasing might read: “AATD instrument training, ILS and RNAV approaches, holding procedures, LOA #12345, dual received.” That level of detail protects you if a designated pilot examiner (DPE) or FAA inspector later reviews your training record.

Verifying a device’s LOA and QAG before you trust the hours

Every FAA-approved training device operates under a Letter of Authorization tied to a Qualification and Approval Guide (QAG), and these documents spell out exactly which tasks the device can credit and for how long. LOAs are typically valid for 60 calendar months, and the FAA’s approved ATD list and guidance specifies that training centers must provide a copy to any pilot using that device’s time for certificate or rating credit.

Before you log a single hour, confirm the following with your training provider:

• Ask for a current copy of the device’s LOA and QAG.
• Match the device model and serial number against what the LOA lists.
• Check the expiration date and any stated usage restrictions.
• Keep a copy in your own training records, separate from the school’s files.

ເຄັດລັບ Pro: Bring a copy of the LOA to your practical test; some examiners request it on the spot, and having it ready avoids a scheduling delay.

What devices examiners allow on practical tests

Aviation training devices are not authorized for use on an FAA practical test, no matter how many hours they credited during your training. Full flight simulators and flight training devices can be used for some or all of a checkride only when the testing occurs through an FAA-approved program, typically tied to a Part 142 training center or a specific examiner authorization.

A few limitations to expect if your school offers device-based testing:

• Examiners often restrict the number or type of approaches performed in an FTD versus an aircraft.
• Authorization paperwork must be confirmed before the test is scheduled, not on test day.
• Your training provider needs to verify in advance that the specific device and program combination is authorized for the checkride you plan to take.

Coordinating this early with your flight school prevents a rescheduled exam over a documentation gap.

Structuring simulator lessons that actually maximize your credit

A simulator session earns its credit when it is instructor-led, built around clearly defined maneuvers mapped to Airman Certification Standards (ACS) tasks, and closed out with a debrief and a signed log entry. Training under a Part 141 or Part 142 syllabus often unlocks higher device credit than ad hoc practice, since the curriculum itself is what the FAA evaluated when granting the school’s device authorization.

ຂອງ​ພວກ​ເຮົາ ໂຄງການຝຶກອົບຮົມການໃຫ້ຄະແນນເຄື່ອງມື builds simulator blocks directly into the Part 141 syllabus, so every AATD session maps to a specific ACS task before the student ever steps into the aircraft. We handle LOA documentation internally, which removes the burden of chasing paperwork from the student.

• Pair each simulator block with a specific approach or procedure, not general “instrument practice.”
• Debrief immediately after the session while the scenario is still fresh.
• Confirm with your instructor which device hours will carry into your aircraft training plan.

ເຄັດລັບ Pro: Schedule your AATD sessions in the week before an aircraft lesson covering the same approach type; the repetition compounds faster than spacing them apart.

Why compliance discipline matters as much as stick-and-rudder skill

Simulators shorten the path to proficiency, but only when the paperwork behind them holds up. We have seen the instructional value of a well-run device session firsthand: the ability to pause, repeat, and immediately correct a procedure accelerates learning in a way an aircraft rarely allows. None of that counts, though, if the LOA has lapsed or the logbook entry is missing a signature. Treat the regulatory discipline as inseparable from the flying itself, and pair every hour of device time with the aircraft experience the rules still require.

— ເຣເນີ

Complete your instrument rating with Part 141 training built around simulator credit

ພວກເຮົາຈັດໂຄງສ້າງຂອງພວກເຮົາ ອັນດັບເຄື່ອງມື 141 program so simulator hours and aircraft hours work together toward the 40-hour requirement, with LOA documentation handled by our team rather than left to you to track down. We also conduct FAA checkrides in-house, which shortens the wait between finishing your training and sitting your practical test.

• Ask about current LOA and QAG documentation for any device included in your syllabus.
• Review how simulator blocks map to your aircraft training schedule before enrollment.
• Confirm in-house checkride availability as part of your program timeline.

Reach out through our pilot training courses page to see how an instrument rating fits into your broader certification plan.

FAQ

How many simulator hours count for the instrument rating?

Up to 20 hours of simulator, FTD, or ATD time generally count toward the 40-hour instrument requirement under 14 CFR §61.65, with up to 30 hours allowed in an FFS or FTD under an approved Part 142 program. BATDs cap at 10 hours and AATDs cap at 20 hours within that overall limit.

What is the 6-6-6 IFR rule?

This phrase is not an FAA regulatory term, and it is not defined in 14 CFR or FAA advisory material. If you encountered it elsewhere, confirm the source against 14 CFR §61.65 and §61.57, since recent-experience and rating requirements are spelled out explicitly there.

What is the FAA 1500-hour rule?

The 1,500-hour rule refers to the total flight time generally required to hold an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate, a separate requirement from the instrument rating minimum. It does not affect how simulator hours apply toward the instrument rating itself.

Can I use simulator time on my instrument checkride?

Aviation training devices are not authorized for FAA practical tests. A full flight simulator or FTD may be used for part of a checkride only when the testing occurs through an FAA-approved program, so confirm authorization with your training provider before scheduling.

What must my instructor log for simulator instrument training?

Your instructor should log the device type and model, any applicable LOA reference, a description of the training performed, and their signature with certificate number, consistent with 14 CFR §61.51. This detail protects the credit if the entry is reviewed later.

ແຫຼ່ງຂໍ້ມູນ

• 14 CFR § 61.65 – Instrument rating requirements.
• AC 61-136A — Approval of Aviation Training Devices and Their Use for Training and Experience

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