Unknown Simulator Class

Ground-based training devices range from basic computer-based setups to high-fidelity replicas of specific aircraft cockpits. The FAA classifies them as a BATD, AATD, or FTD depending on their capability and approval level. Each class has different rules for how many hours can be logged and toward which certificates or ratings.

If a school lists a simulator without specifying the FAA class, ask before booking time in it. The class determines how many hours count toward your certificate or rating, and an unapproved device cannot be logged at all for most purposes. Some schools use the word simulator loosely to describe anything from an approved AATD to a consumer-grade desktop setup that cannot be logged.