Matt,
Thank you, I'll have to take your word at that as there is nothing on their site that states the software or anything that provides detailed enough photos of the out the window view for me to make any comments on.
AATD stands for Advanced Aviation Training Devices as opposed to Basic Aviation Training Devices, both are defined in AC 61-136:
Basic Aviation Training Device (BATD). A BATD is a device that:
(1) Meets or exceeds the criteria outlined in Appendix 2 (BATD Requirements) of this advisory circular (AC),
(2) Provides a training platform for at least the procedural aspects of flight relating to an integrated ground and flight instrument training curriculum, and
(3) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) finds acceptable in a manner as outlined in this AC.
Advanced Aviation Training Device (AATD). An AATD is a device that:
(1) Meets or exceeds the criteria outlined in Appendix 2;
(2) Meets or exceeds the criteria outlined in Appendix 3 (AATD Requirements);
(3) Provides a training platform for both procedural and operational performance tasks related to ground and flight training towards private pilot, commercial pilot, and airline transport pilot certificates, a flight instructor certificate, and instrument rating per Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) parts 61 and 141; and
(4) The FAA finds acceptable in a manner as outlined in this AC.
BLUF: a BATD may be used for the 10 hours of instrument instruction and 2.5 hours toward a private license under Parts 61 or 141 respectively whereas an AATD is much more capable and allows for the following:
• Logging instrument flight experience
• Instrument rating (maximum 20 hours)
• Instrument rating practical test (per FAA-S-8081-4 (circling-to-land not authorized))
• Instrument proficiency check (per FAA-S-8081-4 (circling-to-land not authorized))
• Private pilot certificate (maximum 2.5 hours)
• Commercial pilot certificate (maximum 50 hours)
• Commercial pilot practical test (per FAA-S-8081-12)
• Airline transport pilot certificate (maximum 25 hours)
• Airline transport pilot practical test (per FAA-S-8081-5)
• Part 141 as limited by the applicable appendices, or under a special curriculum approved under part 141, § 141.57.
AC 61-136 canceled AC 61-126, however did provide grandfathering for PCATDs certified under the old regulations.
It seems that ELITE has gotten into more of the hardware business as opposed to their original software business and the
ELITE PI-121 "PCATD" and the ELITE PI-135 "BATD" both being advertised as FAA certified for 10 hours (PCATD) and 10 + 2.5 hours (BATD) using the following software:
- ELITE V8.5
- Microsoft Flight Sim 2002/2004/X
- ASA On Top
- X-Plane
So I stand corrected, I guess you can have a PCATD or a BATD with MSFS 2002/2004/X and most importantly you can have MSFS and legally log time toward an FAA license with the right hardware. I guess that means that MSFS is technically real Aviation Training Software.
-KenG
A358 (Retired)