Holding procedure for IFR currency

[kortopates]

 

7 hours ago, Jerry 5TJ said:

“View limiting device...” how about if I lower the seat and just don’t look outside before the DA?  The panel in the Ovation is fairly tall & limits the view pretty well. 

Since 2015, clarified the requirement for a view limiting device in order to log instrument approaches in INFO 15012  https://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/airline_operators/airline_safety/info/all_infos/media/2015/info15012.pdf 

It also clarifies what it takes to log an approach under actual (crossing the FAF while IMC) and simulated IFR where we are expected to fly to min's with the hood (with reasonable exceptions allowed).

[jaylw314]

6 hours ago, EricJ said:

Redbirds, if they're actual fully-equipped Redbirds rather than something cobbled together from newegg, count if it is an ATD.   So no motion required.

So you probably can't just fire up your home simulator and get current, regardless of how well equipped it might be, unless it is an approved ATD.

What makes an approved ATD?   The FAA position seems to be that they know one when they see one and they approve case-by-case.   It is apparently subjective.   So the new rules really benefit schools that already have "approved" ATDs or people with enough extra cash (and space) to spend the 5-10 AMUs to get a personal "approved" ATD from one of the few vendors that have been blessed by the FAA (e.g., Redbird).

As far as I could tell reading it, if you have an "approved" ATD already, it should still apply after the change.  I know our local EAA chapter has an Elite Basic-ATD simulator that was an approved setup for IFR training and currency.   It has controls and a simulated cockpit that are nothing better than what you can get from Saitek, and is pretty lame graphics-wise (think MS Flight Simulator from the 90's).  MS Flight Simulator X blows it out of the water with its cloud and weather modelling, but I'm guessing MSFSX and its descendant Prepar3d will never get approved as ATD's...