AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - 18

ON COURSE
Solo ATD
Simplifying instrument currency
BY KOLLIN STAGNITO / Editor in Chief
AOPA Foundation Legacy Society member
THE 2022 U.S. CIVIL AIRMEN STATISTICS reveal 54 percent of
private and commercial pilots hold an instrument rating. I believe
earning an instrument rating makes one a safer pilot-even if you
exclusively fly VFR-because you'll gain situational awareness
helpful in avoiding inadvertent flight into instrument meteorological
conditions (IMC), and learn skills that will increase your likelihood
of exiting IMC safely if you do unexpectedly encounter it.
But these skills erode quickly. As soon as we earn an instrument
rating or complete an instrument proficiency check, the clock is
counting down for us to remain instrument current and legal to fly
in IMC. FAR 61.57(c) lists the six approaches, holding procedures,
and intercepting and tracking courses we need to accomplish
within the preceding six calendar months. While averaging
one approach per month seems simple enough, it's commonly
estimated that more than half of GA pilots with an instrument
rating are not current.
I recently failed to fly the required number of approaches and
lapsed into non-current status for a few days, even though I have
access to an instrument-capable airplane and safety pilots. I committed
to using a simulator in the future to ensure I remain current.
I looked for an aviation training device (ATD) with instrumentation
similar to the aircraft I regularly fly. A huge benefit of using
an ATD to maintain instrument currency is that you can fly practice
approaches and holds solo-no instructor needed. A key requirement
is that the ATD has been issued an FAA letter of authorization
(LOA), which allows the pilot to legally log simulator time (so your
PC running Microsoft Flight Simulator or X-Plane can't be used
for logging simulated instrument approaches). You can find a list
of FAA-approved ATDs and their approved aircraft configurations
at faa.gov by typing ATD in the search bar.
I found a one-G Simulation Foundation ATD configured as a
Cessna 172 with round gauges that suits my needs. It has complete
flight controls, a well-equipped instrument panel that includes
a Garmin GTN 650 emulator, and three screens to simulate
the view outside the cockpit. As required by the FAA, the ATD
closely represents the flight dynamics and aircraft performance
parameters of the aircraft being simulated. I've used ATDs in
the past for instrument training and currency, but only with an
instructor making all the magic happen. And there's the rub: All
simulators require some degree of training to use properly. When
18
AOPA PILOT / January 2024
flying a simulator solo, you are required to perform the instructor
functions: starting the simulator, using the interface (usually a
laptop computer) to place your aircraft at a specific starting point
(this could be the ramp at your home airport or a location 10 miles
from the initial approach fix for any approach you want to fly), and
selecting the appropriate weather, winds and turbulence level for
your flight. The setup is not difficult, but it is important to make
the simulated flight realistic.
One-G requires solo users read its Instructor Operator Station
Guide, take a short quiz, and have a simulator session with an
instructor before gaining solo access to the simulator-about a onehour
time commitment. Other ATDs, or the flight schools at which
they are located, may have different requirements for solo authorization.
Expect another hour spent making mistakes setting up
flight parameters and programming navigational equipment and
autopilots as you learn to use the ATD solo.
Try to replicate as closely as possible the checklists, flows,
approach briefings, airspeeds, approach procedures, and aircraft
configuration you use in the airplane you normally fly. When flying
IFR, I use an EFB on my iPad synced with the GPS navigator in
the panel. I overlay approach plates on the moving map and use the
scratch pad to write down clearances and notes. It was important
for me to find an ATD that could sync my iPad with the simulator-
and many do. For added realism, many ATDs include an option to
incorporate air traffic control through a service called PilotEdge,
providing an opportunity to sharpen our radio skills. Once I was
confident in my ability to properly set up and fly the simulator, it
was straightforward to hand-fly approaches and holds-and even
easier to do so using the autopilot, just as it is in a real airplane.
After each sim session, you'll note the training device, time, and
approaches and holds flown in your logbook to satisfy instrument
recency experience requirements as outlined in FAR 61.51(g)(5).
There is no replacing the experience gained when flying in
actual instrument conditions, but
ATDs do a great job of keeping us
instrument current at a fraction
of the cost, and in a lot less time,
than when accomplished in an
airplane.
kollin.stagnito@aopa.org
KOLLIN STAGNITO,
AOPA senior vice president
of media and marketing, is
a commercial pilot and an
advanced and instrument
ground instructor.
http://www.faa.gov

AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024

AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - Intro
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - Cover1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - Cover2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - 1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - 2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - 3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - 4
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - 5
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - 6
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - 7
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - 8
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - 9
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - 10
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - 11
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - 12
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - 13
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - 14
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - 15
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - 16
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - 17
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - 18
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - 19
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AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - 40
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - 41
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AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - 43
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AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - 47
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - 48
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - R1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - R2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - R3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - R4
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - 49
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - 50
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - 51
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - 52
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - 53
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AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - 60
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - 61
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AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - 63
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - 64
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - 65
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - 66
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - 67
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AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - 112
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - 113
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - Cover4
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