PCATD Certification for Flight Training

ATDs are FAA-certified Flight Training Devices. Typical ATDs are the full-motion aircraft simulators used by airlines, and made by companies such as CAE,Inc. PC-ATDs, on the other hand, are desk-top PC-based training devices such as those made by ASA,Inc., PC-ATDs are usually used for procedures training. PC-ATDs are not aircraft simulators.

What Defines a PCATD?

Under AC 61-126, a PCATD is a device that meets or exceeds the criteria shown in Appendix 1 of the AC for its qualification and approval, functionally provides a platform for at least the procedural aspects of flight relating to an instrument rating curriculum, and has been qualified by the FAA. Transport Canada (see note toward the bottom of this page) has its own list of requirements. Occasionally, the software that drives a PC-ATD may be purchased separately from the hardware; in this case neither component is certified by the FAA. Only the complete hardware/software package is certified by the FAA, and the components may not be separated.

Some Examples:

	ASA, Inc	Laminar Reasearch
Software	On Top Proficiency Software	X-Plane
Hardware	On Top PC-ATD	Motus 3 Flight Simulator

PCATDs are used solely as authorized under FAR 61.4(c): The device must have been qualified and approved by FAA; it must be used in connection with an integrated ground and flight instrument training syllabus that is approved under Part 141 if used under Part 141, or meet the scope and content for approval under Part 141 if used under FAR Part 61; and it is limited to not more than 10 hours of instruction, which must be given by a flight instructor with an instrument instructor rating, and the instruction given must consist of the procedural tasks listed in the Appendix of AC 61-126.

An integrated ground and flight instrument training curriculum is one that follows knowledge-based skills with motor skills for each flight task. It builds upon specific knowledge acquired by following with procedural rehearsal in a PCATD and motor skill rehearsal in a flight training device, a flight simulator, or in an airplane.

Can pilots log PCATD time?

In 1997 the FAA published AC 61-126 and began approving PCATDs. The advisory circular indicates that this is only the first phase of PCATD operations. To start, 10 hours of instrument flight instruction provided by a certificated instrument flight instructor, in accordance with an approved PCATD training syllabus, can be credited towards the requirements of the instrument rating (vs. 20 hours allowed with FAA-approved FTDs.) Unlike FTDs, PCATDs cannot be used for meeting instrument currency requirements (the six approaches in six months required for instrument currency cannot be flown on a PCATD.) However, the FAA has stated that it will be evaluating information provided by PCATD operators in order to determine if additional flight time, and/or uses (such as instrument currency), should be allowed to be flown on PCATDs in the future.

Even if PCATDs have yet to receive the full regulatory benefits enjoyed by FTDs, they are still very useful in helping rated pilots stay proficient. Long before FAA approval was granted to PCATDs, many pilots were using earlier-generation PCATD software and hardware to keep their instrument scans and skills proficient, if not legally current. In fact, each of the IFR software packages that are now approved for PCATD use, and the hardware, have been in use around the world since the early 1990's.

On Top PC-ATD Canadian Certification:

The On Top PC-ATD can be qualified as a Level 2 Flight Training Device. It has been certified in Canada at both civil and military locations. The Transport Canada requirements are outlined in their CAR IV Qualification Test Guide . This test guide outlines some basic standards for installation of the On Top PC-ATD in a flight school, for example:

The On Top PC-ATD must be installed in its own area with adequate ventilation, and free from outside distractions.
The various hardware components must be bolted down so that everything remains stationary (including the pilot's seat). We use a Dodge Caravan front seat (from the auto-wrecker) because it comes with convenient bolt-holes for attaching to a flat floor. Some operators trim the installation so that it resembles an airplane cockpit.
It must be inspected once a year to verify that nothing has changed since the last inspection, that all serial numbers still match, and so forth.
The Transport Canada certification must be displayed

The On Top PC-ATD can be installed either with an instructor's workstation, as a pilot-only device. Printers and disk storage help to enhance the usefulness of the device.