sim class D count as real flying?

can I count my class D simulator time in my total time, I think it 's possible under the FAA.

No, it does not count as total time. It counts for landings and instrument approaches, as well as toward meeting total experience requirements for an ATP (up to 100 hours). However, it does not go in your logbook as flight time in a real aircraft.

It counts as SIM time. However, some employers value that sim time, so keep a record of it somewhere.

I log it for currency if necessary, but not for anything else. Sim time is sim time; a company may look at it favorably for an entry-level SIC position if you're low-time, but beyond that it doesn't serve any purpose. You certainly can't and shouldn't go around claiming that you have time in _______ aircraft because you've flown the Level D sim (I'm sure you guys don't, but there are some who do!); the idea that "it's the same as the real airplane" is very overblown.

I agree with the posts above but more importantly a company looking to fill a senior position would not look overly favorable on a candidate claiming hundreds of hours of sim time in an airplane (speaking from my company). Many of us bust our butts on the line to gain experience and most interviewers are pilots themselves. They like seeing people do the real thing and work hard to get to their position. I do however think that working as a sim support pilot and gaining that experience is a great addition to a resume, it should just not be the crowning achievement. Also, it is a GREAT place to network with potential employers!

I like to look for people with a wide array of experience and see how that experience will benefit the entire organization. I wish you the best of luck in your flying career.

All the previous post are correct. i think the only time you COULD count is in full motion sim. But it is note worthy to keep logged. My first logbook(one of the cheap jeppensens) i took the last two or three pages for sim time. and like the others said I only log approaches and sim time in there. Keep it separated so when they look at my log book they only see flight time. then sim time.

True Story:

I was flying with a pretty new FO into DCA and they were doing the River Visual. It was his leg and I asked him if he'd flown the approach before and was he comfortable with it. He said he'd done it a bunch and "not to worry". So down the river we go. Somewhere about over the Chain Bridge I start to have some suspicion that he has no idea what he is supposed to be doing. Abeam the apartments at Rossyln it becomes apparent that he's completely lost. I coach him through the rest of the approach (turn, turn more... ok stop... a little high... ok, ok... do you see the runway right there? no? ok... a little low now.... turn... still don't see the runway? it's 1/2 a mile right in front of you).

Anyhow, after we landed I asked him why he'd told me he'd shot the approach before when it was readily apparent that he hadn't and he told me that he'd flown it a bunch in a FRASCA at a flight school while instructing and figured it would be about the same.

I also had an FO tell me he'd shot the approach before and after completely balling it up so much so that I had to take the airplane from him I discovered by "shooting the approach" he meant he'd been sitting in seat 7A while the approach was being flown once. But that's another story.

umm...wow. Normally there would be some sort of witty addendum for this...but I think I just need to go drink now.

Gotta love it!

I just shook my head in disbelief. Time for more coffee.

So if my Brasilia training was done in a Level D sim at "night", could it count toward the ATP requirement of 100 hours of night time?

Don't worry! I've seen this in cartoons 100's of times!

I log it but it's just sim