http://www.flyingmag.com/news/stay-current-touchtrainer-simulator

I don't think there's a substitute for flying a real aircraft, especially something as intimate as your own panel, but keeping your scan and situational awareness tuned up can be done in a sim.

I have X-Plane 10 and it's pretty good, but only this hardware system would qualify for loggable currency.

I know Eric and Carl at Fly This Sim. They have been at this a long time, they are talented guys, and they finally got FAA approval for an at home simulator you can use to stay current (an amazing feat!)

My own view - do both. Fly real or under-the-hood IFR often, and use a simulator to really learn the buttonology, to nail the procedures, and to gain competency in emergencies. And six approaches every six months isn't nearly enough to stay current.

Let's see....$4900 for that "at home simulator"....or buy a boatload of gas and maybe even some CFII dual.....tough decision....or not.

And, for that same price you can buy one of the Elite PCATDs. Not sure what advantage this is other than another version of a small ATD. Elites have been approved for this stuff for years.

And, no I don't sell Elite stuff.

MTV

MTV, thanks for the post.

There are a few significant differences between Elite and Fly This Sim. The FAA approved version of Elite starts at $4000, and goes up. The FAA approved home version of Fly This Sim is $3900.

Also, Elite is only approved for 10 hours of training toward an Instrument rating. Fly This Sim can be used for this training, PLUS is can be used to log currency hours - which is the big difference.

A difference that may limit Fly This Sim is that as far as I know the FAA approval is only for Glass Cockpit TAA aircraft. They make analog simulators but I don't think they are FAA approved yet.