Level C/D night time towards FAA ATPL requirements
Does any "night" time done in a level C/D sim count towards the night time requirement for an FAA licence?
Reason I ask is I am considering an a320 type rating in the USA and would like to use the checkride as my FAA ATPL issue (I don't currently hold any FAA licence). I have 65hrs night with well over 45 takeoffs and full stop landings - so I fall short of the requirement by 10 night hours. If I can hit two birds with one stone in the sim it makes life much easier!
Had a search of the FARs and found 61.159(a)(5) "Not more than 100 hours of the total aeronautical experience requirements of paragraph (a) of this section may be obtained in a flight simulator..." Now paragraph (a) includes 1500TT, 500X/C, 75 IF, 250 PIC and 100 Night.
So ultimately my question becomes: is "total aeronautical experience" limited to the 1500hrs requirement? (i.e. if you have 1400TT plus 100 sim you're OK). Or can up to 100hrs sim time be put toward any of the other hour requirements (e.g. if you have 400 X/C plus 100 sim X/C; or 50 night plus 50 night sim you're OK).
Apologies for sort of going around in a circle... but grateful for any knowledgable replies!