Simulator time-EASA land

[tubby linton]

A question to which I cannot find an answer. How do you log simultor time with regard to EASA maximum monthly totals,and how many sectors do you count per session?
For clarity it was two days of recurrent simulator.

[Denti]

According to EASA simulator time is purely ground duty and doesn't count into block time totals. It is still duty time, but not FDP. And as there is no flying being done, just ground duty, there are no sectors to count either.

This stems from the idea that EASA prescribes only a minimum level of flight safety. As long as the rest time before starting the next flight duty is sufficient, everything is OK. They do not care about what happens during ground duty at all.

Your CLA might see things differently though. In my outfit simulator time is counted as block time (the full amount of scheduled time in the simulator, including pre-simulator briefing time), there is no sector count however and the usual pre-flight duty rest rest requirements apply, unlike for a pure ground duty.

[ZFT]

Denti,

Do you have the applicable EASA reference for this please?

[Denti]

Simulator duty is not specifically mentioned in EASA FTL. However, giving and receiving training is mentioned under the definition of duty time (ORO.FTL.105, point 10 and 11). Therefore simulator time is duty time, and of course counts into the duty time limits as does any other duty time.

It is not mentioned anywhere else in the FTL or any of the accompanying soft law (GM/CS/AMC). Therefore it does not count into the block hour or Flight Duty time totals. As it is duty, any simulator time before a normal flight duty, but in the same duty period, would count as flight duty time in total. However, it would not count as a sector (kinda akin to proceeding). Simulator time after a flight duty, would count as duty, but not not as flight duty.

The FTL does not regulate ground duty very much. Yes, it does count into duty time limits, but apart from that EASA doesn't care one bit if you do two or more sessions back to back in one single duty period. And i know of some airlines that actually do schedule more than one session per period for their trainers.

[tubby linton]

Thank you for the answer. Another less than ideal feature of EASA FTL and not great when a pilot is operating close to maximum flying hours in a month.

[ZFT]

Denti,

Thank you. Much appreciated.

[cptrcrazy]

Simulator duty is not specifically mentioned in EASA FTL. However, giving and receiving training is mentioned under the definition of duty time (ORO.FTL.105, point 10 and 11). Therefore simulator time is duty time, and of course counts into the duty time limits as does any other duty time.

It is not mentioned anywhere else in the FTL or any of the accompanying soft law (GM/CS/AMC). Therefore it does not count into the block hour or Flight Duty time totals. As it is duty, any simulator time before a normal flight duty, but in the same duty period, would count as flight duty time in total. However, it would not count as a sector (kinda akin to proceeding). Simulator time after a flight duty, would count as duty, but not not as flight duty.

The FTL does not regulate ground duty very much. Yes, it does count into duty time limits, but apart from that EASA doesn't care one bit if you do two or more sessions back to back in one single duty period. And i know of some airlines that actually do schedule more than one session per period for their trainers.

So in other words, I can go legally to a simulator session e.g.after coming back from a long range night flight? As long as I stay within the duty limit (not Flight duty Limitations)...

[Tom!]

There is no minimum rest between a previous FDP and a following ground duty, so yes. It would be up to the instructor to assess if there would be any training value to the session if you are half asleep. Realistically we use a minimum rest of 10h, but it is not mandatory.

[Denti]

Indeed, it is possible to schedule a simulator after a flight duty, and that is perfectly legal, albeit of not much use. Personally i would use that moment to inform my trainer about any fatigue or sickness i might feel and if necessary refuse to carry out that duty.

[cptrcrazy]

Exactly, it's highly doubtful that a long duty before has much positive impact on training.