What is the process to get a simulator FAA certified for IFR training?

Question

Assuming I've got the hardware and software that meets the FAA requirements for a BATD (Basic Aviation Training Device), what is the process I would go through to get the simulator certified?

Answer 1

The FAA Advisory Circular 61-136 contains the guidance for Aviation Training Devices, including the BATD's.

The AC states that as long as the system has been FAA approved by the manufacturer (and in your case you say that it "meets the FAA requirements"), that no specific approval is required for training conducted under 14 CFR 61. For use under 14 CFR 141 however, you would need specific FAA approval (see below).

14 CFR 61 Approval

You must simply follow the conditions specified in the AC:

5. APPROVAL OF BATD FOR USE UNDER PART 61. To be approved for use for pilot training and certification under part 61, a BATD should:

a. Be capable of providing procedural training in all elements for which it is to be used. Those elements should be specified in an acceptable training curriculum or as specifically authorized by the FAA and meet the description and suggested criteria outlined in this appendix.

b. Have the following documents available for inspection by the student and instructor:

• The list of ATD components as required by paragraph 3c,
• A copy of AFS-800’s letter of approval and authorized use of the ATD, and
• A copy of the QAG for the ATD being used.

c. Successfully pass the start-up self-test described in paragraph 8c(2). If the device is being used in a course of training for a pilot certificate or rating, a person authorized by the FAA to provide ground or flight instruction should observe this test. After the ATD self-test is complete, no other software of any kind may be started on the computer running the ATD software.

d. Remain in the approved configuration during the training session. Authorized ATD instruction may not proceed after a malfunction of the ATD system has occurred. The operator must correct the ATD malfunction and repeat the start-up test described in paragraph c of this section before resuming authorized instruction. In addition, a BATD may be used in a training curriculum that provides for:

• A similar scope and content of a syllabus that is used under part 141;
• Instructional materials for flight events;
• A means of showing progress, such as an outline of stage (phase) checks and criterion levels of performance; and
• The authorized use as approved in the AFS-800 letter of approval.

14 CFR 141 Approval

141 Approval is almost the same, but must be approved by the school's POI (principle operations inspector):

6. APPROVAL OF BATD FOR USE UNDER PART 141. Local FSDO may approve BATDs as part of an overall part 141 curriculum approval and certification process. Pilot schools that want to use a BATD as part of their training curriculum must notify their principal operations inspector (POI). The POI is responsible for approving how the BATD is to be used in the certificate holder’s part 141 curriculum. To be approved for use under part 141, a BATD should:

a. Be capable of providing training in all elements in which it will be used, as specified in the syllabus, and meet the description and suggested criteria outlined in this appendix. b. Have the following documents available for inspection by the student and instructor:

• The list of ATD components required in paragraph 3c,
• A copy of AFS-800’s letter of approval and authorized use of the ATD, and
• A copy of the QAG for the ATD being used.

c. Successfully pass the start-up self-test described in paragraph 8c of this appendix. A person authorized by the FAA to provide ground or flight instruction should observe this test. After the ATD self-test is complete, no other software of any kind may be started on the computer running the ATD software.

d. Remain in the approved configuration during the training session. Authorized ATD instruction may not proceed after a malfunction of the ATD system has occurred. The operator must correct the ATD malfunction and repeat the start-up test described in paragraph c of this section before resuming authorized instruction.

e. Be used in an integrated ground and flight training curriculum which provides for:

• The scope and content of a curriculum in compliance with part 141,
• The authorized use as approved in the AFS-800 letter of approval,
• Instructional materials for flight events, and
• An outline of stage (phase) checks and criterion levels of performance.

Answer 2

Careful! The above and 'approved' answer is not correct! FAA Approval is required for a BATD! As the Advisory Circular says:

Manufacturers of devices meeting the guidance and standards in this AC will receive a document from the FAA Flight Standards Service’s General Aviation and Commercial Division, AFS-800, approving them as either a BATD or AATD with an accompanying authorized use statement.

You need to get the AFS-800 approval after an extensive review of the QAG. This can take anywhere from 6 months to a year currently in my experience for even a school building a simulator. I have yet to meet someone who has truly certified a home build system.

Appendix 2 says:

b. To request FAA approval of a BATD, manufacturers should send approval requests to: (1) By regular mail: FAA Flight Standards Service, General Aviation and Commercial Division, Certification and General Aviation Operations Branch, AFS-810, 800 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20591. (2) By e-mail: (call (202) 267-8212 for e-mail instructions). NOTE: E-mail, with attached text format documents, is the preferred correspondence method.
c. The request for approval must include a QAG

Here is an example link to one of the older approval documents that expires in 2019:

https://flyelite.com/downloads/faa/pi135.pdf