Hello:Does anyone know what criterior FSX uses to give time in the INSTR catagory in the pilot records? If you are flying an IFR flight plan isn't that flying by instruments? It seems that it gives very few hours in that catagory no matter what kind of flight it is. RichardS

One case FSX does credit you with instrument time in your pilot log is when you fly in clouds.Jeff

This is something that seems to be confused. Being on an ifr plan does not mean you can log that as ifr time. Ifr time is the time that you are on "sole reference to instruments." Even if you are on an ifr plan in cav you can't log that as instrument unless you are on sole reference to instruments-it is amazing how few hours of actual I can count despite filing exclusively ifr for the last 5 years..Msfs therefore only logging time in the clouds is pretty cool.On the other hand -you can fly over Lake Michigan as I have -vfr-and at a certain point the horizon is lost as the lake and sky blend in-and at that point you are ifr-despite being vfr-as control is done by sole reference to instruments you can log that even though on a vfr flight plan.Make sense?http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/1b5baf...b9f427f694g.jpgMy blog:http://geofageofa.spaces.live.com/

Just to throw a few regs into the mix (for the U.S. which my guess MSFS uses) and 2nd what Geofa said.FAR 61.65 (d) (2) http://www.risingup.com/fars/info/part61-65-FAR.shtml says you need 40hrs actual or simulated for the IFR Rating...I don't know how one would go about "simulated" time like using Foggles in FSX (ehem... remember, one peek is worth a thousand cross-checks).Filing IFR is strictly for re: what Flight Rules you follow and how ATC "handles" you. It speaks nothing about how to log that time. For that one needs to go to FAR 61.51(g) Logging instrument flight time. (http://www.risingup.com/fars/info/part61-51-FAR.shtml).Most of the time I would file IFR for an x-c, but I could only log "actual" when I was truly in IMC (actually, the FAR is a little more specific...). Once back in VMC not solely relying on the instruments... well no more logging as "actual".Maybe someone from ACES will answer when "exactly" Instrument Time is logged. My guess is (if you want to check on your own) when one enters IMC (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instrument_me...ical_conditions ). Hope this helps.This is certainly one area (the logging aspect) I am glad is "hands off". Rob O.

Geofa's example reminded me of the JFK Jr. accident...NTSB Report: http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief2.asp?ev_id=...C99MA178&akey=1AOPA Report: http://www.aopa.org/asf/asfarticles/sp0009.htmlSurely he was VMC taking-off, but as the flight progressed over the water with night and haze he must have lost the horizon. Heck, some nights I have flown over land, I have lost the horizon. And there are times you can't tell what lights are part of the ground and which are stars. It can be disorienting.A VFR-only pilot should consider flight into IMC a true emergency... or for one who hasn't been in Actual for a while is great we can do this in MSFS.I know this is more than you asked for.. but hey... it's free and tonite am again suffering from verbose-itis. :-)Rob O.

So how does a long overnight flight over water such as an ocean crossing factor in?

"In the world"... hey, if I have to depend on the instruments (sans autopilot that is) to keep things right side up, I'll note the time and log it as Inst. Time. I

Thanks to everyone. I learned something today. RichardS