BATD vs AATD: What Can You Actually Log?
If you run a flight school or you are shopping for a training device, the alphabet soup of FAA simulator classifications can be confusing. The two categories that matter most for smaller operations are BATD (Basic Aviation Training Device) and AATD (Advanced Aviation Training Device). Each one unlocks a different set of loggable training hours, and understanding the difference will save you money and frustration.
What Is a BATD?
A Basic Aviation Training Device is the entry-level FAA-qualified simulator. It must replicate the flight deck environment well enough for a student to practice procedures, but it does not need an enclosed cockpit or sophisticated aerodynamic modeling. Desktop-style devices like the Redbird TD and certain RealSimGear configurations fall into this category.
Under AC 61-136A, a BATD lets students and rated pilots log the following:
- Private Pilot Certificate: Up to 2.5 hours toward the total aeronautical experience requirement.
- Instrument Rating: Up to 10 hours of the 40-hour instrument training requirement.
- IFR Currency: Six approaches, holding, and intercepting/tracking courses to satisfy the six-month instrument currency requirements under 14 CFR 61.57(c).
That IFR currency piece alone makes a BATD worth its price for many schools and individual pilots. Flying six approaches in an airplane costs fuel, instructor time, and scheduling headaches. A BATD session can knock it out in under an hour at a fraction of the cost.
What Does an AATD Add?
An Advanced Aviation Training Device steps things up significantly. AATDs require more realistic flight modeling, a broader set of instrument navigation capabilities, and generally provide a more immersive training environment. The Redbird LD is a common AATD, and Gleim also offers qualified devices.
The extra capability unlocks considerably more loggable time:
- Instrument Rating: Up to 20 hours — double the BATD allowance.
- Commercial Pilot Certificate: Up to 50 hours toward the total time requirement (with limitations).
- CFI-Instrument: Training time toward the certificated flight instructor instrument rating.
- Full Instrument Proficiency Check (IPC): A pilot can complete an entire IPC in an AATD with an authorized instructor, which is not possible in a BATD alone.
The jump from 10 instrument hours to 20 instrument hours is the headline number. For a Part 141 school running students through an instrument program, that difference translates directly into reduced aircraft hours and lower student costs.
BATD vs AATD Comparison Table
| Capability | BATD | AATD |
|---|---|---|
| Private Pilot experience hours | 2.5 hrs | 2.5 hrs |
| Instrument rating training hours | 10 hrs | 20 hrs |
| Commercial certificate hours | No | Up to 50 hrs |
| CFI-I training time | No | Yes |
| Instrument currency (61.57) | Yes | Yes |
| Full IPC completion | No | Yes |
| Typical device cost | $5,000 - $15,000 | $25,000 - $80,000+ |
| Typical footprint | Desktop | Desktop to enclosed |
The FAA Regulatory Basis
The governing document is Advisory Circular 61-136A, which lays out what qualifies as a BATD or AATD and exactly how the training time may be credited. The device must hold a current Letter of Authorization (LoA) from the FAA, and the training must be conducted under the supervision of an authorized instructor. Simply owning a device is not enough — the paperwork matters.
Which Devices Fall Where?
Here is a quick reference for common training devices:
- BATD: Redbird TD, RealSimGear desktop trainers, Gleim BATD units
- AATD: Redbird LD, Redbird MCX, Gleim AATD units, Frasca RTD
Is the Upgrade Worth It?
The answer depends on your operation. A small Part 61 school with a handful of instrument students may never recoup the cost difference between a BATD and an AATD. The BATD handles IFR currency and provides meaningful instrument training hours at a price point that makes sense.
A growing Part 141 school pushing 20 or more instrument students per year should run the math. If each student saves 10 additional aircraft hours by using an AATD instead of a BATD, and your aircraft operating cost is $180 per hour, that is $1,800 per student. Twenty students per year puts $36,000 of value on the table annually — enough to justify the higher device cost within a year or two.
The right device is the one that matches your student volume, your training programs, and your budget. Start with the training hours table above and work backward from there.