"bsalai" wrote in message
.. .
Does anyone know if Simulated Instrument Conditions is defined anywhere?

The reason for the question is whether one can log instrument time, say at
night, when you don't look outside, but don't wear foggles or a hood?

I can't find anything in the rules that defines simulated instrument
conditions, but since the rule for logging instrument time says both that
flight has to be solely by referenct to instruments in actual or simulated
instrument conditions, that would suggest that more is required than
"solely by reference to instruments" and therefore that some sort of view
limiting device is required.

It would certainly be easier if they defined simulated insturment
conditions though.

This is one of the most confusing aspects of the FAA's terminology.

It turns out that if you *need* to fly by reference to instruments (for
example, at night with no moon over unlit terrain) then that counts as
actual (not simulated) instrument conditions--although it does not count as
instrument *meteorological* conditions (IMC), and hence does not require
being IFR rather than VFR. But it can be logged as instrument time.

But no, the FAA never actually defines the term "instrument conditions" (as
opposed to "instrument meteorological conditions"). The FAA used to have an
online FAQ that contained this explanation, but they recently removed it. So
now it's relegated to the status of a newsgroup rumor--or you could send a
letter or email to your FSDO asking about it. If enough people do that,
perhaps the FAA will be prompted to define the term.

--Gary