On Sun, 29 Jan 2006 09:57:44 -0500, "Gary Drescher"
wrote:

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.

Actually, FWIW the FAQ said:

"There is no official FAA definition of “actual instrument time” or
“simulated instrument time” in the FARs, FAA Orders, advisory
circulars, FAA bulletins, etc. And probably the reason why the FAA has
never officially defined “actual instrument time” or “simulated
instrument time” is because in all of the aeronautical experience
requirements for pilot certificate and/or ratings in Part 61 the rule
does not differentiate between “actual instrument time” as opposed to
“simulated instrument time.” In fact, in Part 61 it only refers to the
aeronautical experience for instrument time to be “. . . instrument
flight time, in actual or simulated instrument conditions . . .” So it
is irrelevant whether the instrument flight time is logged as “actual
instrument time” or “simulated instrument time.” Part 61 only refers
to “actual instrument conditions” or “simulated instrument
conditions.”"