Definition
An Advanced Aviation Training Device (AATD) is a ground-based flight training device that meets the FAA's higher-tier qualification standards for Aviation Training Devices, providing a more accurate representation of an aircraft's flight deck, instruments, controls, and flight characteristics than a Basic ATD. Under the appropriate FAA approval (issued via a letter of authorization), an AATD may be used to log a greater portion of training and experience requirements toward pilot certificates and ratings — including instrument proficiency tasks — than a BATD permits.
Plain English
An AATD is a high-end ground trainer that looks and behaves enough like a real aircraft cockpit that the FAA lets pilots count more of their training hours on it toward licenses and ratings than they could on a simpler trainer.
Context Anchor
Seen when an instructor or flight school explains what kind of flight simulation training device may be used for a lesson, practice session, or approved training credit.
Derivation
"Advanced" signals the higher of the two ATD tiers (Basic and Advanced). The label was chosen by the FAA to mark a device that delivers a closer-to-real cockpit experience and therefore earns broader training credit than the Basic level.
Why Pilots Care
Offers a lower-cost way to build and maintain proficiency while earning loggable training time toward certificates and ratings.
Intuition Check
Advanced does not simply mean expensive, modern, or realistic-looking here. It means the device has FAA approval in the Advanced Aviation Training Device category, with allowed uses that depend on its specific authorization.
Example Sentence 1
The school's AATD allowed the student to complete a portion of the instrument rating training on the ground before flying the maneuvers in the aircraft.
Example Sentence 2
An AATD must satisfy specific FAA performance criteria before it can be used for advanced training tasks.