Definition
An FAA letter of authorization issued to the manufacturer of an Aviation Training Device (ATD) certifying that the device meets the requirements for use as a Basic Aviation Training Device (BATD). The approval permits the device to be used for logging a limited amount of training and experience toward pilot certification and recency, as set out in 14 CFR Part 61. The approval applies to the device itself, not to any individual operator or training program.
Plain English
Official FAA sign-off that a particular ground-based training device meets the standard to count as a Basic ATD, so time spent training in it can be logged toward certain pilot certificates and currency requirements.
Context Anchor
Seen when an instructor or flight school checks whether a simulator-like training device can be used in a lesson and whether that time can be credited toward a pilot requirement.
Why Pilots Care
Determines whether training time logged in the device can be credited toward certificates or ratings.
Grounding Statement
The key point is that the approval belongs to a specific device and its allowed uses, not to every basic simulator or training setup in general.
Intuition Check
Do not assume “basic” means “any simple simulator,” and do not assume “approved” means “approved for all training.” Here, “Basic ATD approvals” means specific FAA permission for specific allowed uses of a particular Basic Aviation Training Device.
Example Sentence 1
Before scheduling instrument practice in the school's training device, the instructor checked that the unit's Basic ATD approval letter was current.
Example Sentence 2
Before a lesson, the instructor confirmed the device held current basic ATD approvals for the planned maneuvers.