How to Log Time Federal Aviation Regulation 61.51 governs the logging of pilot time. Please note that there is a distinction between *acting* as pilot in command, and the logging of pilot in command time. It is neither necessary nor sufficient (except for an ATP) to *be* the PIC in order to *log* PIC time. Solo Any pilot may log solo flight time when s/he is the sole occupant of the aircraft. Pilot in Command A student pilot may not log PIC time. A recreational, private, or commercial pilot may log PIC time when s/he is the sole manipulator of the controls of an aircraft for which the pilot is rated, or, except for a recreational pilot, when acting as PIC of an aircraft on which more than one pilot is required under the type certificatation of the aircraft or the regulations under which the flight is conducted, such as being the safety pilot when the pilot who is manipulating the controls is wearing a view-limiting device. Note: The sole manipulator of the controls does not have to *be* the pilot in command in order to log PIC time. As long as s/he is rated in the aircraft, that is sufficient. No recency of experience requirement, BFR, medical, high performance, high altitude, or tailwheel endorsement is necessary. "Rated" means category (airplane, for example) and class (single-engine land, for example). An airline transport pilot may log as PIC time all of the flight time during which s/he acts as pilot in command. It is not necessary for an ATP to be the sole manipulator of the controls. Note: The question arises, suppose an ATP is the sole manipulator of the controls, but not the PIC? May s/he then log PIC time? It does not seem reasonable to *lose* logging privileges after obtaining a more advanced rating, so we tend to say "yes", but there are FAA inspectors who disagree with us, and say that an ATP must *be* the PIC in order to log PIC time. A certified flight instructor may log as PIC time all flight time during which he acts as a flight instructor. Second in Command A pilot may log as SIC time all flight time during which s/he acts as SIC of an aircraft on which more than one pilot is required under the type certification of the aircraft, or the regulations under which the flight is conducted, such as being the safety pilot when the pilot who is manipulating the controls is wearing a view-limiting device. The second in command must be rated for the aircraft and must have in his possession a valid medical certificate, but does not have to meet the recency of experience requirements, nor have a current BFR or high performance, high altitude, or tailwheel endorsement. Instrument flight time A pilot may log as instrument flight time only that time during which s/he operates the aircraft solely by reference to instruments, under actual or simulated instrument flight conditions. Note: There is no requirement to be rated for the aircraft or to be IFR rated in order to log actual instrument time. An instrument flight instructor may log as instrument time that time during which s/he acts as instrument flight instructor in actual instrument weather conditions. Answers to common questions: Do I need to be receiving instruction in order to log pilot ground trainer (simulator) time? Yes. There is no provision for logging "solo" pilot ground trainer time. Does pilot ground trainer time count as "flight time"? No, do not include pilot ground trainer time in your "flight time" column. You may include it in your "instrument time" column, and in your "ground instruction time" column. If I am receiving instruction in actual instrument conditions, and I am the sole manipulator of the controls of an aircraft for which I am rated, can I log PIC time, instrument flight time, and instruction time simultaneously? Yes. If a pilot friend (not a CFI) lets me manipulate the controls of an aircraft for which I am *not* rated, may I log that time? Yes, log it as "flight time" and in a column labeled "other" flight time, since it is neither PIC, SIC, nor instruction received. If I do not have a current medical certificate may I log PIC time when a pilot friend (not a CFI) allows me to be the sole manipulator of the controls of an aircraft for which I am rated? Yes. I am a private pilot, SEL, but not instrument rated. I fly with another private pilot (not a CFI) who is instrument rated. He files an IFR flight plan and we encounter actual IFR conditions, during which time I am the sole manipulator of the controls of the Cessna 172. May I log such time as PIC and actual instrument time? Yes. I am a private pilot SEL, working on my instrument rating. When I fly under the hood with my instructor may I log the time both as simulated instrument dual received and as PIC cross-country time? Yes, although in order to log it as cross-country time towards the instrument rating the flight must include a landing at an airport more than 50 nautical miles from the departure airport.