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5 Answers

Instrument Instructor Logging Approaches

Asked by: 12270 views Flight Instructor, Instrument Rating

Can a CFII log the instrument approach while providing instruction to his instrument student that insn't IFR rated in vfr conditions in the IFR system?

Can the CFII log the instrument approach under IMC while providing instruction to a IFR rated or a instrument student?

In general what scenarios can a CFII log the approach while providing instruction?

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5 Answers



  1. John D Collins on Jun 10, 2014

    The first question hasn’t been specifically posed to the FAA General Counsel, but in order for anyone to log an instrument approach during VMC, the pilot performing the approach must be using a view limiting device and have a safety pilot. Assuming the instructor is the safety pilot, they would not be performing the approach.

    The second question has been answered by an FAA General Counsel opinion and is yes. See http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/agc/pol_adjudication/agc200/interpretations/data/interps/2008/ronald%20b.%20levy%20-%20(2008)%20legal%20interpretation.pdf

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  2. Brent on Jun 10, 2014

    For what it’s worth, the opinion doesn’t make the distinction between IFR students and IFR-rated pilots that is in the OPs question, so long as the instructor is actually providing instruction.

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  3. Mark Kolber on Jun 10, 2014

    John is right about #2. The opinion letter he linked also gives the answer to the third question.

    On the first, even without a formal opinion from the Chief Counsel, I would be willing to go out on a limb and say that an instructor cannot log an approach while watching a hooded person fly an approach on a cloudless day with 100+ miles visibility since =anyone= who logs an approach for currency must perform the approach “in actual weather conditions, or under simulated conditions using a view-limiting device.”

    I have to ask because I’m intrigued how some questions come up: why would you even think you could? Are you part of the group that erroneously thinks one can log instrument time and instrument approaches while being able to see everything out the window just because he or she has filed an IFR flight plan?

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  4. T. Goodwin on Sep 14, 2017

    I thought part 1 is a valid question. The instructor is not “watching”, he is instructing. His
    IFR ticket is on the line (filed and flying in IFR environment). I thought it was a good question. Besides, no student should mind if instructor goes under hood and demonstrates an approach (now perfectly legal to log). The student would qualify as safety pilot 99% of time (private with current medical). There is no such thing as a bad question.

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  5. Ed Callaway on Feb 19, 2018

    Re: John Collin’s answer,
    The General Counsel Opinion URL has changed to:
    https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/agc/practice_areas/regulations/interpretations/data/interps/2008/ronald%20b.%20levy%20-%20(2008)%20legal%20interpretation.pdf

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