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5 Answers

Logging instrument time and cross country

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Commercial Pilot

Hi Folks!

I have 2 questions about logging time in the log book.

Recently I've started my career as first officer and I have some concerns about the time I should log.

Question 1: As second in command, should I log instrument time either I'm pilot flying or pilot not flying or just when I'm pilot flying?

Question 2: Most of the flights I make are international flights. Is this time also considered as a cross country flight?

Thanks for your time, I'll be looking forward for your answers.

Happy landing!

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5 Answers

  1. Best Answer


    Mark Kolber on Aug 29, 2017

    Question 1: As second in command, should I log instrument time either I’m pilot flying or pilot not flying or just when I’m pilot flying?

    According to the FAA, you may log instrument time as a qualified SIC in a two-pilot operation whether or not you are doing the flying. But, you may not log the approach unless you are doing the flying. See the 1999 Carpenter Chief Counsel interpretation at https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/agc/pol_adjudication/agc200/interpretations/data/interps/1999/carpenter%20-%20(1999)%20legal%20interpretation.pdf

    Question 2: Most of the flights I make are international flights. Is this time also considered as a cross country flight?
    Are you asking whether the other point of landing needs to be in the US? Nothing in the rule says that.

    Or are you asking whether you may log SIC as a flying or non-flying SIC? If so, yes. In the 2009 Glenn letter, https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/agc/pol_adjudication/agc200/interpretations/data/interps/2009/louis%20glenn%20-%20(2009)%20legal%20interpretation.pdf, one of a series of letters dealing with cross country time, the Chief Counsel’s covered tjhis situation in addition to a number of others. Note this applies only to an SIC in an operation which requires an SIC for the entire flight, not just a 91.109 safety pilot.

    .

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  2. Mark Kolber on Aug 29, 2017

    Yes to both (assuming I understand your second question), Here are the references:

    #1. 2009 Hilliard Interpretation. Doesn’t matter if you are doing the flying or not. But, note you may log the approach for currency only if you are the one doing the flying. http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/agc/pol_adjudication/agc200/interpretations/data/interps/2009/hilliard%20-%20(2009)%20legal%20interpretation.pdf

    #2. 2009 Glenn Interpretation. It’s one of a number of scenarios presented on logging cross country time. Note, the “yes” assumes you are a required second in command for the entire flight, not just a 91.109 safety pilot

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  3. Mark Kolber on Aug 29, 2017

    Sorry – the link to the Glenn interpretatoon: https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/agc/pol_adjudication/agc200/interpretations/data/interps/2009/louis%20glenn%20-%20(2009)%20legal%20interpretation.pdf

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  4. rob737 on Aug 29, 2017

    Whoa!

    Thanks a lot, Mark!

    You left me without any doubts.

    Have good one!

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  5. Mark Kolber on Aug 29, 2017

    Whoa Indeed. I didn’t mean to answer it twice.

    I didn’t see the first answer posted and thought it was lost in the ether, so I did the second one.

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