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3 Answers

Logging actual with rated safety pilot.

Asked by: 1688 views Instrument Rating

With an appropriate rated and current safety pilot, but not an instructor, can I log actual as an instrument student?  For example, if portion of flight was under a pop up IFR clearance to get below a thin layer and shoot the final approach.  Could I log the time in and out of that layer on the approach? 

Could not find anything specific in the FARs, but if I missed it please point me there. 

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3 Answers



  1. vaflyer on Oct 22, 2018

    I believe this has been answered before on this site. §61.3(e) requires the PIC to have an instrument rating in actual conditions. Since your safety pilot is the PIC in actual IFR then you can’t be the PIC. Since a SIC is not required for this flight then you can’t log actual IFR. You should leave your view-limiting device on and log simulated instruments.

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  2. Best Answer


    Russ Roslewski on Oct 22, 2018

    vaflyer, that is incorrect. Logging PIC (61.51) has nothing to do with acting as PIC.

    For this case, see the Walker interpretation:
    https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/agc/practice_areas/regulations/interpretations/data/interps/2011/walker%20-%20(2011)%20legal%20interpretation.pdf

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  3. MarkO on Nov 02, 2018

    The answer is yes, you may log that time if you are rated and sole manipulator. Instrument conditions is just a condition, like night and day.

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