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Need Advice on how to Properly Log Simulated Instrument Time with a Basic Med Safety Pilot.

Asked by: 1967 views , , ,
General Aviation, Instrument Rating, Private Pilot, Student Pilot

Does it make a difference whether a safety pilot has a valid current medical certificate or just uses Basic Med?

I am a PPL  and still trying to build up both my “under the hood flying hours” as well as my “Cross Country PIC hours”.  My safety pilot friend holds instrument and commercial ratings, is current under FAR 61.57, but flies under Basic Med. I have a current Class III.

Let’s assume while under the hood I am acting as PIC.

If the safety pilot isn’t acting as PIC, then the safety pilot is a required crew member during simulated instrument flight. FAR 61.3 (c) notes

(c) Medical certificate. (1) A person may serve as a required pilot flight crew member of an aircraft only if that person holds the appropriate medical certificate issued under part 67 of this chapter, or other documentation acceptable to the FAA, that is in that person's physical possession or readily accessible in the aircraft. Paragraph (c)(2) of this section provides certain exceptions to the requirement to hold a medical certificate.

Also:

  • Has been found eligible for the issuance of at least a third-class airman medical certificate at the time of his or her most recent application;

I am still not 100% certain on what's ok and what is not ok. So, during "simulated instrument" flight,  can I still act as PIC, and can my safety pilot act as required crew while using only his Basic Med?

Summary:

  • Do I have the facts right?
  • What precise logbook wording is recommended?
  • If flying >50NM, can I still log XC PIC time under these conditions?
  • Would it be best if he and I both sign my log book?

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2 Answers



  1. John D Collins on Dec 12, 2021

    Currently, if a pilot who does not have a medical certificate but does have basic Med, they can only be a safety pilot if they are acting as PIC. If you don’t agree to them acting as PIC, then you need to find a safety pilot who holds a medical certificate. If you do agree, since you are the sole manipulator of the controls, you may log PIC and so can the safety pilot who is operating under basic med. You can log PIC for the entire flight, but the safety pilot with basic Med can only log the time they are the safety pilot. You are required to log the name of the safety pilot if you are conducting simulated instrument flight. Neither of you need to sign the other’s logbook. There is an NRPM working its way through the system to expand the qualifications for a safety pilot to not require that they act as PIC, so if it becomes an updated regulation, it will not matter if the safety pilot is acting as PIC or not.

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  2. PedroThePilot on Dec 12, 2021

    Thank you John. Perfect answer and to the point.

    I will designate the safety pilot as the PIC and we can still both log PIC time, as per the limitations you clearly outlined.

    He has logged thousands of hours, retired from the FAA after almost 40 years, and has commercial & instrument ratings. Logging yet more hours is probably not his highest priority.

    It is indeed odd that a safety pilot with a valid medical can just be a safety pilot and not have to act as PIC. Whereas, a safety pilot with only a Basic Med has to act as and be designated as the PIC.

    I guess it all boils down the the required crew member prerequisites. I am glad to hear that an NRPM will eventually address this. Again thank you for the splendid Five Star explanation.

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