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5 Answers

Logging Instrument time as PIC

Asked by: 1645 views , , ,
Instrument Rating

Lets say I'm flying on Instrument FP from Airport A to B after take off i use my autopilot and Garmin 530 to follow my flight plan , arrived destination airport shot RNAV approach and overall i didn't even look outside for any reference , I was looking at my instruments and cross checking everything during the entire flight all the way from 500 AGL after take off  to 1500 AGL during my approach and landing but it was VMC during my entire flight.

 Can i log my flight as instrument time?

 

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5 Answers



  1. John D Collins on Jul 08, 2022

    No.

    61.51(g) Logging instrument time.
    (1) A person may log instrument time only for that flight time when the person operates the aircraft solely by reference to instruments under actual or simulated instrument flight conditions.

    Actual instrument time is when you can’t control the aircraft using visual means. Usually this means you are inside a cloud or have no visual horizon that can be used to control the aircraft and must use your instruments. You were in visual conditions, so just because you chose to not use visual means does not change the fact that you could have and therefore were not in actual instrument flight conditions. In your situation, you still were responsible for see and avoid of any traffic and obstacles. You probably should have had a safety pilot while you were simulating instrument flight conditions by keeping your attention solely inside the cockpit and on your instruments.

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  2. Mark Kolber on Jul 08, 2022

    Why were you violating your responsibility to see and avoid in visual conditions?

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  3. awair on Jul 09, 2022

    Not to disagree with Mark & John…

    But if this theoretical flight was conducted at night, over sparse terrain/water, it may be possible.

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  4. John D Collins on Jul 09, 2022

    Awair,

    I would not disagree with you because in that scenario, you need to use your instruments to maintain control of the aircraft. I implicitly included this by my carefully worded response:

    “Actual instrument time is when you can’t control the aircraft using visual means. Usually this means you are inside a cloud or have no visual horizon that can be used to control the aircraft and must use your instruments.”

    There is an FAA general counsel opinion agreeing with the conditions you mention as potentially qualifying as actual instrument conditions.

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  5. Mark Kolber on Jul 09, 2022

    Awair, the “moonless night” scenario permits logging of instrument time under the old Chief Counsel letter John mentioned.. My comment was specifically addressed to “I didn’t even look outside” and see and avoid responsibilities. You know, that VFR airplane nearby with all its lights on?

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