Welcome Guest. Sign in or Signup

4 Answers

Non-Current Instrument Pilot flying in IMC but not acting as PIC

Asked by: 2521 views
General Aviation

Pilot "A" is not IFR current (second six months) but is rated for instrument flying.

Pilot "B" is IFR Current

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Pilot  "A" is the sole manipulator of the AC flying in IMC with a aircraft he is rated for.

Pilot "B" is acting PIC observing and allowing Pilot "A" to fly.

Can Pilot "A" log any time due to being the one actually flying? SIC Possibly?

Ace Any FAA Written Test!
Actual FAA Questions / Free Lifetime Updates
The best explanations in the business
Fast, efficient study.
Pass Your Checkride With Confidence!
FAA Practical Test prep that reflects actual checkrides.
Any checkride: Airplane, Helicopter, Glider, etc.
Written and maintained by actual pilot examiners and master CFIs.
The World's Most Trusted eLogbook
Be Organized, Current, Professional, and Safe.
Highly customizable - for student pilots through pros.
Free Transition Service for users of other eLogs.
Our sincere thanks to pilots such as yourself who support AskACFI while helping themselves by using the awesome PC, Mac, iPhone/iPad, and Android aviation apps of our sponsors.

4 Answers



  1. Ken White on Sep 24, 2016

    When you can log PIC is covered in 61.51(e).

    Let’s assume the two are flying along in a Cessna 182 and pilot A has a certificate with ASEL privileges. Pilot A can log PIC any time they are sole manipulator of the controls, even while in IMC. The fact that they are not instrument current is irrelevant, even if pilot A did not have an instrument rating at all they could still log PIC while sole manipulator of the controls. As a side note, pilot A could also log instrument time for any time spent in less than VFR conditions.

    Pilot B can only log PIC for any part of the flight that he/she was sole manipulator of the control.

    +1 Votes Thumb up 2 Votes Thumb down 1 Votes



  2. Mark Kolber on Sep 26, 2016

    Ken, you are correct except for this: “As a side note, pilot A could also log instrument time for any time spent in less than VFR conditions.”

    Keep in mind that if you fly 400′ below a ceiling with no other clouds around and 1,000 miles visibility, you are in “less than VFR conditions.” Logging actual instrument time requires “actual IFR conditions” which means you would be unable to keep the shiny side up without the flight instruments.

    +1 Votes Thumb up 1 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes



  3. Ken White on Sep 26, 2016

    Great point Mark, poor wording on my part.

    0 Votes Thumb up 0 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes



  4. Ticen on Jul 17, 2017

    I liked original explanation. VFR is simply when not flying solely by reference to instruments. 400 below clouds is still in VMC; breaking regs though (unless in class G during day), but still in VMC. Logging instrument time is allowable when flying solely by reference to instruments. A hazy night with false horizons in theory COULD be logged as instrument if you are flying soley by reference to them, right? Anyone rated in aircraft acting as sole manipulator can log PIC (do not even need a current medical or flight review). Acting and Logging PIC always seem to cause great confusion.

    0 Votes Thumb up 0 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes


The following terms have been auto-detected the question above and any answers or discussion provided. Click on a term to see its definition from the Dauntless Aviation JargonBuster Glossary.

Answer Question

Our sincere thanks to all who contribute constructively to this forum in answering flight training questions. If you are a flight instructor or represent a flight school / FBO offering flight instruction, you are welcome to include links to your site and related contact information as it pertains to offering local flight instruction in a specific geographic area. Additionally, direct links to FAA and related official government sources of information are welcome. However we thank you for your understanding that links to other sites or text that may be construed as explicit or implicit advertising of other business, sites, or goods/services are not permitted even if such links nominally are relevant to the question asked.