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3 Answers

Logging PIC,XCOUNTRY, and Simulated instrument?

Asked by: 1352 views FAA Regulations

I am planning on flying with a friend to do some night xcountry time but I also need to do my 66hits for instrument. He has enough time in his logbook that he doesnt care about logging PIC. If we agree before hand that I am the PIC and I wear foggles for our xountry flight. From what I understand I am able to log PIC and xcountry time aswell as TT? how does this work what time can he log would he just log SIC time since he is still a required crewmember? I do not believe we can both log PIC and Xcountry? can he log Xcountry and I log PIC if we agree I am PIC before hand? any clarification is appreciated I am sure this is an over asked question! TIA

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3 Answers



  1. awair on Sep 23, 2022

    If you don’t care about the landing & take-off, you can both log PIC, from my understanding:

    Your friend acts as PIC, conducting take-off, landing and safety pilot duties. He is PiC of record for the entire flight.

    You will fly, at night, by sole reference to instruments as the sole manipulator on the cross-country. You can log the PIC time while you are sole manipulator.

    This seems to fit with the letter and intent of the regulations, but please advise if/where is the error, or if a legal counsel opinion overrules this.

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  2. KDS on Sep 23, 2022

    Whoever is the sole manipulator of the controls may log PIC time, regardless of anything else in the scenario you presented.

    When one of you is the sole manipulator of the controls and is under the hood, the other person may log something. Whether that is PIC or SIC time depends upon who is ACTING as PIC. If the person under the hood is acting as PIC, then the other airman may log SIC. If the person not under the hood is acting as PIC, then both airman may log PIC time.

    The only flight time (total time) either of you may log is when you are also logging PIC or SIC time.

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  3. Mark Kolber on Sep 25, 2022

    KDS is correct. The only addition is that the safety pilot cannot log cross country time. Only the pilot flying from takeoff to touchdown may do that.

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