Revision 19, John D Lynch:

QUESTION: According to § 91.109(b), a safety pilot must possess at least a
private certificate with appropriate category & class ratings. Is it
necessary for that safety pilot to be "current" in the aircraft (landings,
etc.)? Requirements of 61.55 specifically exempt safety pilots [§
61.55(d)(4)], but where are the safety pilot criteria actually spelled out.
§ 61.57 refers to pilot-in-command requirements, but a safety pilot is not
PIC, only a required crew member. Further, has there ever been an
interpretation that the safety pilot must be Instrument Rated for that type
of VFR operation?

ANSWER: Ref. § 61.31(d)(1); § 61.51(e)(1)(iii), § 61.51(f)(2), § 61.3(c); §
61.56(c), § 61.57(c); A safety pilot is a "required crewmember" and must
hold at least a valid private pilot certificate with category and class
ratings appropriate to the aircraft being flown per § 91.109(b) and a valid
medical certificate per § 61.3(c). A valid pilot certificate is one which
has not been revoked or under suspension.

That person who is serving as a safety pilot may choose to act as the legal
pilot-in-command (per 14 CFR part 1) and log the time as PIC [per §
61.51(e)(1)(iii)], or otherwise log the time as SIC time [per §
61.51(f)(2)], but is not even required to log the time at all. However, the
safety pilot's name must be logged by the person practicing instrument
flight [per § 61.51(g)(3)(ii)]. If the safety pilot is going to act as the
legal PIC for the flight that person must ". . . Hold the appropriate
category, class, and type rating (if a class rating and type rating are
required) for the aircraft to be flown;" [per § 61.31(d)(1)]. ). And if the
flight is conducted in a high performance, complex, tail wheel, etc.
aircraft and the safety pilot is acting as the legal PIC that pilot must
have the appropriate endorsements that are required by § 61.31(e), (f)
and/or (i), as appropriate. This could be a reason why a safety pilot might
only be able to serve as an SIC and log it as SIC time.



"Ron Rosenfeld" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 1 Feb 2004 09:33:19 -0800, "BTIZ"
wrote:

I wonder what the FAQ file for Part 61 says... mmmm


Are you talking about the FAQ's before or after Pinkston's initial
interpretation was corrected?


Ron (EPM) (N5843Q, Mooney M20E) (CP, ASEL, ASES, IA)