Thanks for the opinion, however I don't see anything in the FARs to
substantiate it.

The FARs only have a concept of PIC, and do not have a concept of Top Dog
vs. HOT.

I googled and it looks like the concept of a "designated" PIC only applies
to airline transport people and the military.

Tom



"Teacherjh" wrote in message
...

If the pilots alternate flying the aircraft by handing off the
controls to the other person, do they also alternate pilot-in-command
responsibilites?


Not automatically. Assuming both are rated, current, and in all ways able
to
BE pilot in command, then they must agree who is to =be= the top dog in
charge
of the flight. They can agree that one will be, the other will be, the
pilot
flying will be, the pilot NOT flying will be, but whoever they agree is
PIC for
the leg in question is the final authority and the one upon whose wrath
the FAA
(in theory) will fall should there be an incident.

Of course, in fact the FAA may well come after both and the question may
become
moot.

But this all has to do with who IS the Top Dog of the flight. Who IS the
PIC.

Now who gets to LOG PIC time ("Hands On Time", or HOT) is governed by
different
rules, as you pointed out. The FAA confuses things by giving these two
DIFFERENT CONCEPTS the same name. Being Top Dog is different from logging
HOT.
BEING PIC is different from LOGGING PIC.