"Casey Wilson" wrote in message ...

I've been following this thread all along. It seems to me the simple answer
at the very beginning is that the "safety pilot" must be legal to fly the
airplane, period.

Your simple answer is wrong. The safety pilot only need posess a private (or better) pilot
certificate with category and class ratings and a medical. He is not required
to meet the specific pilot in command requirements (currency, BFR, HP/complex
endorsements) etc... unless he is specifically serving in that role.

Here are the only two rules that apply to safety pilot qualifications:

91.109
(b) No person may operate a civil aircraft in simulated instrument flight unless -
(1) The other control seat is occupied by a safety pilot who possesses at least a private
pilot certificate with category and class ratings appropriate to the aircraft being flown.

61.3(c)
(1) Except as provided for in paragraph (c)(2) of this section, a person may not act as pilot in command or in any
other capacity as a required pilot flight crewmember of an aircraft, under a certificate issued to that person under
this part, unless that person has a current and appropriate medical certificate...

Nowhere does it say he has to be "qualified to fly the plane." His role is to provide the
see-and-avoid vigilance that the hooded pilot can not provide.