View Single Post
  #6  
Old August 7th 03, 06:38 PM
Jim
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

I "think" John Lynch's take on the question is that you must have the
appropriate endorsements to log PIC when acting as safety pilot. If the
safety pilot does not act as the legal PIC he/she does not need the proper
endorsements, however they may not log the safety pilot time as PIC. New
question: Is there ever a case when you can log PIC time when you aren't
both properly rated and endorsed?


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. Section 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which has not been revoked or under suspension.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.



And assuming the operation is a simulated instrument flight (as in the case
the flight is performed in VMC conditions under VFR), the safety pilot would
not need to hold an instrument rating. If any portion of the flight were
conducted on an IFR flight plan (e.g., in and out of the clouds and/or even
on an IFR flight plan) at least one of the pilots must have an instrument
rating and the § 1.1 PIC must be instrument current in accordance with §
61.57(c) and be Flight Review current in accordance with § 61.56(c).



"John T" wrote in message
ws.com...
"Jim" wrote in message
news

However, to log PIC time you also
must be qualified to act as PIC of that particular aircraft.


It is not required that you be qualified to be PIC of a particular

aircraft,
only the category and class of the aircraft. As an example, if you don't
have a high performance endorsement, you will be hard pressed to find an

FBO
to rent you a C182. However, you could still be a safety pilot in that
plane (and log PIC for the time actually spent as safety pilot) if you

have
a PP-ASEL certificate.

--
John T
http://tknowlogy.com/tknoFlyer
__________