Minnesota_Flyer
New Member
Logging \"actual\" in \"visual\" conditions
Another view on a much debated topic. From AOPA e-Pilot:
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Q: The other day I made a VFR night flight in which part of my route was flown over a large body of water. Although the flight was in visual conditions, there were no outside references to help me determine which way was up or down without using the aircraft's instruments. As an instrument-rated pilot, can I log this flight time as actual instrument flight time even though I wasn't in the clouds?
A: Yes, the FAA's Office of Chief Counsel has issued a letter of interpretation, dated November 1984, which states the following: "Actual instrument conditions may occur during a flight on a moonless night over the ocean with no discernible horizon, if use of the instruments is necessary to maintain adequate control over the aircraft. The determination of whether such a flight could be logged under 14 CFR Part 61 Section 61.51 is subjective and based in part on the sound judgment of the pilot. The logbook entry should include the reasons for determining the flight was under actual instrument conditions in the event the entry is challenged."
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Another view on a much debated topic. From AOPA e-Pilot:
[ QUOTE ]
Q: The other day I made a VFR night flight in which part of my route was flown over a large body of water. Although the flight was in visual conditions, there were no outside references to help me determine which way was up or down without using the aircraft's instruments. As an instrument-rated pilot, can I log this flight time as actual instrument flight time even though I wasn't in the clouds?
A: Yes, the FAA's Office of Chief Counsel has issued a letter of interpretation, dated November 1984, which states the following: "Actual instrument conditions may occur during a flight on a moonless night over the ocean with no discernible horizon, if use of the instruments is necessary to maintain adequate control over the aircraft. The determination of whether such a flight could be logged under 14 CFR Part 61 Section 61.51 is subjective and based in part on the sound judgment of the pilot. The logbook entry should include the reasons for determining the flight was under actual instrument conditions in the event the entry is challenged."
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