Logging Flight Time

[cardsfan05]

Can I log flight time in the right seat as a student pilot without a flight instructor? I was told you needed a flight instructor, but I wasn't sure if that was right or not.

Thanks for the help!

 

[JordanD]

Nope. Need a flight instructor.

 

[dc3flyer]

As a student pilot, you must have a flight instructor on board to log flight time, unless it is solo time. The solo time, is the only time you can log as PIC until you have your cert.

 

[Stinger]

What about a private pilot that hasn't flown in five years sitting right seat in a Cessna with another private pilot (current) in the left seat? Loggable time for the right seat? I'd assume yes.

 

[Ryan110175]

What about a private pilot that hasn't flown in five years sitting right seat in a Cessna with another private pilot (current) in the left seat? Loggable time for the right seat? I'd assume yes.

You would first need to be able to log PIC time, which from my understanding you need to be current. Get a flight review and then you can sit in either seat and log PIC.

 

[Houston]

What about a private pilot that hasn't flown in five years sitting right seat in a Cessna with another private pilot (current) in the left seat? Loggable time for the right seat? I'd assume yes.

This is an extract from the old FAQ's:

Note, while the private pilot may log this time as pilot-in-command time in accordance with 14 CFR § 61.51(e), he or she may not act as the pilot in command unless he or she has the appropriate endorsement as required under 14 CFR § 61.31. There is a distinction between acting as pilot in command and logging pilot-in-command time. In order to act as pilot in command, the pilot who has final authority and responsibility for the operation and safety of the flight, a person must be properly rated in the aircraft and be properly rated and authorized to conduct the flight. Title 14 CFR § 61.31 requires a person to have an endorsement from an authorized instructor before he or she may act as pilot in command of certain aircraft (a complex airplane, a high performance airplane, a pressurized airplane capable of operating at high altitudes, or a tailwheel airplane). These endorsements are not required to log pilot-in-command time under 14 CFR § 61.51(e). In order to log pilot-in-command time, a person who is the sole manipulator of the controls only needs to be properly rated in the aircraft.

 

[Stinger]

This is an extract from the old FAQ's:

Note, while the private pilot may log this time as pilot-in-command time in accordance with 14 CFR § 61.51(e), he or she may not act as the pilot in command unless he or she has the appropriate endorsement as required under 14 CFR § 61.31. There is a distinction between acting as pilot in command and logging pilot-in-command time. In order to act as pilot in command, the pilot who has final authority and responsibility for the operation and safety of the flight, a person must be properly rated in the aircraft and be properly rated and authorized to conduct the flight. Title 14 CFR § 61.31 requires a person to have an endorsement from an authorized instructor before he or she may act as pilot in command of certain aircraft (a complex airplane, a high performance airplane, a pressurized airplane capable of operating at high altitudes, or a tailwheel airplane). These endorsements are not required to log pilot-in-command time under 14 CFR § 61.51(e). In order to log pilot-in-command time, a person who is the sole manipulator of the controls only needs to be properly rated in the aircraft.

Perfect, thank you. I remember the huge threads from 7 years ago on this site about logging flight time but all the comments kept going back and forth on what the proper way was.

Category, class, and type (if needed) to log the time as PIC. I added some PC-12 time when I took a flight in one a few months ago and the pilot let me fly it the entire way.

 

[Mike Massimini]

You would first need to be able to log PIC time, which from my understanding you need to be current. Get a flight review and then you can sit in either seat and log PIC.

Nope, don't have to be current as long as you are the sole manipulator of the controls. To BE pilot in command you have to be current; to log (Part 61) PIC time you just have to be rated on the aircraft. You don't even need a current BFR. Houston's italicized comment above covers it well.