Originally Posted by JohnBurke

The regulation is crystal clear on the subject.

Your question regards the logging of multi engine time, and the logging of "time." First, you need to define what time you hope to log. You also need to understand the difference between logging flight time, and acting as pilot in command. Logging pilot in command is not the same as acting as pilot in command. You need the high performance endorsement to act as pilot in command (BE pilot in command). You do NOT need it to log pilot in command.

You indicated that you plan to be safety pilot. If you're safety pilot, you may act as second in command only during simulated instrument flight. This means that if the other pilot isn't wearing his view limiting device, you can't log it, and if he isn't flying, you can't log it. If you intend to be sole manipulator of the controls, you can log it as PIC, but without the endorsement you cannot act as PIC (can't be the actual pilot in command). If you're manipulating the controls, you can't log SIC any more, because it's no longer simulated instrument flight, even if the other pilot is wearing his view limiting device; a SIC is no longer required.

In order to log the time, you do not need an endorsement; you need to be rated in the aircraft (category and class: airplane, multi engine land). You are rated in the aircraft, and can log PIC. You can log PIC, but not act as PIC. You can log and act as SIC.