Originally Posted by
PreciousCargo
Thanks that clears something's up a bit. When some one logs "dual" are they saying they are PIC Even though they are not sole manipulator of the controls? For example 2 people flying with a private pilots liscence each, one is the sole manipulator of the controls the other acting as PIC and signing/taking full responsibility of the aircraft?
Two pilots in a 172, both private pilot, both rated for the airplane (airplane, single-engine land). Pilot A manipulates the controls. Pilot B is the acting pilot in command. Pilot A may log the time as pilot in command. Pilot B may not log any time.
Pilot A puts on a view limiting device. Pilot B continues to act as pilot in command, and as safety pilot. He is now a required crew member, as safety pilot. Both may log pilot in command. Pilot A is sole manipulator, and pilot B is acting as PIC of an airplane requiring more than one crewmember.
Pilot A continues to wear the view limiting device. Pilot A acts as pilot in command. Pilot B is the safety pilot. Pilot A may log PIC as sole manipulator. Pilot B may only log SIC; he's a required crewmember, but not acting as pilot in command.
Pilot A is a private pilot, airplane, single-engine land. He rents a 172 to take Jimmy, his non-pilot nephew, for a flight. Jimmy manipulates the controls, and of course, Pilot A is pilot in command. Nobody may log the time.
There is a difference between logging flight time, and acting as pilot in command. Logging time under the regulation as spelled out in 14 CFR 61.51 does not necessarily mean that one has actually been the pilot in command of the flight. The pilot in command is the person who holds final authority for the flight.
Acting pilot in command is taking the full responsibility for final operation of the flight. In an airline setting, the airline designates the pilot in command for the trip, and that person remains the pilot in command, regardless of who manipulates the controls. As pilot in command, he logs the time as PIC for the duration of the flight. The second in command, although rated for the airplane, logs SIC.
While the regulation will allow the SIC to log the time as PIC if rated, and sole manipulator of the controls, one who does this and attempts to pass it off as PIC will be seen as cheating and inflating their time, and it shows a level of ignorance that will not impress an employer. It lowers the standing of the applicant in the eyes of the interviewer. It's legally ok, but doesn't pass the "smell" test, because the reality is that the person logging that time wasn't really the pilot in command. For an airline perspective, if you weren't the acting pilot in command, don't log it that way.