Hey all, I have a couple of questions about logging time when you're splitting a twin with a buddy. I know the rules of safety pilot logging, but was wondering about a few technicalities of the logging itself:

1. If we were to fly a cross country flight from, for example, SBA to OAK and back, switching as safety pilot for each leg, could I log the entire trip (SBA-OAK-SBA) on ONE line in my log book?

2. If so, would I log the entire trip time as MULTI-ENGINE LAND, CROSS COUNTRY, PIC and TOTAL time equalling the total time of the trip, and the SAFETY PILOT column simply equalling the portion of the one leg I sat as safety pilot (while the other pilot had foggles on)?

2. Do you need the signature or cert. number of the other pilot, or simply his/her name on your remarks section? And does their name go on the leg I flew as safety pilot, or the leg THEY flew as safety pilot?

 

1: Are you trying so save space in your logbook? Log it as two flights.

2: If your partner is under the hood while flying, you can log all appropriate times that the flight falls into.

3: Yes, get the sig and cert number on both flights. Always be on the safe side.

 

I would log it as two legs. You only need note the name of the safety pilot when you are sole manipulator. When YOU are the safety pilot, you do not need to note the sole manipulators name. You do not need the safety pilots certificate number or signature. All the regs say is note the name. Read 61.51 (b) (1) (v).

Do you have a safety pilot column in your logbook? I've never heard of that. No need to start one.

In all honesty, you are using a commonly used FAA loophole to log this time and save money. It's been done for years and a lot of people have split time this way and moved up the career ladder. I'm not a huge proponent of logging more than 25 hours, certainly no more than 50, using the safety pilot "loophole". At some point, it will look like your just padding your logbook. At the same time, I think there is a lot of value in gaining some cross country multi time under the right circumstances.

That said, I have a nice Apache that I'll probably take down to SoCal and make available for some time building flights. email me at [email protected] if you're interested.

 

I agree, while wearing the foggles, you must list the name of the safety pilot, who should be rated in the cat/class.

If you are acting as SP, there isn't a notation required.

Both parties can log it as PIC, and as the above poster said, 50 should be about max.

I would certainly use SP time building to meet insurance requirements that some schools have for acting as an MEI.