Basically, not unless you're splitting the time. (And definately if you're just riding along).

Hmmm, this doesn't seem right. FI.com must have it wrong then. Check this out....

www.flightinfo.com/buildtime.htm

Either you have a multi engine license, or the other guy has his MEI, otherwise i would not log it. And you can't recieve compensation for it.

As a general rule I avoid that website, but I'll look at each option:

This is fine. Presumably you're also a commercial pilot (since that's a requirement of being a flight instructor) so logging of time and getting paid is okay. Time is logged as PIC and dual given.

Ditto. Same as above

Yes and no. Logging of safetly pilot time is cool. However you can only log that time during which you actually act as either the pilot flying or the time you are actually the safety pilot (IE other guy is under the hood.) There's grey area over who pays for the flight... particularly if you are not a commercial pilot. If you are an instructor, unless you are offering the services to a friend (as opposed to a student), you should ALWAYS be paid. If acting in the capacity of a flight instructor you are a flight instructor (see first two notes.)

Once again, you can only log the time during which you are actually the pilot manipulating the controls. The issue comes into play over who pays for the flight. There's some grey area there, but the costs work out differently than if you are renting an aircraft since one person is the owner. I would probably still offer to pay for some of the fuel costs.

Sure that's fine and dandy. You're paying for your share of flying.

Huh? Opening and closing the airplane? Presumably acting in a MX capacity? I don't get it. Either way, my thought is that unless I'm an A&P, I'm not going anywhere near a plane that I fly with a screwdriver.

Good idea. You can also get arrested for tresspassing. Once again, remember that "riding along" doesn't count towards loggable hours.

Yup. Loggable time. But you must be a COMMERCIAL pilot to do this Regardless of whether or not you get paid cash. Like I said before, the FAA considers free flight time (while building hours) to be a form of compensation.

Ditto. See above note. COMMERCIAL pilot activity.

Networking is always good. But it isn't free flight time.

Does it have to be another instructor? What if you're only a private pilot? Can they split costs too? (Yes! But only one can log the flight time at any given moment!)

Have I mentioned that "riding along" isn't legally loggable flight time?...

Can you say COMMERCIAL PILOT certificate? (Unless they just toss you the keys and say have fun... I've never had that happen though, but if you find somebody that does let you do it, lemme know... I'll come join you.)

It can be cost effective if researched and utilized properly. It can also be very costly if done incorrectly. Maintencance isn't the only big expense item with a plane. Fuel and insurance cost money too.

Only if actual instruction is being given! (Flying in the right seat just to log time is questionable in the eyes of the feds)

Perhaps, but unquestionably the most legit way to build hours.

(See above post about acting/flying as the safety pilot)

Hmmm. Are you flying? Or are you instructing? Better be careful! Especially when it comes to insurance!

If you're flying "with them" does that mean that you're "riding along"? Unless you're a CFII/properly rated safety pilot, it doesn't do much good for logging of time, does it?

Is that considered compensation or payment? If so which way? Very grey and different FSDOs will give you different answers.

Depending on the operation whether or not you can log the time is questionable. I certainly wouldn't log it if you didn't have a commercial pilot certificate. Don't forget about insurance/liability considerations too.

------------------------------------------------------

Simply put, there is no straight answer as to what is cool and what is not. There is a lot of grey area. As a general rule though, if it sounds too good to be true it probably is, and if you and several other people have to ask (or justify) if it's legal, it probably is isn't.

Oh- as one other side note... I'd be careful about some of the advice that you get from FI.com these days...

A lot of the knowledgable folks have moved on to other forums, and there are a lot of "experts" over there that really aren't anything other than posers. Not to say that there may not be some things worth reading, but I for one don't bother to dig through all of the chaff to find what is worth my time.

Thanks FlyerJosh

Yup.


But to elaborate on "holding out" and "for hire"...

If you can find a friend or acquaintance who is willing to let you fly along and manipulate the controls for your own fun or benefit, that is not a commercial operation, and you can log it all if you are rated & current for the airplane and operation. In this case the flight time is not compensation because you are not being compensated for anything! It's just two guys going flying...

Where this could go the wrong way is if the owner of the plane obviously has a NEED for your piloting skills..ie you are Inst. rated, he's not, and the weather is IMC. Even this is OK if the guy is your uncle or a friend as opposed to somebody you solicited or just met today. What if the owner is a 777 CA for a major airline? The FAA would have a field day trying to prove that HE "hired" YOU to fly HIS airplane with him in it... lol

Also if you return to the point of origin with no other stops, that makes it REALLY hard for anyone to say that you did common carriage, which requires point A to point B transport (by definition). Realistically, unless you are holding out in a really visible way you can do recreational flying with almost anybody you want, and log it if you meet the requirements.


Holding Out is like prostitution...it's not defined by the sex, it's defined by the relationship between the parties:

Girl A: You just met her tonight on the street corner, arrange a date, you make some small talk, take her to a motel, have sex, pay her $200, and leave.

Girl B: You met her on tuesday at work, arrange a date, take her to dinner and for drinks ($200), make small talk, go back to her place, have sex, and leave.

You might actually end up married to girl B...

Remember: to log Dual Received in the BE90, the other guy has to have a CFIM, and the flight must be operated under Part 91. As long as you've got both of these criteria met, go for it. It'll be a great experience, and you won't have to go out of your way to convice the feds you're learning while you do it - because you will be.

The regs don't specify left or right seat. But to be safe and have a more quality of hours get your multi-engine rating. A lot of people would love to be in your pants

Just a quick update. I flew in the C90 and just 'rode along' not logging time. It was a blast just to be up front in a multi. Definately different shooting approaches 3 times as fast as I do in a single. Now I am trying to decide if I want to save up and get my multi add-on haha...