Wait a second.
Solo is kind of a term used with a student pilot without an instructor onboard right?
Once you have your license (qual'ed in the airplane) and are flying (with jumpers or without) you are logging PIC time aren't you? I mean you signed for the plane and are probably rated and qualified.

As far as the x/c time, it seems that as long as it fits the FAR definition of the type of x/c type that you plan on using it for then I would certainly think that it would apply and you should be logging it!

I'm curious to see what others have to say about this - solo and x/c time.

USMCFLYR

I think solo is defined as the only one in the plane, but most people do not log solo once they get their PPL since it is worthless time at that point.

Sorry but this statement makes zero sense. If you log "solo time" in this scenario then for what purpose? Solo PIC has no earthly value except meeting FAR Part 61 private pilot aeronautical experience requirements and even then it's only 10 hours I think. This post makes no sense.

Ok, solo time = worthless.

But x cntry time would be ok, since I am landing at another airport other than the one I took off from.


Part 61 CERTIFICATION: PILOTS, FLIGHT INSTRUCTORS, AND GROUND INSTRUCTORS
Subpart A--General

Sec. 61.1

(3) Cross-country time means--

(i) Except as provided in paragraphs (b)(3)(ii) through (b)(3)(vi) of this section, time acquired during a flight--

(A) Conducted by a person who holds a pilot certificate;

(B) Conducted in an aircraft;

(C) That includes a landing at a point other than the point of departure; and

(D) That involves the use of dead reckoning, pilotage, electronic navigation aids, radio aids, or other navigation systems to navigate to the landing point.

Solo is for use in place of PIC. A student pilot is unable to log PIC without a license. So when his instructor isn't on board and before he gets his license he logs solo time. After that it's PIC time.

Are we confusing single pilot PIC with solo time?

When the instructor is not on board, the student logs solo and PIC.

Who is ultimately responsible for a student pilot on a solo flight? The CFI. Can you legally log solo time as PIC?


OK second question. Why would the PIC have any different designation after he dumps a load of jumpers? None of those guys are crew?

You are absolutely correct and here is the reference from FAR 61.51.

(4) A student pilot may log pilot-in-command time only when the student pilot—
(i) Is the sole occupant of the aircraft or is performing the duties of pilot of command of an airship requiring more than one pilot flight crewmember;
(ii) Has a solo flight endorsement as required under §61.87 of this part; and
(iii) Is undergoing training for a pilot certificate or rating.


I have been a a CFII since 1987 but I don't do any light aircraft or primary instruction anymore so it's good to have a peep at the regs from time to time.:)


But I'm still not getting where a licensed pilot would EVER log solo time? I've never even heard of that.

Maybe he enjoyed his student solo flying so much that he wants to repeat the experience indefinitely.

Actually the 8710 form for the application of a new rating has 2 columns for different kinds of solo flight, one for total solo time and one for solo xc. I think it is fairly common practice to log solo time until finishing all your ratings. There are solo requirements for the commercial license. I would think it would be confusing to the examiner if these flights were not logged as solo.

Huh?? I have jumped for years and never heard of this. I have flown jumpers as well. I guarantee that if a jumper did this when I was flying him, there would be big trouble for that jumper once I got on the ground.
Can you say "ass kickin' !!!"

Westside Skydivers in Winsted MN was hiring low time UND pilots for a while at $10 a load if you were interested. I did my jump there and the guys seemed nice. It's in the middle of nowhere though.

BElly, it used to happen more back in the day before skydiving became a yuppie sport and was more sport death. and it sometimes involved an asskickin after but it was all in good fun. And you didn't do it to just any new pilot you had to do it to somebody you could trust to get the plane back or no jumpy the rest of the day. ill admit its horrible on the engine but most skydivers are retards as soon as the put there rig on..me included... Today most jumpers don't ever ride in a piston banger or get out under 10k. what a sad state of affairs our sport has become. Damn im getting old, but it beats the alternative

In my 182 days a favorite was to hit the fuel selector on the way out. I always had a blast flying skydivers, just a bunch of fun loving idiots.

I've had more than one beginner on a jump who flipped my fuel selector on the way to the door. It was more of a panicked attempt to hold on to something than anything else. I started putting my hand on the selector when we had tandem or new guys jumping.

I wasn't worried about making a dead stick landing from over the top of the field @ 12,000' if some dude stole my mag keys, but the owner of the drop zone would have kicked the guys butt for shock cooling his engine that I can promise you. Most drop zone operators were paranoid and for good reason about shock cooled cylinders. Those things are expensive!

Of course a pilot in the know would simply reach up behind the panel and pull the wires out of the mag switch which equals mags hot, which equal engine running.:):)

Just in case it ever happens to you.

Flying Jumers
 

I agree, I have heard stories of jumpers grabing the keys on the way out. The owner of the DZ I fly at would never let that jumper on the grounds again if that happened. As far as the fuel cutoff, that happens now and then, just always check it before you start your take off roll. If the student hit it when they got in, you will have just enough to make it to about 400-500 AGL. Not fun!
I love flying jumpers no better way to build hours.

Jumper flying is a relaxed atmosphere compared to other types of flying. But if anyone stole my keys, they would probably get charged with interfering with a flight crew as soon as I got back. There's plenty of danger without adding to it. You can probably get most mag switches to turn with a knife blade jammed in there also.