I've been thinking of doing some safety pilot work and obviously, I am glad I ran across this post.

So, what is the bottom line here? The letter seems a little vague as it relates to what the safety pilot can log.

Incorrect. As long as the arrangement has been set between the two pilots, and one is wearing a view limiting device, then both may log PIC time legally. The problem many have with interpretation is that there is a difference between 'acting pic' and 'logging pic.'

I didn't mean to sound curt with the presumptuous 'incorrect.'

apologies

Especially when your "incorrect" is incorrect.

Read the reg (where it says you need to be acting as PIC to log PIC in this case) and the FAA's 16 year old legal opinion: http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/...1993/Hicks.rtf

The opinion posted earlier deals with logging cross country as a safety pilot.

Check out the FAA Chief Counsel opinion I linked to in response to Mem's post for logging PIC or SIC.

That should cover your question, but for a very unofficial summary FAQ Page

That FAQ page is absolutely incorrect. How can you log SIC time while flying a Part 91 flight where and SIC is not required?

Both pilots in the above operation should log PIC for the time that they are acting as PIC. Pilot A logs the entire flight, and pilot B logs only the time which pilot A is in simulated instrument conditions.

The letter on post # 3 was posted at our flight school last week. The second pilot cannot log cross country time but can log safety pilot when the first pilot is under the hood.

I agree, you cannot log SIC in Part 91 where an SIC is not required, but I've seen weirder things in logbooks.

Correct. There is no such thing as unless the type certificate or the regs in question (usually a 135/121 OPSPEC) require an SIC.

A safety pilot can log total time and PIC. He might as well log both. He can also log category/class (ASEL, AMEL, etc), type, and night if applicable.

Sorry you don't like the rule as the FAA has interpreted it for a long time.

Read the rule. Read the Chief Counsel opinion. Me, I've given up arguing about this.

You mean like FAR 91.109?