A private pilot flies for 0.5 hours in actual instrument meteorological conditions while acting as the sole manipulator of the controls in an airplane for which they are rated, with no other pilot aboard. According to 14 CFR 61.51(g), how may this flight time be logged?
- AOnly as instrument time, since no safety pilot or instructor was aboard
- BIt may not be logged at all because a second pilot was not present
- CAs both instrument time and pilot-in-command time, since the pilot was operating solely by reference to instruments and was sole manipulator of the controls for which rated
- DOnly as cross-country time, since instrument time requires dual instruction
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. As both instrument time and pilot-in-command time, since the pilot was operating solely by reference to instruments and was sole manipulator of the controls for which rated
14 CFR 61.51(g) allows a pilot to log instrument time when operating the aircraft solely by reference to instruments under actual or simulated conditions. Since the pilot was also sole manipulator of the controls of an aircraft for which they were rated, the time may also be logged as PIC time under 61.51(e).
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Instrument time can be logged in actual IMC without another pilot present, but PIC time may also be logged here.
- B. A second pilot is not required to log actual instrument time when flying solo as PIC.
- D. Cross-country logging depends on distance/route, not the instrument conditions described.
Logging Instrument Time (61.51(g))
A pilot may log instrument time for any period flown solely by reference to instruments under actual or simulated conditions; this time can be logged concurrently with PIC time if the pilot is sole manipulator and rated for the aircraft.
- Actual IMC or a view-limiting device with a safety pilot both qualify
- No safety pilot required if flying actual IMC solo as PIC
- Time can be logged simultaneously as instrument and PIC time
Memory trick: In the clouds alone as PIC? Log it twice — instrument AND PIC.