FAA Sport Pilot Airplane (SPA)RegulationsHard
A student pilot completing sport pilot training is authorized by their instructor to fly solo, and during that solo flight, the student is the sole occupant of the airplane. According to 14 CFR 61.51(e), how should this flight time be logged?
- AIt must be logged as dual received time, since a certificated pilot was not aboard
- BIt cannot be logged as PIC time until the sport pilot certificate is issued
- CIt may only be logged as SIC time, since the student is not yet certificated
- DIt may be logged as PIC time, since the student was the sole occupant of the aircraft
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. It may be logged as PIC time, since the student was the sole occupant of the aircraft
14 CFR 61.51(e)(1)(i) allows a pilot to log PIC time for any flight in which they are the sole occupant of the aircraft, which includes properly authorized solo flights by a student pilot. Certification is not required to log this time as PIC.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Dual received time applies only when an instructor is aboard giving instruction.
- B. Certificate issuance is not a prerequisite for logging PIC time on an authorized solo flight.
- C. SIC logging applies to multi-pilot operations, not a single-occupant solo flight.
Logging PIC Time (61.51(e))
Defines when a pilot may log pilot-in-command time, including sole occupancy during authorized solo flight.
- Sole occupant of the aircraft may log PIC time
- Sole manipulator of controls for which rated may log PIC time
- Applies to student pilots during authorized solo flights
Memory trick: 'Alone in the plane? Log it as PIC time.'