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3 Answers

PIC time for commercial

Asked by: 4201 views Commercial Pilot, FAA Regulations

Hello, I have a commercial certification with rotorcraft/helicopters wanting to add commercial single engine airplane. My question is do I get to act and log PIC time during my training with a appropriate CFI? What does approved pilot in command training program in 61.51 (e) mean?

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3 Answers



  1. Bob Watson on Oct 03, 2011

    As I read it, you can’t log PIC time in an airplane unless you are rated in the airplane or flying it by yourself.
    In my case, that’s how I did it when I was taking ME lessons before my ME checkride (but the ME checkride was logged as PIC) and when I’ve gone up in a Heli for dual (I don’t have a heli ticket…yet).

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  2. CFI Academy on Oct 11, 2011

    CWillyE,
    No you can not log Airplane time as PIC unless you are SOLO or have already obtained your private at least.
    Bob Watson,
    You are right for the most part, but ME time during your ME add on to your existing Commercial ASEL was not logged as PIC does not mean that it was because of the same reason. If you were holding a Private Pilot ASEL, but were going for the commercial on a AMEL, you would have “logged” time on a ME airplane (even with an instructor on board). Please let me know if more clarification needed.

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  3. CFI Academy on Oct 11, 2011

    I have no idea how I managed to use that font and color in my above post. Apologies.

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