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Can you log PIC as the only pilot?

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FAA Regulations

If you are the only certified pilot in the aircraft and you're not the sole manipulator of the controls, can you log this flight time as PIC (assuming you meet all the other requirements).  I heard rumor of a new interpretation--does anyone have the reference?

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1 Answers



  1. Wes Beard on Oct 13, 2011

    The FAR that you are referencing is found in §61.51(e)(1)(i).  In part it states that a rated pilot can log PIC time when they are the sole manipulator.  None of the other parts of the regulation apply to your question.
    http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=e219f9edbebbf3dcba781ff4d825e19a&rgn=div8&view=text&node=14:2.0.1.1.2.1.1.31&idno=14
    If you are the only rated pilot on board the aircraft you are the acting pilot in command but since you are not the sole manipulator you cannot log PIC time.  In this case, you can only log the time you are the sole manipulator.  For example, you are the sole manipulator for the takeoff and landing phases which total .3hrs.  The total flight time was 2.0 hrs and you let your friend fly the other 1.7hrs.  To be legal, in your logbook, you can only log the .3 hrs.

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