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CFII Logging PIC

Asked by: 6619 views FAA Regulations, Flight Instructor, Instrument Rating

Hi guys, might be a dumb question but I was wondering if a CFII can log PIC when giving instrument instruction in VMC?  I vaguely remember from my training the at a CFII can only log PIC while instructing in IMC but that was a while ago.  Any thoughts?

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1 Answers



  1. Mark Kolber on Oct 10, 2013

    Your vague memory is a little off.

    A CFI may log PIC under 61.51(e)(3) any time he or she is “serving as the authorized instructor in an operation if the instructor is rated to act as pilot in command of that aircraft.” That’s not dependent on whether the flight takes place in or under IFR, VFR, IMC or VMC.

    What you may be thinking of is whether a CFI may log (“count”) instrument approaches toward his or her own instrument currency under 61.57(c). That does depend on whether the flight is in actual instrument conditions.

    On the one hand, the FAA Chief Counsel has said that a CFII who instructs in actual instrument conditions is “performing” the approaches in actual instrument conditions within the meaning of 61.57(c).

    OTOH, no one so far has suggested that a CFII with his eyes wide open, looking outside the airplane in visual conditions, watching traffic and terrain, the airport, landmarks and the runway, is performing anything in actual instrument conditions.

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