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12 Answers

Can a CFI Log Landings?

Asked by: 23675 views , ,
Commercial Pilot, FAA Regulations, Flight Instructor, Private Pilot, Student Pilot

Alright, here is a question often highly debated. Can a CFI log any landings while on an instruction flight? Please include any regulations that are pertinent to your responses. It’ll be interesting to find out the opinions of other CFI’s.

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12 Answers



  1. Chuck Toussieng on Jan 30, 2011

    I thought it was fly when you can, log what you need?  Right?
    Although, according to that book with all the crazy periods and numbers and stuff, it’s fairly clear.  The only reason to log landings is for currency, and for currency- you must be the sole manipulator.

    Sec. 61.57 — Recent flight experience: Pilot in command.
    (a) General experience. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (e) of this section, no person may act as a pilot in command of an aircraft carrying passengers or of an aircraft certificated for more than one pilot flight crewmember unless that person has made at least three takeoffs and three landings within the preceding 90 days, and—
     
    (i) The person acted as the sole manipulator of the flight controls;

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  2. John D. Collins on Jan 31, 2011

    A CFI can log any landings which he/she was the sole manipulator of the controls.

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  3. skyboyCFI on Jan 31, 2011

    John, the rule please that supports your answer.

    Chuck, don’t forget there are ratings too that require a landing count.

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  4. Gary Moore on Jan 31, 2011

    While there are specific requirements for recurrency that you need to be able to document – ultimately – it’s your logbook and you can log anything you want.  You do need to be able to show your currency requirements – but there is no rule that says what you can or can’t put in your logbook….

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  5. John D. Collins on Jan 31, 2011

    61.57.

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  6. skyboyCFI on Jan 31, 2011

    Gary was very correct!! 🙂 but the question was can a CFI log the landings on an instruction flight. So Gary, can these landings the student does count torwards the CFI’s currency?

    John, 61.57 is about pax carrying requirements. It requires 3 landings, but isn’t a rule on CFI’s logging landings.

    Any other opinions?

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  7. Matthew Waugh on Jan 31, 2011

    If the CFI watches the landings and is not the sole manipulator of the controls (so “helping out” doesn’t count) then the landing cannot be used for the CFI’s currency, and cannot be logged as such. And the reference is, as others have said, 61.57. There is no rule on CFI logging landings, so it’s a bit hard to quote a regulation that does not exist. The only reason (probably not true, but who doesn’t love a sweeping statement) to log landings is for PIC currency, and 61.57 covers that pretty clearly.
     
    But as Gary says – you can log whatever you want. 

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  8. skyboyCFI on Jan 31, 2011

    Nice answer Matthew. A correct answer could be that there is no answer, or rule. Nothing says you have to ever log any landings. Right?

    61.57 says you need 3 landings, and we’ll assume the were precluded by 3 takeoffs, but nothing say you need to log landings. It’s acceptable to just note completion of rule 61.57. Would you guys agree. Kinda like an endorsement, just verifying you satisfied the rule.

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  9. Chuck Toussieng on Jan 31, 2011

    I think the huge hang-up is the “CFI” part.  
     
    I would ask the question “Can (any pilot type inserted here) log (insert action here) when a count of performing said (action) is apparently necessary to show the FAA your ability in practice to perform said (action.)
     
    I always think about a regulation as “what is the spirit of it?”  And the spirit of counting landings seems to me to be that you actually performed them.
     
    What I mean is, that while we CFIs do use Jedi mind skills when in the aircraft  to keep our students safe; unless we were the sole manipulator of the controls, we did not perform the landing.  And, for fulfilling ANY requirement of “a count of landings” – be it for carrying passengers, whatever- if you didn’t do it, you can’t count it towards that requirement.
     
    Can you log it?  Yep.  Does it count when you need it to count for the regulation?  Nope.  

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  10. John D. Collins on Jan 31, 2011

    In my first answer, I said: “A CFI can log any landings which he/she was the sole manipulator of the controls”. This excludes landings when the student makes the landing and a manipulator of the controls.  I have provided instruction where I demonstrate a landing and I could log the landing towards my own currency requirements. 
     
    But now I see this was a Troll type question, not looking for an answer, but intending to argue.  I really don’t see the point of the question other than for the purpose of stirring things up as it has no practical usage.

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  11. skyboyCFI on Jan 31, 2011

    Well that’s a negative participation. The question is not here to stir things up. It’s to challenge our knowledge. It’s a sacratic way of teaching.

    I guess u already know everything though, so don’t participate then.

    The fact is, this question is common amongst CFI’s, at least in my arena. I presented the question, yes I knew the answer, but did it to see what others say about the topic. No need to be a prude John. :-p it tells me you lack humility.

    But since you want to attack this post, I’ll go as far as saying, your answer was wrong. 61.57 is not an answer to the question. So there :-p (wink)

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  12. Paul Tocknell on Jan 31, 2011

    This thread has been closed.  I do not allow any negative comments on this site or even those that could perceived as such.  This is a “aviation seeker friendly” site and a no intimidation clause is strictly enforced.  We encourage all to ask and answer flight training questions without the threat of name calling or belittling.

    Paul

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