Do flight instructors log PIC time?

Flight instructors may log any flight time as PIC whenever they are providing flight instruction, whether or not they are acting as PIC (FAR 61.51).



Yes, flight instructors (CFIs) can log Pilot in Command (PIC) time while they are providing instruction, even if they are not the sole manipulator of the flight controls. Under FAA regulation 14 CFR 61.51, a certified flight instructor is authorized to log PIC time for all flight time during which they act as an authorized instructor, provided they have the appropriate category and class rating on their pilot certificate. This is a critical way for aspiring airline pilots to build the 1,500 flight hours required for an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate. While the student is flying the plane and also logging PIC time (if they are rated for the aircraft), the instructor logs it because they are legally responsible for the safety and operation of the flight. This "double logging" is perfectly legal in the eyes of the FAA. In addition to PIC time, the instructor logs "Dual Given" time, which tracks their teaching experience. This system ensures that instructors are incentivized to teach, as it allows them to gain the necessary experience for their own career advancement while ensuring the student is under the supervision of a qualified PIC.

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So is there any way for a not yet HP/Complex endorsed Private Pilot to log PIC time in a Mooney? Yes! As long as they fly with another pilot or instructor who is qualified to act as PIC in a Mooney (including BFR, current, medical, and Complex/HP endorsements).

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To legally act as PIC, a private, commercial, and airline transport pilot must have a current medical certificate and have all required endorsements, ratings, and recency of experience for the type of aircraft being flown and the flight conditions under which the flight is conducted (FAR 61.3, 61.31, 61.56, 61.57).

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Currently, while the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards allow a person between the age of 60 and 65 to serve as pilot in command (PIC) of an airplane with two or more pilots, in international commercial air transport operations, the PIC must be paired with a pilot younger than 60 years of age.

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Of course. In many aircraft it's quiet enough for simple voice communication, but in nosier aircraft, like small planes or helicopters, the headset links to an intercom as well as the radio.

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