Is solo time considered PIC time?

Under § 61.51(e)(1)(ii), you may log PIC flight time when you're the only person on board the aircraft. In the most basic sense, all solo time is PIC, but not all PIC time is solo.



Yes, solo flight time is considered Pilot-in-Command (PIC) time under both FAA and EASA regulations, but the context varies by license level. For student pilots, FAR 61.51(e)(4) explicitly states that a student pilot may log PIC time when they are the sole occupant of the aircraft while training for a certificate and have a current solo endorsement. For certified pilots, solo time is a subset of PIC time because they are the "sole manipulator of the controls" for an aircraft for which they are rated. In fact, most regulatory bodies require a specific amount of "Solo PIC" time for advanced ratings, such as the 10 hours required for a Commercial Pilot Certificate. It is important to note that while all solo time is PIC time, not all PIC time is solo; for example, a pilot can log PIC time while flying with passengers or an instructor, provided they are the legal Pilot-in-Command or the sole manipulator of the controls in a rated category.

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A pilot may log PIC time when he/she is the sole occupant of the aircraft; is the sole manipulator of the controls of an aircraft for which the pilot is rated or has privileges; or is acting as PIC where more than one pilot is required (FAR 1.1, 61.51 [e]).

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Under FAR 61.51(d)(3), a CFI can always log PIC time when they're serving as the authorized instructor (when rated in the aircraft). Because of this, both you and your instructor are allowed to log PIC time during training flights, even in the clouds.

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You can log training time in a simulator but you can't log PIC time. The rules on logging are in 14 CFR 61.51. There's no requirement anywhere that I can see to have a medical and/or flight review in order to log time.

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It depends on the simulator. If it is an FAA certified simulator, any use in the presence of an instructor or inspector may be logged toward required hours. There are limits and almost every FAA rating requires actual hours in a real flying airplane cockpit.

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The airline transport pilot (ATP) is the most advanced pilot certificate one can obtain, and it's necessary for those who want to fly commercial airliners for a living. All commercial airlines now require a pilot applicant to have an ATP certificate.

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Starting from 0 experience and moving through PPL, IR, and ultimately that Commercial License can take 7-10 months, and gaining the 1500 hours needed after that can take anywhere from 1 – 3 years depending on the job chosen for building flight experience.

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Cross-country time is defined in§ 61.1 (b )(3)(ii) as time acquired during a flight that is conducted in an appropriate aircraft; that includes a point of landing that was at least a straight-line distance of more than 50 nautical miles from the original point of departure; and that involves the use of dead reckoning ...

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