Logging actual instrument time?

[Flylo]

As I understand it, the FAA requires that ONLY the time spent flying on instruments in actual IMC is to be recorded in your logbook as instrument time.

Does everyone adhere to this rule as closely as possible? I find it hard to believe that someone flying on a cross country instrument flight plan, that takes you in and out of IMC, will actually record (even by a rough estimate) the time they were between layers or "on top" as VFR time, and only the time they were actually "in the soup", as instrument time.

Am I wrong? Do you do your best to keep the two seperate as a general rule?

I'd hate to be the only guy in the sky trying to keep all that straight if no one else is. I can just see me with a stopwatch: ...... ok, I was in that cloud for 16 seconds, been in the sun for 39 seconds now, hmmm ..... looks like I might only be 965 feet from that cloud .....ooops, here comes another one ........ where's that #@%#* approach plate ....etc.

Thanks for any insight.

 

[joeg252]

If you see it log it, if your in it double it. Just kidding(LOL).

 

[siucavflight]

If you see it log it, if your in it double it. Just kidding(LOL).

Thats the same rule I use for logging multi time.

 

[Vik]

If I'm in the clouds, I guess, a very very conservative guess.

You can't waste time timing how long you're in the clouds. If you just penetrate and cloud and pop out in 5 seconds, I don't count that at all.

If I'm in the soup, I'm too busy concentrating on the instruments to sit and time it with a stop watch.

As I understand it, the FAA requires that ONLY the time spent flying on instruments in actual IMC is to be recorded in your logbook as instrument time.

Does everyone adhere to this rule as closely as possible? I find it hard to believe that someone flying on a cross country instrument flight plan, that takes you in and out of IMC, will actually record (even by a rough estimate) the time they were between layers or "on top" as VFR time, and only the time they were actually "in the soup", as instrument time.

Am I wrong? Do you do your best to keep the two seperate as a general rule?

I'd hate to be the only guy in the sky trying to keep all that straight if no one else is. I can just see me with a stopwatch: ...... ok, I was in that cloud for 16 seconds, been in the sun for 39 seconds now, hmmm ..... looks like I might only be 965 feet from that cloud .....ooops, here comes another one ........ where's that #@%#* approach plate ....etc.

Thanks for any insight.

 

[Flymach2]

Originally posted by Flylo

As I understand it, the FAA requires that ONLY the time spent flying on instruments in actual IMC is to be recorded in your logbook as instrument time.

Not exactly. There is no mention of IMC in § 61.51(g). Instrument flight conditions does not always mean IMC.

Regards

 

[Vik]

You could log actual in perfectly clear weather.

Its night, you're over the desert, there is zero horizon, there is no way to use outside references to determine the attitude, altitude, etc., of the aircraft. You can log actual b/c you're flying by reference to instruments only.

 

[midlifeflyer]

Originally posted by Flylo

Not exactly. There is no mention of IMC in § 61.51(g). Instrument flight conditions does not always mean IMC.

And IMC does not always mean actual instrument flight conditions.

 

[crzepilot]

If I need to fly the plane by instruments to keep it up right and on course by reference to instruments than i would log it. Even if I am above an overcast layer.

 

[siucavflight]

If I need to fly the plane by instruments to keep it up right and on course by reference to instruments than i would log it. Even if I am above an overcast layer.

I think you would get yourself into trouble on an airline interview if you responded this way when they were asking you about your logbook.

In order to log actual instrument time. It is the time when controlled the aircraft solely by refrence to the flight instruments in weather less than VFR as defined in the type of airspace that you are in.

 

[midlifeflyer]

In order to log actual instrument time. It is the time when controlled the aircraft solely by reference to the flight instruments in weather less than VFR as defined in the type of airspace that you are in.

FWIW crzepilot's definition pretty much tracks FAA doctrine

==============================
"Actual" instrument flight conditions occur when some outside conditions make it necessary for the pilot to use the aircraft instruments in order to maintain adequate control over the aircraft.
-- 1984 FAA Legal opinion
==============================

This is from the famous "moonless night" opinion saying that a pilot with no instrument rating may log actual instrument time in VMC.

(leaving open the question of what it was about the nature of the overcast that required the use of instruments to remain upright.)