Ok, I think you are not understanding me. I am saying that you do not need a safety pilot to fly in IMC, period. I you elect, for whatever reason to wear a hood and fly with a safety pilot: to have your safety pilot build PIC time, you are lonely, etc.. then of course you can both log it. Now, why would you need a safety pilot in IMC? His function will be to look out and see nothing? It's an honor system and of course you can always do as you please, it doesn't mean it's "honorable". Now if you are going in and out of weather or if the Wx conditions are such that you would need a safety pilot then I fully agree. I think we both understand the Regs in this respect.
Negative. I understand you completely; it's just that you're wrong.
If, in instrument conditions, the pilot flying is wearing a view limiting device, a safety pilot MUST be used. Absolutely, positively, must be used. This is no courtesy. If you are conducting flight under simulated instrument conditions by the use of a view limiting device, regardless of the conditions of flight, regardless of the visibility or cloud clearance outside the cockpit, a safety pilot is required. Period.
You fly a Cessna 172. You takeoff under visual conditions, with the pilot flying wearing a view limiting device. A safety pilot is required. The flight enters the clouds. A safety pilot is required. Not a nicety. Not a courtesy. Not a not toward safety. A requirement by regulation.
A pilot is obligated to see and avoid regardless of weather IFR or VFR, IMC or VMC. See and avoid is always an obligation and duty. A pilot in instrument conditions, weather under VFR or IFR, who cannot see and avoid due to limiting his or her vision using a view limiting device (that is used in order to conduct flight by reference to instruments...in other words, simulated instrument flight), MUST HAVE A SAFETY PILOT.
Your arguement doubtless is that once the flight enters instrument conditions it is no longer in simulated instrument flight. This is incorrect. Most certainly the pilot flying is flying under simulated instrument conditions, regardless of what is occuring outside the aircraft. That pilot MUST have a safety pilot, weather operating under visual rules or instrument rules, weather in visual conditions or instrument conditions.
A single engine prop a/c does not need an SIC or an additional PIC unless it is really required. My point was that in IMC he is not required. I would question why would you choose to have one if not required that's all.
Because two pilots in instrument flight are much better than one pilot in instrument conditions. You do understand this, right?
I wanted to ask you, however, do you have a reference for you statement concerning logging approaches only if they go to minimums in IMC or simulated?
Though I've posted it many times on this site before (a simple search would find it), the letter of interpretation that states it very clearly has already been given in this thread. Have you not read this thread?
The question is because approaches where you are IMC right to minimums are fairly rare. You could get the runway in sight at 500 AGL , for instance, on an ILS approach which is typically 300 above mins. In this case, you are saying that the approach cannot be logged?
I don't make the regulation, nor do I interpret it. You have been given the regulation, and the interpretation by the FAA chief legal counsel. The FAA chief legal counsel has stated quite clearly that the approach must be conducted to minimums under simulated or actual instrument conditions. That should be quite clear.