Logging Instrument Time

[UA-RESURRECTED]

Sometimes you hear of people saying they've got a certain amount of "actual" instrument time, as opposed to "simulated", as I understand it.

So, if you are flying IFR, and then suddenly fly into VFR conditions, you must record this transition and make the appropriate logbook entries??? What if you're continuously flying in and out of IFR conditions, you have to keep track of all these changes?

How does this work when logging instrument time?

 

[VSI9k+]

Just try to keep a count of how long you didnt have any reference to the ground. After the flight make a note of it...and then log it in the approiate colum in your log book. If you are IMC for 6 minutes, out of IMC for 6 and back in IMC for 6 minutes...you have .2 IMC but .3 total.

 

[UA-RESURRECTED]

Just try to keep a count of how long you didnt have any reference to the ground. After the flight make a note of it...and then log it in the approiate colum in your log book. If you are IMC for 6 minutes, out of IMC for 6 and back in IMC for 6 minutes...you have .2 IMC but .3 total.

Okay I see what you're saying. Thanks.

One more thing. This is dependent on ground reference? If you're flying in basically clear skies above an overcast layer, you can log that as instrument time?

 

[VSI9k+]

Ive heard people argue it both ways. Id just stick to logging the time that you have you head in the clouds and not worry about the reference to ground thing.

 

[gkrangers]

Logging without ground reference? No...logging without a horizon? I think that might be acceptable.

 

[VSI9k+]

Logging without ground reference? No...logging without a horizon? I think that might be acceptable.

thats what i ment...thanks

 

[siucavflight]

Ive heard people argue it both ways. Id just stick to logging the time that you have you head in the clouds and not worry about the reference to ground thing.

In that case you would still have a horizon, so you should not be logging it as IMC.

 

[VSI9k+]

In that case you would still have a horizon, so you should not be logging it as IMC.

You are saying you'd have reference to the horizon while being in the clouds?

 

[Kingair1181]

[FONT=&quot]I have always been unsure about logging actual as well... say it is a very dark night, you are on an IFR flight plan, there is no horizon, no towns, nothing to reference by except your instruments? Is that actual? How about if you are on top of the clouds and they have vertical development and therefore you don’t have a true horizon? Can you log that as well? I have just always logged time when I am in the clouds….[/FONT]

 

[A Squared]

Okay I see what you're saying. Thanks. One more thing. This is dependent on ground reference? If you're flying in basically clear skies above an overcast layer, you can log that as instrument time?

No, very difinately not. It's no outside reference, not no ground reference. If you are in clear skies above an overcast you have a wealth of outside references which make it very easy to control the airplane. it's quite possible to fly under those conditions without looking at flght instruments. remember, the regulation is: "...solely by reference to instruments....."

not:

".........without ground reference ........"