logging multi time

[cvsfly]

I am certain that you are aware that any interpretation of regs on the FSDO level means nothing. Nada. Zip.............

True. If it is a matter of operational procedure, get it in writing and have the FSDO approve it. Then you are fine. They control the oversight for your certificate.

....If you can show that the SIC was indeed required under the ops specs for the carrier, then you can justify this time from a more firm position.

Under the Basic level of operator, except for the Ops Spec for Autopilot in lieu of SIC I have never seen an Ops Spec refer to or "authorize" an SIC. Our FAA Training Program does. Its in the regs of course. Our Single Piot-in-Command operator status did list authorized PIC and SICs. Which specific (give example) Ops Spec authorizes SICs? Just curious.

 

[Timebuilder]

CVS, if I recall, someone said the Airnet Ops specs give such an authorization.

Whether it is specifically an "op Spec" with a letter code, etc, is a guess, really. It may be just a letter from the administrator that permits the SIC in a single pilot aricraft, or says that one is required. The letter itself would have the force of regulation. I haven't looked at their site in a while, so I'm not certain.

Maybe I'll research this a little.

I just have to jump in here. First the OpSpecs do not really control here. According to FAA Legal, if the company assigns a F/O then the F/O may log the flight time.

It seems reasonable that the FO may log the flight time. Can, however, the FO log the time as SIC, according to the regs? There is a difference between SIC time and flight time, as I am sure you know.

I'm also sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems to me I recall the reg that authorizes an SIC includes 1) an aircraft where the type certificate requires an SIC, or 2) the regulations under which the flight is being conducted.

My point is this: op specs have regulatory force, so a requirement in the op specs WOULD put in force the "regulations under which the flight is being conducted." It also appears to me that a company deciding that they want to assign an SIC, a customer who wants an SIC, or an insurance carrier who wants an SIC is not either (1) or (2) above.

If someone has time to check on Doc's forum, or has more experience or insight than I do (which is a probability, considering the vast experience of some posters here) then set me straight, along with the rest of us. It was my impression from previous discussions like this one that a compny cannot simply "decide" to have an SIC in a single pilot airplane, and have that assignment meet the requirements of the regulations for an SIC.

I wish I could find that darned regs CD...

 

[Timebuilder]

I decided to have another cup of coffee and do a little research.

I went to the Airnet website, which was the best example that I had heard of involving an SIC in a piston twin, an poked around a little.

Under work with us>careers>flight crew>FAQ's>Q: How does an SIC log flight time in a high-performance piston twin?
Note: As of January 1, 2003, the SIC program is temporarily on hold. See the articles in the ALPC magazine dated Nov. '98 and Dec. '99 using the links in this site.

The underlined article link on the site has an explanation of the airnet approach to the SIC position. The salient points are here:

Logging SIC/PIC time: here's how.

In addition to hiring pilot in command (PIC) qualified pilots, AirNet Systems, Inc. offers a program by which pilots serve as first officers (FOs) on light, twin-engine, piston-powered aircraft operating under 14 CFR 135. Candidates for this particular program have less than 1,200 hours total flight time and/or less than certain categories of flight time such as cross country. As noted in 14 CFR 135.243(c), 1,200 hours total flight time, is the minimum total time a pilot must have to be assigned as pilot in command in IFR conditions while operating under 14 CFR 135. In the same regulation, minimums also are established for cross country, night, and instrument flight time. No minimum PIC time is specified.

The minimum grade of pilot certificate for PIC or second in command (SIC) is Commercial. AirNet’s first officer program allows pilots to build their flight time to 1,200 hours and/or to meet the minimums established for the categories mentioned above.

Here is how a pilot utilizes the flight time accrued in AirNet’s program: 14 CFR 135 subparts G and H establish the requirements for testing and training of flight crew members in each type of aircraft to which they are assigned to duty by an air carrier operating under 14 CFR 135. For a flight crew member to be assigned duty, the air carrier and the pilot must comply with all requirements. This, of course, allows the pilot to be on board the aircraft as a flight crew member.

Since the pilot can now legally be a flight crew member, the pilot also can manipulate the aircraft’s flight controls. How a pilot logs the flight time is found in 14 CFR 61.51(e)1. If a pilot assigned as SIC manipulates the flight controls of an aircraft in which that pilot is rated, that pilot may log the time as PIC. This does NOT change who is assigned as pilot in command.

Operations conducted under 14 CFR 135 can have only ONE assigned PIC, regardless of who is manipulating the flight controls. The assigned PIC must be assigned in writing and remains the pilot in command throughout the flight. Therefore, when the SIC manipulates the flight controls, that pilot may log PIC flight time. (emphasis added)

The only time the second in command can log SIC flight time is while that person is serving as second in command on an aircraft requiring more than one pilot by its type certificate, or when required by the regulations under which the flight is conducted. (emphasis added)

Obviously, AirNet’s light piston twins do not require more than one pilot by the type certificates, however, there are conditions under 14 CFR 135 operations which do require two pilots regardless of the aircraft type. Examples include takeoffs below 1,800 RVR, carrying passengers in IFR conditions without an autopilot, and whenever the flight crew is being assigned to more than eight hours of flight time.

In most cases, even these requirements do not apply to operations at AirNet, therefore, the SIC logs pilot in command time while being the sole manipulator of the flight controls and logs total time only, when not manipulating the flight controls. (emphasis added)

This program and method of logging flight time is supported not only by Federal Aviation Regulations, but also by legal interpretations. Keep in mind, however, that as pilots move through their careers and apply for other jobs, certain organizations may require specific conditions of pilot in command time. (emphasis added for our discussion of the pic time being sought by airlines, such as the following paragraph)

One major airline, for example, has very specific instructions on its application that state pilot in command time is ONLY the time for which you were responsible for or in charge of the aircraft, not merely sole manipulator of the flight controls.

In summary, there is a difference between who is assigned as pilot in command and who may be manipulating the flight controls and logging PIC time. At times, both pilots may be logging PIC time because one is the assigned pilot in command (acting PIC as provided in 14 CFR 61.51(e)1(iii)) and the other may be manipulating the flight controls but assigned as second in command.

In most cases at AirNet, an assigned SIC is either logging the time as pilot in command when he or she is the sole manipulator of the flight controls, logging the flight time as total time only when not manipulating the flight controls, or as SIC if required to be there either by the aircraft type certificate or by the regulations under which the operations are conducted.

Pilots who still have questions about how the AirNet second in command program works may contact us at (877) 247-6386.— Clair Morris,Director of Training, AirNet Express


So, that's the whole thing in a nutshell.

 

[Timebuilder]

Another thought

The thread started with the title "logging multi time."

While it is Airnet's contention that you can log "flight time" when not acting as PIC under part 61 (sole manipulator), how do you log it as being "multi time?"

I was taught that time grids should have single and multi time equalling total time, and PIC and SIC time equal total time, minus dual received (prior to being able to act as PIC, as in a student before PPL when receiving instruction).

If this is multi time, what is the pilot responsibility? IF not PIC (as in "not PIC" during the time when the FO is not manipulating the flight controls) or SIC (since no SIC is authorized under the article I cited), then how can there be a difference between sitting in a single engine or a multi engine aircraft as, essentially, a passenger?

The best idea I can come up with is to get the captain to sign off on the time as dual given/received for the time when the FO is not flying.

 

[Rick1128]

SIC

14 CFR Part 135 requires an SIC for operations conducted under IFR. The operator MAY conduct IFR operations Single Pilot IF the aircraft has an operating autopilot and the PIC is approved to conduct single pilot operations. MAY is the operative word here. The operator is NOT required to conduct single pilot operations. According to FAA Legal, if a pilot is assigned to that flight, he is a required crewmember and may log the flight time.

 

[Timebuilder]

Alright, then. We agree that certain conditions allow for an SIC.

If FAA legal allows the time to be logged by the Airnet SIC as "flight time," what flight crewmember position, under the regulations that govern SIC and PIC (discussed above), is filled in by the logging pilot with regard to the crewmember position he served on that flight?

The only answer I can come up with is "none." If it is none, then you are not a required crewmember.

If you meet the specific requirements of this set of circumstances, ie:

there are conditions under 14 CFR 135 operations which do require two pilots regardless of the aircraft type. Examples include takeoffs below 1,800 RVR, carrying passengers in IFR conditions without an autopilot, and whenever the flight crew is being assigned to more than eight hours of flight time.

Then you certainly CAN log that time as a required SIC.

The likelihood of those operations being conducted, even by an on-time carrier like Airnet, is described:

In most cases, even these requirements do not apply to operations at AirNet, therefore, the SIC logs pilot in command time while being the sole manipulator of the flight controls and logs total time only, when not manipulating the flight controls. (emphasis added)

This still leaves us with the question of how this time can be "sensibly" logged when neither type of crew position is being served by the second pilot, ie, when not logging PIC time as sole manipulator?

 

[iflyabeech]

SIC's

We have FO's in our Caravans. They are on every flight and log time as SIC. This is 100% legal SIC time, not PIC though.

 

[Bandit60]

Here is the way i look at it. If the FAA requires a pilot to have a 135 sic check, (have worked for a company which the faa said that if the customer requires a sic then the sic must have a sic checkride) then you must be able to fly second in command at some point.

 

[Timebuilder]

If by "the FAA" you mean the local FSDO in the normal conduct of business regarding a carrier, I would not bet my logbook on it. Remember, ONLY the office of chief counsel can interpret regulations.

While requiring an SIC check may certainly be an act of prudence, the necessity of an SIC is spelled out in the regs.

That necessity does not cover "customer requirements."

If it did, I would have some more time to add to my logbook.

So would a lot of people.

 

[Rick1128]

Timebuilder, I think you may be missing the point. A SIC is a required crewmember on Part 135 passenger flights conducted under IFR. Not IMC. There is a difference. The regs allow the operator to conduct IFR operations without a SIC if the aircraft and PIC are single pilot/autopilot authorized. The operative word in the regs and the OpSpec is MAY. It does not require the operator to conduct single pilot operations. If the operator assigns a SIC to the flight, they become a required crewmember and therefore may log the flight time as appropriate. And this is according to FAA Legal. There have been several legal interpretations issued by FAA Legal stating that. It has no effect on this why the SIC is assigned.

The SIC most meet all the applicable requirements of 14 CFR Part 135, incluidng training and have sucessfully passed a 135.293 checkride in the aircraft.