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Question about logging SIC time

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Well, what the insurance company says or requires isn't necessarily the same as what the FARs require or allow. If you're rated and qualified for passenger-carrying in the class of airplane, the FARs allow you to act as and log PIC when flying around with your father or with other people. But, other than that often discussed (on this website) safety pilot/simulated instrument stuff, there is no SIC on a Part 91 Aztec, i.e., the type certificate does not require an SIC nor would the operation. Now, if you are asking what happens if there's a claim made under the policy and you were flying the airplane at the time---the language of the policy would be a good place to start the analysis. Based on your remarks, sounds as if no coverage. So, legally, if rated and qualified: yes to PIC, no to SIC (except for the saftey pilot stuff). Insurance-wise: No, at least if a claim is made under the policy. There is something called an open pilot clause in some policies, sometimes for the occasional user or under specified conditions and with certain certificates, ratings, hours. You might look into that. (Also, since we're really talking about the policy and coverage here, check the policy to see if it speaks to the simulated instrument/safety pilot stuff. It might require the safety pilot, i.e., the "SIC" to meet certain conditions.) If the insurance company is not taking you on as part of the insured risk, then you might consider rather carefully how you log (if you log) even those uneventful flights. (Hopefully, all your flights will be uneventful.) It could be possible that if a claim is made as the result of a particular flight, and you are on board, the insurance company, if the matter ended up in litigation, might be able to obtain your logbooks and assert that you were in fact flying the aircraft and deny coverage (if you have consistently been logging time in the plane). It would be a credibility issue. Not saying it would happen. Just a thought.
 
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The answer is NO. You cannot log SIC time in the Aztec. But, why in the world would you? You are multi engine rated, therefore you are qualified to act as PIC in an Aztec. If you are in the front seat and operating the controls, then you are the PIC. Log it as such.

Does you father's policy allow him (I hope he's a current MEI...) or your uncle to give you dual in the airplane? If so, no problem then!
 
my dad is not an mei, my uncle is. The only reason i asked about sic time was because the policy said for me to log pic I need to be listed on the policy which adds a lot more to the cost.
 
But, why in the world would you? You are multi engine rated, therefore you are qualified to act as PIC in an Aztec. If you are in the front seat and operating the controls, then you are the PIC. Log it as such.

Couple of comments here, You're right he is qualified to act as PIC, however the fact that he is in a front seat operating the controls does not make him the PIC. It does allow him to *log* pic time but doesn't mean he is *acting* as PIC. There is a differnce in the FAA's eyes between *logging* and *acting* as PIC. Thre's a distinction there that seems minor, but makes a differnce when considering these questions. Overall, you're right, considering only the regulations, he could log PIC time in the airplane, but lawfly posted some pretty good reasons why that might not be a good idea due to insurance considerations.
 
Ultimately, it's your Fathers decision. It's his airplane, and although you are perfectly legal to act as PIC, or to log PIC as the sole manipulator of the controls (from either seat), Lawfly is correct in that the insurance company could theoretically deny a claim if they could prove you caused damage to the airplane.

Bottom line, if your dad hands you the controls, LOG THE TIME. He understands the insurance implications. If he is too worried about the insurance, he will either; a) not let you fly the plane, or b) pay a higher premium to get you on the insurance.
 
Don't confuse insurance requirements with Regulations. Just because the insurance co. doesn't want you to touch the controls doesn't mean that you are not allowed to. You fly the plane, you log the time and log it PIC.

Having said that, if you bend the airplane you most likely find yourself (your dad) without coverage.
 

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