However, there are more specific responsibilities beyond the operation and safety of the flight that is provided by both the FAA and ICAO. What are the responsibilities of the pilot in command?īased on the definition above, the pilot in command is ultimately responsible for the flight safety while in operation. Therefore, if you are looking forward to logging PIC time, it is essential that you verify whether the corresponding authority allows you to do so in your current flight conditions. On the other hand, as explained in FAR 61.51, when a certified flight instructor is providing flight instruction, they may log PIC time regardless whether they are acting as a pilot in command or not. Yet, this does not make the pilot the primary person liable for the safety of the flight since it is not acting as the PIC legally speaking. Obviously, a student pilot has not yet achieved the required qualifications to act as a PIC, so a distinction is made by the authorities between logging PIC time and acting like one.Īccording to the FAA FARs, a pilot is allowed to log PIC time as long as the logging pilot is the sole manipulator of the flight controls while referring to a two-person crew. However, logging PIC time has sometimes generated confusion. Now, when the students start escalating their training, they will be required to log PIC time so they can become legally certified as airline captains. This includes specific flight training time, and solo flying time to get the first certification, the private pilot certificate. Logging flight time and PIC timeĪny student pilot is required to log flight time when training. Yet, more strict requirements apply for pilots flying under Parts 121 and 135, including additional training, logged PIC time, and extra check rides. However, the FAA provides a very standard set of requirements to follow.Īccording to the FAA, all licensed Part 91 pilots are qualified to act as the PIC. The strict legal definition may vary slightly from one region to another. Now, what are the certifications and qualifications required to become a pilot in command? Who can be the final authority in a flight? This definition is based on the duties of the certified and qualified pilot who can actually be considered the final authority according to the U.S. Holds the appropriate category, class, and type rating, if appropriate, for the conduct of the flight.Has been designated as pilot in command before or during the flight.Has final authority and responsibility for the operation and safety of the flight. The FAA defines the pilot in command as the person aboard or the member of the crew in a multi-crew flight who: Federal Aviation Administration PIC definition International Civil Aviation Organization PIC definitionĪccording to ICAO, a pilot in command is “the pilot responsible for the operation and safety of the aircraft throughout flight time”, with the flight time usually including some ground operations like taxiing. Here are the FAA and ICAO pilot in command definitions. You may find other definitions, but here we will focus on the definitions provided by the most prominent institutions such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The first step is having a clear definition of a pilot in command (PIC). Let’s get into the details of what a pilot in command (PIC) involves to better understand this sometimes confusing position. However, there is more than just being in charge of the instruments when it comes to being the pilot in command. When hearing the words pilot in command, many believe they simply refer to one of the two people controlling an airplane on a given flight. This person is someone people often call a “pilot in command.” While they both have similar category and class ratings, they wear the same uniform, and probably have a similar hours of actual of simulated instrument time, one of the pilots has the ultimate authority over the decisions and actions made in the cockpit. If you are a frequent flyer with any airline you have probably noticed that there is always more than one pilot in the cockpit of a commercial aircraft.
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