deckert (07/29/82)
#N:uiucdcs:7900003:000:499 uiucdcs!deckert Jul 29 10:10:00 1982 FAR 61.51 (c) (4) states: "A pilot may log as instrument time only that time during which he operates the aircraft solely by reference to instruments, under actual or simulated instrument flight conditions." Therefore to log IFR time you must be flying in IMC, or with a hood, or in a simulator. Flying on the gauges in VMC does not count. Sorry. There are many cases where the FAR's are seemingly at odds with the real world, sometimes this works for us and sometimes it goes the other way.
ark (07/30/82)
Well, now let's try the toughie. What means "actual instrument flight conditions?" Suppose I'm on that hypothetical night flight again and I am on an IFR flight plan. Perhaps I can only log that time I spend inside clouds. But what if it's so dark I can't TELL if I'm in clouds or not?
rob (07/30/82)
It is rather improbable that you would not be able to see some visual outside reference. If in fact you have none, assume you are in the clouds and log it. (But please keep looking out the window.)
deckert (07/30/82)
#R:uiucdcs:7900003:uiucdcs:7900004:000:612 uiucdcs!deckert Jul 30 09:51:00 1982 Total darkness is difficult to find. At night over the ocean and under an overcast is the only time I've ever seen it. Otherwise when night flying I've always had moisture reflections off the position lights to give an idea of whether or not I'm in clouds. A quick shot of the landing light will also settle the question. The FAR's do not cover many aspects of the real world, they are written by lawyers, not pilots. Probably the most reasonable way to log time is to enter what reflects the operational circumstances. Only you will know anyway, no one gets to pass judgement on the contents of a log book.