This overview explains the most important flight logbook terms simply and clearly. This will help you to keep your logbook correctly and in accordance with the rules.
PIC - Pilot In Command
PIC means that you are the pilot in command. You have full responsibility for the flight, navigation and decisions in the cockpit. PIC time is one of the most important flight times, as it counts towards almost all licences and ratings.
- Day and night landings are counted separately
- You need at least 3 landings within 90 days for passenger transport
- IFR approaches can also be noted in the comments field
- Several landings per flight are possible
PICUS - Pilot In Command Under Supervision
PICUS is PIC under supervision. You carry out the flight like a PIC, but under the supervision of a training captain or examiner. In certain cases, this time counts as PIC, especially for professional pilots.
- PIC role under supervision
- This time is only valid if a qualified supervising pilot is on board
- In many cases it is recognised as PIC
- In addition, it must be clearly noted in the comments field
Dual - flight under the supervision of a flight instructor
Dual refers to flights with a flight instructor. This time counts towards your training and is necessary for exams and licence requirements.
- Flight under the direct supervision of a flight instructor
- This time counts for all training programmes
- The flight instructor must be entered in the logbook
- However, it is never categorised as a PIC
Co-Pilot / SIC - Second In Command
The co-pilot is the second pilot in multi-pilot operations. These times are relevant for commercial pilots, but are clearly regulated by EASA.
- Applies to aeroplanes or helicopters with multi-pilot operation
- This time counts separately for PIC and Dual
- A corresponding crew authorisation is required for this
- It must be clearly recorded in the logbook
IFR time - instrument flight time
IFR time is the time during which you fly according to instrument flight rules. You need this time for IFR authorisations and to obtain the instrument rating.
- Flight according to instrument flight rules
- Decisive for the IFR rating
- You therefore record this time separately from the total time
- It can also include VFR-IFR changes
IMC - Instrument Meteorological Conditions
IMC describes flights in weather conditions where flying under visual flight rules is not possible. Important: IMC is not identical to IFR, but is often confused.
- It can include IFR or emergency flights
- However, it is not automatically identical with IFR time
- Therefore, document this information in the comments field
Night flight time
Night flight time begins according to FOCA and EASA at the end of civil twilight and ends at the beginning of civil dawn.
- Begins with the end of the civic twilight
- It ends at the beginning of dawn
- This time counts for night flight ratings and extensions
- You also record landings at night separately
Landings
You record landings separately for day and night. They are important for assessments and for the authorisation to carry passengers.
- Day and night landings are counted separately
- At least 3 landings within 90 days for passenger transport
- IFR approaches can also be noted in the comments field
- Several landings per flight are possible
Use the comments field correctly
In the comments field, enter additional information that is important for tests or analyses.
- Notes from test flights
- Entries for special exercises
- Notes on PICUS or IFR approaches
- Additional details on flight conditions
How ROTAIR FlightLog supports you
- Automatic separation of all roles such as PIC, dual and co-pilot
- Simple recording of IFR, night and training times
- Plausibility checks to avoid errors
- Clear overview of all flight times
- PDF, CSV and Excel exports for inspectors and authorities
- Optimised for helicopter and aircraft pilots
FlightLog - clear entries for your entire flight experience
ROTAIR FlightLog ensures that you can record all important roles and flight times clearly and without errors. The app supports you with automatic calculations, simple exports and clear plausibility checks.
