Pilot in command means the person who:Doesn't seem to require sitting in the aircraft, does it? So now let's look at 61.51.(e), which describes when a pilot may log time as pilot-in-command:
(1) Has final authority and responsibility for the operation and safety of the flight;
(2) Has been designated as pilot in command before or during the flight; and
(3) Holds the appropriate category, class, and type rating, if appropriate, for the conduct of the flight.
(e) Logging pilot-in-command flight time. (1) A sport, recreational, private, commercial, or airline transport pilot may log pilot in command flight time for flights-Remember, those criteria can be exclusive of one another. So if the drone-drivers are rated for the drone, and if the drivers have a pilot's license, they could conceivably log the time.
(i) When the pilot is the sole manipulator of the controls of an aircraft for which the pilot is rated, or has sport pilot privileges for that category and class of aircraft, if the aircraft class rating is appropriate;
(ii) When the pilot is the sole occupant in the aircraft;
(iii) When the pilot, except for a holder of a sport or recreational pilot certificate, acts as pilot in command of an aircraft for which more than one pilot is required under the type certification of the aircraft or the regulations under which the flight is conducted; or
(iv) When the pilot performs the duties of pilot in command while under the supervision of a qualified pilot in command provided— [remainder deleted]
Which, of course, is bullshit. Drone drivers have less skin in the game than do air-traffic controllers, for if a controller screws up, other people may die (and maybe the controller). If the drone crashes and doesn't kill anyone on the ground, it's akin to crashing a really big (and expensive) radio-controlled model airplane.
Othen than approved sim-based training, the FAA should amend the rules to require that the pilot in command must be physically on board the aircraft for which the pilot is logging flight time.
5 comments:
But are the operators even rated as pilots? Seems to me that to log hours they's have to hold a ticket of some kind.
Do they do touch-and go's ??? does this count as a landing ??? What about night hours and currency ???
YGTBSM !!!!
It isn't flight time in the Air Force. My Father piloted drones in the 1950s, and he wasn't a pilot or on flying status, he was an Master Sergeant in the Air Force. He had been a bombardier in B-24s in World War II, and received a reserve commission near the end, but he was senior NCO for most of his Air Force career.
I was Air Crew in the Air Force, and there is no way they would log it as flight time.
If it was flight time the operator would get 12 hours of crew rest before a mission and brief to debrief crew after the mission. The operator would be limited to 125 hours per calendar month, and receive flight pay.
The pilots who are doing this still need to log a minimum of 12 hours of actual flight time per calendar quarter to stay current, and meet all of the training and medical requirements.
Flying drones is going to be handed off to enlisted personnel in future to save money, count on it.
I imagine that the drone drivers, at leas in the Air Force, are pilots. That's why they all wear flight suits, instead of, say, miniskirts and heels.
If they have a pilot's license, I don't see why they couldn't log the time. It'd count for nothing, as no employer would consider it. A Flight Examiner for a later rating would probably disallow it. But the FARs would seem to permit it.
If they are actual pilots, they would have to maintain their 'pilot' proficiency, which means actually flying an airplane... Drones do not count. And some of them probably DO wear mini-skirts and heels to work... :-P
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