Originally Posted by
BEagle
EASA and UK CAA regulations are quite specific. Pilot who want to fly a new (to them) aeroplane must receive either 'familiarisation' if it's a similar SEP variant (which does not need to be conducted by an instructor), or if it has a new feature (e.g. VP prop, retractable landing gear, EFIS, electric trim, autopilot etc.), they must receive 'differences training' from an instructor qualified on the aeroplane. In either case they may not fly the aeroplane as PIC unless the person giving familiarisation signs the pilots personal flying logbook.
Of course, 'familiarisation' can be done by self study.
Whilst there is then nobody else to sign the pilot's log-book, maybe it would be a good discipline for the pilot to sign their own logbook to 'self certify' that they've done the necessary background work - I'd not thought of that before. It actually aligns with what we had to do when learning on the Tiger Moth when we had to sign to say we understood the 'petrol, oil and ignition systems of the DH82a'.
We did the same thing for prop swinging but that was over-signed by the instructor. I have my uncles wartime logbook and he self-certified his competence for prop swinging.
Maybe there is little new under the sun (in principle)!