Originally Posted by GusHoneybun
Taking this argument a step further. Remove the word autopilot and insert the word co-pilot. Flying on instruments, monitoring the other pilot, but not manipulating the controls. I still think that this is valid time on instruments and will log that accordingly.
No, when flying multi-crew only one person may log IMC (or IF as it's called over here.) That person is the pilot flying. Our own rules are quite clear that IMC is to be logged when you are either flying by sole reference to the instruments or you are the pilot manipulating the autopilot at the time. It can not be logged if the FO is the pilot flying, and you, as the Captain, are monitoring him. Partly because the pilot not flying isn't normally monitoring the flight path of the aircraft. The whole point is to have one pilot flying and the other doing the rest of the stuff like radio calls and paper work. Sure they monitor when they can, but it is not their role.
This is not necessarily analogous to a student/instructor situation (which I've realised since my last post.)