Just to clearify the FAA rules
The FAA states:
A x-country is every flight from A to B that involves a landing at Airport A and Airport B. But! For license (like issuing a CPL or IR) issues the straight line distance between A and B must be at least 50NM to count as X-Country time (this is for airplanes - for helicopter its different).
Can a safety pilot log PIC time in the US? Yes, he can - the other guy is flying under the hood, so both can log pic time. In JAA land? Not possible
Can the safety pilot log X-Country time? No - after the newest FAA ruling. X-Country time has to involve a landing at airport a and airport b. The safety pilot looks for traffic while the other pilot is under the hood. As soon as this pilot is no longer under the hood - the safety pilot can not log PIC time anymore and is no required crew member anymore. The safety pilot isn't doing a landing furthermore he is not required anymore - so he can not log x-country time. This here is assuming that nobody lands under the hood.
Just to summarize it.
Safety Pilot FAA:
- Log X-Country Time: No
- Log PIC: Yes, as long as the other pilot is under the hood.
JAA:
Only one PIC possible. At least for germany I know that safety pilot time is not credited.
With best regards out of Florida.
NK