BackPacker posted that the only bit of law relating to safety pilots is in relation to medical issues. (“A "safety pilot" doesn't log anything, ever, in a single pilot aircraft. Not even when he's an "official" safety pilot because the PIC is required to fly with a safety pilot for medical reasons. (And if I'm not mistaken that's the only context in which there is a definition of 'safety pilot' in the first place.)”
Re definition of 'safety pilot', not so, I believe.
From a paper I wrote in 2000, having researched safety pilot issues for the BGA:
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I have considered the following two situations recognised as involving safety pilots;
The only case referred to Rules of the Air, as far as I or the CAA could find, is for simulated instrument flying. Rule 6 of “Rules of the Air” (see section 7.1 of BGA Laws and Rules) does not require a safety pilot in this situation to be an instructor, or to be P1; only to have an adequate field of vision, to have access to dual controls, and by implication to be able to assume temporary control should that be needed to avoid conflict with other aircraft etc.
The other well-recognised situation is the need for a safety pilot in the case of a degree of incapacity for medical reasons. I am advised that such a safety pilot need not be designated P1. If the safety pilot is there only to be a better set of eyes or limbs, there is no need for an instructor’s rating, provided that no element of instruction or supervision is required - it is akin to mutual flying. Even if the safety pilot has an instructor’s rating, but no element of instruction or supervision is intended at the outset of the flight, the instructor would not be on duty as an instructor, whether or not P1, . . .
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I agree with others that only one can log P1/PIC time and the other cannot. As to which, that has to be determined before the flight.
Chris N
Last edited by chrisN; 20th December 2012 at 14:27.