big grecian, if they don't file IFR plan, fly in VMC only, why does the pilot under hood or the safety pilot acting as PIC, as per the 'safety pilot' regs, mauled ad nauseum all over internet, NEED Instrument Rating?
yeah, agree, some European newbies see the 50% OFF and go overly excited, without knowing the FAA specifics and limited usefulness for Europe.
I'll briefly say it again, CL215:
being safety pilot, ie watching for traffic/staying in VMC if applicable/responsible for safety, only counts for FAA flight experience if all the rules are followed. Safety pilot, if in IMC, needs to be instrument rated and current. If flying on instrument plan, there must be designated instrument rated current PIC. If you want 100% legal EASA/CASA etc PIC hours, you don't fly with another rated pilot and just fly solo.
You could in theory find pilot who only needs FAA loggable hours, doesn't mind sitting there while you do all the flying and you're happy to be under hood all the time in air from taking off to couple hundred feet high before landing. If you want to do some instrument approaches practice, it'd be prudent to have that safety pilot legal to be PIC on IFR plan, or stick to VFR/VMC only (which could be troublesome, mixing with IFR training flights in area trying to do the same as them).
Also, sticking to the rules, how much fun would it be flying S&L staring at instruments/gages doing some interesting great scenery cross-country flights?
Yeah, good to have value and new experience, but don't try to be too much of a cheapskate and risk issues back in Europe or build plans on meeting someone online and then something falls through and you or both get very upset for one reason or another.
If you were to fly under hood in ACTUAL/IMC, then you'd need to be legal to fly under IFR/IMC, ie rated, current, licensed, medical. Then the safety pilot strictly speaking wouldn't be manipulating controls nor 'required' to see and avoid traffic/terrain in IMC, so technically not loggable for him/her.
Without doing any promo for any school/company, I'm pasting AOPA link. Beware that US AOPA doesn't consider Europe or elsewhere, where there's meant to be only one PIC in single pilot aircraft. Being safety pilot, even if the European chap under hood 'signs for aircraft', means ACTING as PIC, ie legally required there and responsible for safety, which can be concluded as performing duties of PIC in Europe.
Logging Pilot-in-Command (PIC) Time - AOPA
Whatever you do, think it through, do proper research, check and ensure you have plenty paperwork to show for your flights if questioned/asked for evidence other than logbook entries.
If you team up with someone for more enjoyable travel and 'take turns' and spend double time in air, strictly having one designated for the flight, without any of the safety pilot stuff, it may work out. If it doesn't, personalities, finance and whatnot, do not be too surprised. Just a well-meant reminder.