Logging PIC hours without signing the tech log (UK CAA)
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 697
Likes: 0
From: UK
Although I have not flown for a few years, unless something has radically changed logging your hours in your log book has nothing to do with the legality of the aircraft. You would still log even if you had not done your job as a P1 correctly e.g. checking the aircraft documents etc.
I would go with Sam that if you steal an aircraft you can still put the hours in your log book as P1. Might not be the brightest thing in the world to do though!
I would pose another question that could you log a flight as P1 if your licence or your validation was expired by a few days?
I would go with Sam that if you steal an aircraft you can still put the hours in your log book as P1. Might not be the brightest thing in the world to do though!
I would pose another question that could you log a flight as P1 if your licence or your validation was expired by a few days?
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,366
Likes: 0
From: UK
People are getting quite wound up on here about logging illegal flights.
You can put whatever you want in your logbook, you could log passenger time in the back of an Easyjet for all it matters, what is relevant is what you are submitting to the authority when applying for a licence.
If you are trying to use hours flown illegally (ie no insurance, stolen aircraft, no ARC, whatever) to obtain a CPL(A), do you think the CAA will issue the licence?
Once pilots have their final licence, they may never send their logbooks off again, if PPL(A) is all you'll achieve, then you could fill your book with illegal fights and unless you happen to get checked by an examiner or audited for some reason, then noone is any the wiser.
Once you submit it for a CPL application, it will be scrutinised, and if there is an audit with no paper trail that you were actually PIC on a legal flight which you are trying to claim towards the CPL requirements, some difficult questions will be asked.
You can put whatever you want in your logbook, you could log passenger time in the back of an Easyjet for all it matters, what is relevant is what you are submitting to the authority when applying for a licence.
If you are trying to use hours flown illegally (ie no insurance, stolen aircraft, no ARC, whatever) to obtain a CPL(A), do you think the CAA will issue the licence?
Once pilots have their final licence, they may never send their logbooks off again, if PPL(A) is all you'll achieve, then you could fill your book with illegal fights and unless you happen to get checked by an examiner or audited for some reason, then noone is any the wiser.
Once you submit it for a CPL application, it will be scrutinised, and if there is an audit with no paper trail that you were actually PIC on a legal flight which you are trying to claim towards the CPL requirements, some difficult questions will be asked.

Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 6,626
Likes: 12
From: UK
Part FCL Definitions:
Part NCO:
There is no requirement to sign the Journey Log so that is not an issue. So long as you are qualified and "designated" there is no problem.
"Pilot-in-command" (PIC) means the pilot designated as being in command and charged with the safe conduct of the flight.
NCO.GEN.150 Journey log
Particulars of the aircraft, its crew and each journey shall be retained for each flight, or series of flights, in the form of a journey log, or equivalent.
Particulars of the aircraft, its crew and each journey shall be retained for each flight, or series of flights, in the form of a journey log, or equivalent.
however the owner said that as I am not a shareholder I am not able to sign the tech log.

Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 116
Likes: 16
From: UK
Thanks for the detailed and informative post, I (and I am sure others) appreciate the input.
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
From: UK
Happy to help. The pace of change over the last few years has not made life especially easy for the industry, relying as it should on standardisation and guidance from the top down. It is interesting to see that this relatively simple/innocuous thread on law versus group practice has input (so far) from at least 3 of us who teach or examine FI courses and try and pass the changes on every day as our role in training the future generations in GA!







