"Jose" wrote in message
news
Handling the robot (turning on the autopilot) apparantly counts as
handling a control.


Yup. Whereas a passenger does not count as a control. That distinction
per se (between what is and isn't a control) is reasonable

Why?

This is a serious question, especially considering the capabilities of
some robots, and the lack of capability of some organic autopilots.

The distinction is reasonable because the ordinary meaning of 'control' is
that it refers to an inanimate or non-sentient device, not to a person. As
sophisticated as some autopilots are, they are not yet sentient. You're
right that *for purposes of logging PIC time*, that distinction doesn't
matter (though for many *other* purposes it certainly matters!). So the line
drawn by 61.51e doesn't make much sense, but that's different from the
distinction between control and non-control not making sense. The FAA should
just rephrase 61.51e(ii) to say "sole rated occupant" rather than "sole
occupant".

--Gary