T o d d P a t t i s t wrote
You won't find it in Jeppesen. It's not an FAR. It's an
official interpretation of the FARs, and is binding on the
FAA.

Here's one interpretation


June 22, 1977


Mr. Thomas Beane


Dear Mr. Beane:


This letter is in response to your recent letters to the FAA Flight
Standards Service and to the Chief Counsel inquiring about the logging
of pilot-in-command (PIC) time by an airman whenever he is not the
sole manipulator of the controls.


Section 1.1 of the Federal Aviation Regulations defines Pilot in
Command as:


Pilot in command means the person who:


(1) Has final authority and responsibility for the operation and
safety of the flight; (2) Has been designated as pilot in command
before or during the flight; and (3) Holds the appropriate category,
class, and type rating, if appropriate, for the conduct of the flight.


Section 61.51(c)(2) of the Federal Aviation Regulations provides, in
pertinent part:


(2) Pilot-in-Command flight time.


(I) A private or commercial pilot may log as pilot in command time
only that flight time during which he is the sole manipulator of the
controls of an aircraft for which he is rated, or when he is the sole
occupant of the aircraft, or when he acts


as pilot in command of an
aircraft on which more than one pilot is required under the type
certification of the aircraft, or the regulations under which the
flight is conducted


..

A pilot may log PIC time in accordance with Section 61.51(c)(2)(I)
when he is not actually "flying the airplane", if the airplane is one
on which more than one pilot is required under its type certificate or
under the regulations under which the flight is conducted and he is
acting as PIC. Also, a pilot, rated in category and class (e.g.
airplane single-engine) could, as the pilot who "Has final authority
and responsibility for the operation and safety of the flight" log PIC
time if another pilot, not appropriately rated, was actually
manipulating the controls of the aircraft.


It should be noted that more than one pilot may log PIC time for the
same flight time. For example, one pilot receiving instruction may
log PIC time in accordance with paragraph (c)(2)(I) for the time he is
designated PIC, and another pilot may log PIC time in accordance with
(c)(2)(iii) for the same time during which he is actually giving
flight instruction.


We hope that we have satisfactorily responded to your inquiry on the
proper logging of PIC time.


Sincerely,


ORIGINAL SIGNED BY EDWARD P. FABERMAN


for NEIL R. EISNER Acting Assistant Chief Counsel Regulations &
Enforcement Division Office of the Chief Counsel
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