"Brien K. Meehan" wrote in message
oups.com...
No, you'd be violating 91.113(b).

"...vigilance shall be maintained" is somewhat subjective. One could argue
that most pilots bust that one on every flight. What if you pop the hood up
every 30 seconds?

Fortunately 91.109(b) requires no interpretaion whatsoever:

(b) No person may operate a civil aircraft in simulated instrument flight
unless-
(1) The other control seat is occupied by a safety pilot who possesses at
least a private pilot certificate with category and class ratings
appropriate to the aircraft being flown.

(2) The safety pilot has adequate vision forward and to each side of the
aircraft, or a competent observer in the aircraft adequately supplements the
vision of the safety pilot; and

(3) Except in the case of lighter-than-air aircraft, that aircraft is
equipped with fully functioning dual controls...

(Sorry, now I note that Gary has already cited that one.)

Julian