I had some of the same questions, so I ask the AOPA Pilot Information Center.
Here was they reply.
George,
Thank you for your email.
As a student pilot you can only log PIC time when you are the sole occupant of
the aircraft. You will see that is found in FAR 61.51. After your solo
endorsement you are not rated for the aircraft. As a private pilot once you are
"rated" in the aircraft you can log PIC time for all that time that you are the
sole manipulator of the controls. So add up your solo time as a student pilot
plus your USAF solo time as well as your sole manipulator of the controls after
your obtaining your private and you will have your total PIC time. I hope this
helps you out.
If you have any further questions feel free to contact us at 1-800-872-2672.
Best Regards,
Nathan Rohrbaugh
Aviation Technical Specialist
Pilot Information Center
Fax 301-695-2372
www.aopa.org
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On Wed, 27 Sep 2006 07:31:04 -0400, "William Snow" wrote:
Around our flight school there seems to be dissention as to whether a
student pilot, post solo, can log pic time when there is no CFI in the
airplane.
It looks like the FAR says they can as they are the sole manipulator. What
is the group consensus??
GeorgeC