FAR:Safety Pilot & High Performance/Complex?

Andrew Koenig wrote
You're certainly right when you're talking about yourself
because you have CFI and ATP certificates. But I still remember
reading somewhere, probably in AOPA Pilot, that for rest of us
mere mortals, only the sole manipulator of the controls can log
PIC.

Wrong! Wrong! Wrong!

From a Western Region FAA web site:

A private or commercial pilot may log PIC time when "acting as
pilot-in-command of an aircraft on which more than one pilot is
required under the - - - - regulations under which the flight is
conducted". [61.51 (e)(1)(ii)]

Normally, a safety pilot, required by regulations, who scans for
traffic for a pilot flying under simulated instrument conditions is
not pilot-in-command and thus logs second-in-command. However, if
the two pilots agree that the safety pilot is designated pilot-in-
command, the safety pilot/pilot-in-command may log PIC since he is
the pilot responsible for the operation and safety of the aircraft.
The pilot flying is "sole manipulator of the controls for which the
pilot is rated"" and may also log PIC. Therefore, two private
pilots may log PIC under these conditions. However, the safety
pilot/pilot-in-command must realize that anything that occurs
during the flight is his responsibility. Airspace violations, non-
compliance with ATC instructions, near mid air collision, and
runway incursions on the ground are all now charged to the safety
pilot. A recent article in a monthly aviation publications
discussed a flight where there was a violation and the two pilots
disagreed who was pilot-in-command.

Everyone in this thread would do well to check this web site.

http://www.awp.faa.gov/new/fsdo/art_pilot.htm


Bob Moore