Logging Right Seat Time

I'm a Captain in all the planes but move to the right seat often. When
I'm in the right seat what can I log?

IMHO, If you are the Pilot In Command, you log PIC time, no matter what
(physical) seat you sit in. (Some planes don't even have a left seat!).
If you are =metaphorically= "sitting in the right seat" (i.e. you are
just along for the ride while somebody else takes responsibility for the
flight) then you don't log anything, no matter what physical seat you
occupy.

That is, you can log anything you want, but you can't use that
particular time towards ratings and currency.

My strict reading of 61.51(e) says that if you are not the "sole
manipulator", then even if you =are= the PIC, then so long as anybody
else is handling the controls, you can't log PIC time, but if you hand
over the controls to the autopilot and take a nap, you can log it
yourself. However, I would maintain that if somebody else is handling
the controls for you, under your direction, then you are merely using an
organic autopilot.

I don't see the essential difference between the two, especially with
the sophistication of some modern autopilots. The FAA may disagree, I'd
like to hear their reasoning (and the reasoning of anyone else who
disagrees)

Jose
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