"Teacherjh" wrote in message ...
Soloing student pilots are PILOT IN COMMAND.

Well, sorta. They're not rated. Would a non-pilot who stole an airplane be
"pilot in command" and be able to log it as such? (yes, he can log anything,
but would those hours count toward ratings?)

Not sorta. They are pilot in command. Forget logging. There is a specific
reason there is such a thing as a "Student Pilot Certificate." The FAA doesn't
send planes out without a pilot in command Read 61.89 Sutdent Pilots/General limitations:

.... A student pilot may not act as pilot in command of an aircraft that is carrying a passenger...

Other than a few restrictions, student pilots can be PIC when soloing.

Back before 1997, they could not LOG pilot in command time, but they were still pilot in command.