In article ,
wrote:

It's definitely there, but I want to research this further. It was
exactly this interpretation that was initially given, and the
FAAviation News Q&A response contradicted this interpretation, as it
would mean that the only approaches that could be logged would be
those where the pilot went missed. (If you are in hard actual at DA
or MDA, after all, you probably aren't going to land.) However, thes
FAQ is later than the issue if the FAAviation News that I read, I am
almost certain.

Yet, if my memory serves me correctly (it's been a while) this FAQ
was issued right after a major revision to Part 61, and there were so
many misinterpretations and errors in the FAQ that the FAQ was pretty
much discredited as an authoritative source.

Somebody correct me if I am wrong about this.

Well, at the top of the FAQ it gives this URL:

http://www.faa.gov/avr/afs/afs800/docs/pt61FAQ.doc

where there is a copy of what appears to be the same document with
actual revision data on it: REVISION #21, DATE: October 12, 2004.

Given that this document comes from the FAA web site and has a recent
date that seems to make it reasonably authoritative. Here's what it
says:

---

QUESTION: As far as logging an approach in actual, is there any
requirement (i.e. must it be in actual conditions beyond the final
approach fix)? Assume that the pilot was flying single-pilot IFR so he
couldn't simply put on the hood if he broke out?

ANSWER: 61.51(g)(1) and 61.57(c)(1)(i); Again the only place where it
defines logging "instrument flight time" means ". . . a person may log
instrument time only for that flight time when the person operates the
aircraft solely by reference to instruments . . . ." As for logging an
"actual" approach, it would presume the approach to be to the conclusion
of the approach which would mean the pilot go down to the decision
height or to the minimum decent altitude, as appropriate. If what
you're asking is whether it is okay to fly to the FAF and break it off
and then log it as accomplishing an approach, the answer is no.

----

This sure sounds to me like you have to fly to minimums and still be in
IMC (and therefore fly the missed as well) before it's loggable.

Geez. If this is really true then I suspect there are an awful lot of
pilots out there who think they're current but really aren't.

rg