Regulation Text
(a) Training time and aeronautical experience. Each person must document and record the following time in a manner acceptable to the Administrator:
(1) Training and aeronautical experience used to meet the requirements for a certificate, rating, or flight review of this part.
(2) The aeronautical experience required for meeting the recent flight experience requirements of this part.
(b) Logbook entries. For the purposes of meeting the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section, each person must enter the following information for each flight or lesson logged:
(1) General—
(i) Date.
(ii) Total flight time or lesson time.
(iii) Location where the aircraft departed and arrived, or for lessons in a full flight simulator or flight training device, the location where the lesson occurred.
(iv) Type and identification of aircraft, full flight simulator, flight training device, or aviation training device, as appropriate.
(v) The name of a safety pilot, if required by § 91.109 of this chapter.
(2) Type of pilot experience or training—
(i) Solo.
(ii) Pilot in command.
(iii) Second in command.
(iv) Flight and ground training received from an authorized instructor.
(v) Training received in a full flight simulator, flight training device, or aviation training device from an authorized instructor.
(3) Conditions of flight—
(i) Day or night.
(ii) Actual instrument.
(iii) Simulated instrument conditions in flight, a full flight simulator, flight training device, or aviation training device.
(iv) Use of night vision goggles in an aircraft in flight, in a full flight simulator, or in a flight training device.
(c) Logging of pilot time. The pilot time described in this section may be used to:
(1) Apply for a certificate or rating issued under this part or a privilege authorized under this part; or
(2) Satisfy the recent flight experience requirements of this part.
(d) Logging of solo flight time. Except for a student pilot performing the duties of pilot in command of an airship requiring more than one pilot flight crewmember, a pilot may log as solo flight time only that flight time when the pilot is the sole occupant of the aircraft.
(e) Logging pilot-in-command flight time. (1) A sport, recreational, private, commercial, or airline transport pilot may log pilot in command flight time for flights—
(i) Except when logging flight time under § 61.159(c), when the pilot is the sole manipulator of the controls of an aircraft for which the pilot is rated, or has sport pilot privileges for that category and class of aircraft, if the aircraft class rating is appropriate;
(ii) When the pilot is the sole occupant in the aircraft;
(iii) When the pilot, except for a holder of a sport or recreational pilot certificate, acts as pilot in command of an aircraft for which more than one pilot is required under the type certification of the aircraft or the regulations under which the flight is conducted; or
(iv) When the pilot performs the duties of pilot in command while under the supervision of a qualified pilot in command provided [conditions in (A)–(D) are met].
(2) If rated to act as pilot in command of the aircraft, an airline transport pilot may log all flight time while acting as pilot in command of an operation requiring an airline transport pilot certificate.
(3) A certificated flight instructor may log pilot in command flight time for all flight time while serving as the authorized instructor in an operation if the instructor is rated to act as pilot in command of that aircraft.
(4) A student pilot may log pilot-in-command time only when the student pilot—
(i) Is the sole occupant of the aircraft or is performing the duties of pilot of command of an airship requiring more than one pilot flight crewmember;
(ii) Has a solo flight endorsement as required under § 61.87 of this part; and
(iii) Is undergoing training for a pilot certificate or rating.
(f) Logging second-in-command flight time. A person may log second-in-command time only for that flight time during which that person:
(1) Is qualified in accordance with the second-in-command requirements of § 61.55, and occupies a crewmember station in an aircraft that requires more than one pilot by the aircraft's type certificate;
(2) Holds the appropriate category, class, and instrument rating (if an instrument rating is required for the flight) for the aircraft being flown, and more than one pilot is required under the type certification of the aircraft or the regulations under which the flight is being conducted; or
(3) Serves as second in command in operations conducted in accordance with § 135.99(c) of this chapter when a second pilot is not required under the type certification of the aircraft or the regulations under which the flight is being conducted, provided the requirements in § 61.159(c) are satisfied.
(g) Logging instrument time. (1) A person may log instrument time only for that flight time when the person operates the aircraft solely by reference to instruments under actual or simulated instrument flight conditions.
(2) An authorized instructor may log instrument time when conducting instrument flight instruction in actual instrument flight conditions.
(3) For the purposes of logging instrument time to meet the recent instrument experience requirements of § 61.57(c) of this part, the following information must be recorded in the person's logbook—
(i) The location and type of each instrument approach accomplished; and
(ii) The name of the safety pilot, if required.
(4) A person may use time in a full flight simulator, flight training device, or aviation training device for acquiring instrument aeronautical experience for a pilot certificate or rating provided an authorized instructor is present to observe that time and signs the person's logbook or training record to verify the time and the content of the training session.
(h) Logging training time. (1) A person may log training time when that person receives training from an authorized instructor in an aircraft, full flight simulator, flight training device, or aviation training device.
(2) The training time must be logged in a logbook and must:
(i) Be endorsed in a legible manner by the authorized instructor; and
(ii) Include a description of the training given, the length of the training lesson, and the authorized instructor's signature, certificate number, and certificate expiration date.
(i) Presentation of required documents. (1) Persons must present their pilot certificate, medical certificate, logbook, or any other record required by this part for inspection upon a reasonable request by—
(i) The Administrator;
(ii) An authorized representative from the National Transportation Safety Board; or
(iii) Any Federal, State, or local law enforcement officer.
(2) A student pilot must carry the following items in the aircraft on all solo cross-country flights as evidence of the required authorized instructor clearances and endorsements—
(i) Pilot logbook;
(ii) Student pilot certificate; and
(iii) Any other record required by this section.
(j) Aircraft requirements for logging flight time. For a person to log flight time, the time must be acquired in an aircraft that is identified as an aircraft under § 61.5(b), and is—
(1) An aircraft of U.S. registry with either a standard or special airworthiness certificate;
(2) An aircraft of foreign registry with an airworthiness certificate that is approved by the aviation authority of a foreign country that is a Member State to the Convention on International Civil Aviation Organization;
(3) A military aircraft under the direct operational control of the U.S. Armed Forces; or
(4) A public aircraft under the direct operational control of a Federal, State, county, or municipal law enforcement agency, if the flight time was acquired by the pilot while engaged on an official law enforcement flight for a Federal, State, County, or Municipal law enforcement agency.
Doc. No. 25910, 62 FR 16298, Apr. 4, 1997; Amdt. 61-103 through Amdt. 61-142, 83 FR 30277, June 27, 2018
Research Notes
Section 61.51 is the regulatory foundation for all logbook requirements. It specifies what must be logged, how it must be logged, and what each category of logged time means. The FAA does not mandate a specific logbook format — paper, electronic, or any "manner acceptable to the Administrator" qualifies — but the entries must contain the elements listed in paragraph (b).
PIC logging — the "sole manipulator" rule: The most-litigated and most-misunderstood aspect of § 61.51. Paragraph (e)(1)(i) permits logging PIC time when you are the sole manipulator of the controls of an aircraft for which you are rated. This is separate from acting as PIC under Part 91 (which triggers different responsibilities). A private pilot rated in single-engine land can log PIC time every moment they are flying a ASEL aircraft, even with a flight instructor on board, because the regulation says "sole manipulator" — not "sole occupant." The instructor simultaneously logs PIC time under (e)(3). This dual PIC logging is legal and correct. FAA Chief Counsel has confirmed this interpretation multiple times.
CFI PIC logging — rated in the aircraft: A flight instructor may log PIC for all instruction time only if rated to act as PIC of that aircraft. A CFI with only an airplane single-engine rating cannot log PIC while giving instruction in a multi-engine airplane — only dual received for the student. If the CFI holds a multi-engine rating, they may log PIC for all instruction time in that aircraft. See FAA Chief Counsel Interpretation: Harlow (2009).
Cross-country time definitions: § 61.51 does not define cross-country time — that definition is in § 61.1(b) and varies by certificate level. For a private certificate, a cross-country requires a landing at a point more than 50 nautical miles from the original departure point. For recreational and sport pilots, the threshold is different. Logbook entries for cross-country must be consistent with the applicable definition for the certificate being sought.
Instrument time logging requirements: Paragraph (g)(3) requires that for instrument approaches logged toward IFR currency (§ 61.57(c)), the logbook entry must include the location and type of each approach AND the name of the safety pilot if one was required (§ 91.109). An entry that just says "6 ILS approaches" without location and type does not meet the standard for IFR currency purposes, even though it's technically logged flight time.
Training time endorsement requirements: Paragraph (h)(2) requires that logged training time include the instructor's description of training given, lesson length, signature, certificate number, and certificate expiration date. Missing any of these elements makes the entry non-compliant. An examiner checking logbooks for a certificate application may reject training entries that lack required elements.
References: AC 61-65 (current edition) — Certification: Pilots and Flight and Ground Instructors — provides the recommended logbook endorsement language. FAA Chief Counsel interpretations on PIC logging are available at faa.gov legal interpretations.
Logging discipline — § 61.51 decoded:
The reg is dense, but the core rule is this: log what you'll need to prove later. Pilot time falls into different buckets — and they're not interchangeable. A 1.2-hour flight might count as PIC, cross-country, night, and instrument all at once, or it might count as exactly one of those things. The categories live in different paragraphs of § 61.51 and they each have their own definition. Mix them up in your logbook and you'll be the pilot rebuilding currency math the night before a checkride.
Here's how the major categories sort out under § 61.51:
| Category | Trigger under § 61.51 | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| PIC time (§ 61.51(e)) | You're the sole manipulator, the sole occupant, acting as PIC, or an authorized instructor giving training. | Logging PIC for every leg you flew when a CFI was on board doing the legal PIC duty. |
| Sole manipulator (§ 61.51(e)(1)(i)) | Your hands are on the controls and you're rated for the category/class. | Confusing this with acting as PIC — they're separate concepts. |
| Solo (§ 61.51(d)) | You're the sole occupant of the aircraft. | Logging "solo" when an instructor is in the right seat — that's dual, not solo. |
| Cross-country (§ 61.51(b)(3)(ii) / § 61.1) | For PPL aeronautical experience: includes a landing more than 50 nm straight-line from the departure point. | Logging a 49-nm hop and expecting it to count toward the PPL 50-hour XC requirement. |
| Night (§ 61.51(b)(3)(i)) | The time from 1 hour after sunset to 1 hour before sunrise. | Using civil twilight — that's for night currency under § 61.57, not for logging night under § 61.51. |
| Instrument (§ 61.51(g)) | Actual IMC or simulated (hood) — and you must log location and type of approach, name of safety pilot if simulated. | Logging "1.0 simulated" with no approaches listed and no safety pilot named. |
The big trap is the gap between sole manipulator and acting as PIC. Sole manipulator means your hands are flying the airplane. Acting as PIC means you're the one the FAA holds responsible. They're often the same person — but not always. A private pilot flying with a CFI can log sole-manipulator PIC even when the CFI is the acting PIC. That's not a loophole; it's how the reg is written.
What an examiner asks about § 61.51:
Logbook questions are a favorite oral-exam appetizer because your logbook is sitting right there on the table. Examiners use it to test whether you actually understand what you've been writing down. A few of the standard questions:
- "How do you log PIC time when a CFI is on board?" — If you're rated for the category and class and you're the sole manipulator, you log PIC under § 61.51(e)(1)(i). The CFI also logs PIC under § 61.51(e)(3) as the authorized instructor. Both entries are legal. Both are correct.
- "What counts as cross-country time for the PPL?" — For PPL aeronautical experience under § 61.109, cross-country requires a point of landing more than 50 nautical miles straight-line from the original departure point. A round-robin to a 40-nm airport doesn't count, no matter how long the flight took.
- "What's the night definition for logging?" — 1 hour after sunset to 1 hour before sunrise. Don't confuse this with the § 61.57 night-landing currency definition or the civil-twilight position-lights rule in § 91.209. Three different windows, three different purposes.
- "Two qualified pilots fly together — who logs PIC?" — Only one person can be the acting PIC at a time. But under § 61.51(e), both can log PIC for the portion they were the sole manipulator. The non-flying pilot logs nothing unless they're a required crewmember or safety pilot.
- "You flew an hour under the hood — what's required?" — A safety pilot under § 91.109(c) with at least a private certificate, current medical (or BasicMed where applicable), and a properly working aircraft with dual controls. Both pilots log time — you log simulated instrument and PIC as sole manipulator; the safety pilot logs SIC (or PIC if you both agreed they're acting PIC).
Logging your first solo, under § 61.51:
Your first solo is one of the most important logbook entries you'll ever make — and it's also one of the most-scrutinized entries an examiner will read on checkride day. The flight itself is governed by § 61.87 (three takeoffs and landings to a full stop, with an instructor endorsement in your logbook). The logging is governed by § 61.51. Here's what goes in the book:
- Date — § 61.51(b)(1).
- Total flight time — § 61.51(b)(1). Block-to-block, however you log it consistently.
- Departure and arrival points — § 61.51(b)(2). For pattern work, that's the same airport identifier both fields.
- Aircraft type and identification — § 61.51(b)(2). "C172" and the N-number.
- PIC time — § 61.51(e)(1)(ii). You're the sole occupant of an aircraft for which you have a student pilot certificate and the required solo endorsement. Log the full flight as PIC.
- Solo time — § 61.51(d). Same flight, logged in the solo column too. It's both PIC and solo simultaneously — those columns aren't mutually exclusive.
- Conditions of flight — § 61.51(b)(3). Day, almost always. If it somehow rolled into night, that gets its own column.
- Remarks — Not required by the reg, but write "First solo" and the instructor's name. You'll thank yourself in fifteen years.
Examiners read student logbooks during the checkride — closely. They're looking for two things: the required endorsements (§ 61.87(n), § 61.93, § 61.39), and the pattern of how you log. Sloppy entries signal sloppy attention to detail, and that's the exact signal you don't want to send right before someone decides whether to issue you a pilot certificate. The logbook isn't paperwork. It's evidence of how you operate.
Amendment History
AOA Notes
These notes correspond to the highlighted phrases in the regulation text above. Each one flags something worth knowing — a common misread, a checkride gotcha, or a practical pro tip.
CFI Commentary
Highlighted phrases in the regulation text above link to instructor notes at the bottom of this page. Look for the amber or blue highlights — each one flags a gotcha or a pro tip worth knowing.