From: utzoo!decvax!cca!hplabs!hao!menlo70!sytek!zehntel!teklabs!tekchips!jackg@sri-unix Newsgroups: net.aviation Title: safety pilot requirements Article-I.D.: tekchips.142 Posted: Mon Aug 30 07:31:26 1982 Received: Wed Sep 8 04:54:26 1982 As I understand it, the real reason for a safety pilot when flying with a hood on in vfr conditions is simply to satisfy the see and be seen principle of vfr flight. The safety pilot is not responsible for controlling the aircraft so he doesn't need a complex endoresement, multi-engine rating, type endorsement, instrument rating, or any other thing required by the pilot in command. A private pilot rating seems to qualify him as a competent observer of other aircraft in vfr conditions. Whether currency or a valid medical certificate is implied here is not clear. The FARs don't seem too clear. Probably the real answer comes from how it has been interpreted in past cases relating to the rules.