From: utzoo!decvax!cca!Mary.Shaw@CMU-10A@sri-unix Newsgroups: net.aviation Title: Re: safety pilot requirements Article-I.D.: sri-unix.3076 Posted: Fri Sep 3 00:02:24 1982 Received: Wed Sep 8 06:59:38 1982 The principle is "see and avoid", not "see and be seen". By definition, "SEE AND AVOID -- A visual procedure wherein pilots of aircraft flying in visual meterological conditions, regardless of type of flight plan, are charged with the responsibility to observe the presence of other aircraft and to maneuver their aircraft as required to avoid the other aircraft...." Seems to me that the responsibility to maneuver your own aircraft implies that the safety pilot must be able to fly the airplane -- in case of a conflict, there just isn't time to explain to the other pilot what needs to be done. FAR 91.21 requires that for simulated IFR "an appropriately rated pilot occupies the other control seat as safety pilot" which sure sounds to me like a required pilot crewmember (as well as a requirement for type rating, complex endorsement, or whatever.) FAR 61.53 says "No person may act as pilot in command, or in any other capacity as a required pilot flight crewmember while he has a known medical deficiency ... that would make him unable to meet the requirements for his current medical certificate." which I interpret as requiring a current medical. My own rule is that my safety pilot should be qualified to fly PIC of the airplane during the flight. This means licensed, current, rated for type or multi, current medical, no alcohol within 8 hours, high performance or complex endorsement if appropriate, ... the whole bit. Since the simulated IFR is flown in VMC, I don't believe an IFR rating is required, though. Mary Shaw