Getting the lead out

Why it matters to you—and what AOPA is doing to help

April 12, 2023 By Julie Summers Walker

One of the biggest obstacles facing the general aviation industry today is the need to get the lead out of aviation fuel.

AOPA members arriving at the 2014 San Marcos Fly Out aircraft parking rampSan Marcos Airport HYISan Marcos TX USA

Ask AOPA

‘Acting’ and ‘logging’

When PIC, there are two separate regulations

By Craig Brown

Q: Can I log pilot in command time without acting as PIC?

A: Yes, you can, under certain circumstances. A series of email conversations with a member, and finally a phone call, reminded me that this can be a confusing and often misunderstood concept. There is a distinction between acting as PIC and logging PIC time.

Remember that under FAR 61.51(e), a sport, private, recreational or commercial pilot may log PIC time for the time when the pilot is sole manipulator of the controls of an aircraft for which the pilot is rated. The FAA defines “rated” here as holding the appropriate aircraft ratings (category, class, and if required, type rating).

A certificated pilot might be unable to act as PIC, but able to log PIC time, in some common scenarios such as performing a flight review after the last one expired, training to receive a new endorsement, or time spent manipulating the controls of an aircraft the pilot is properly rated for, but does not have the required endorsement to act as PIC as required by FAR 61.31 (such as tailwheel, complex, or high performance).

Consider an example by the FAA where Pilot A is a private pilot with an airplane single-engine land (ASEL) rating who cannot act as PIC of single-engine land complex aircraft due to lack of the complex endorsement required by FAR 61.31(e). However, if Pilot B, who has the endorsement, acts as PIC of the aircraft and permits Pilot A to be the sole manipulator of the controls, Pilot A may log this time as PIC time since Pilot A is properly rated for the aircraft (ASEL) and was the sole manipulator of the controls.

So, the next time you’re not acting as PIC but spend time acting as sole manipulator of the controls, don’t forget to consider whether you meet the requirements to log PIC time.

Craig Brown is a senior aviation technical specialist in the AOPA Pilot Information Center. [email protected]

The GA industry is working to transition to an unleaded avgas that can replace 100LL for all aircraft in the piston GA fleet. The hope is that this transition can be done effectively and efficiently, with no negative impact on safety.

Most aircraft in the current general aviation fleet were designed to operate with fuel formulated to prevent engine detonation that can result in a sudden engine failure. For decades, a lead-based additive has been the solution. Finding a suitable substitute that doesn’t contain lead has been challenging. Several promising solutions are currently being evaluated; one has earned approval for almost all piston aircraft and is working to bring the fuel to market. AOPA is advocating for solutions that work for all those invested, and has built a coalition of stakeholders to engage in practical and forward-thinking measures toward this future. The effort to rid all avgas of lead dates back decades. It’s a complex matter involving issues of safety, performance, practicality, economics, and logistics, and many public and private constituents have a hand in this transition. The aviation industry has committed to a smart and safe transition to an unleaded aviation fuel by 2030, but some states and local governments have recently sought to ban 100LL before a suitable alternative is available.

This is the most pressing issue facing GA today, because leaded fuels threaten our freedom to fly and threaten the economic impact of general aviation and the important humanitarian services GA provides. Transitioning to an unleaded high-octane fuel that meets the needs of the entire fleet is complex; AOPA supports the smart and safe transition to unleaded fuel for all aircraft. Our dedicated webpage can answer your questions about this important issue.

aopa.org/100UL

Did you know?

General aviation is a $247 billion industry that accounts for more than 1.2 million jobs in the United States. Currently, there are more than 200,000 aircraft in the GA fleet, compared to fewer than 6,000 among the airlines. This country is served by more than 5,000 public-use airports, supporting a tremendous number of jobs, compared to fewer than 500 airports served by the airlines. In addition, most GA aircraft and airports are important staging sites for emergency rescue and disaster relief.

JARGON: CAVU

Ceiling and visibility unlimited (CAVU) describes ideal flying conditions. Ceiling is the height of the lowest cloud layer or obscuring phenomena that is reported as "broken," "overcast," or "obscuration" and not classified as “thin” or “partial.”

Julie Summers Walker

AOPA Senior Features Editor

AOPA Senior Features Editor Julie Summers Walker joined AOPA in 1998. She is a student pilot still working toward her solo.

Go to Julie Summers Walker's Profile