Reading a book on autopilot/ logging the time

homerj · Post by **homerj** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 3:35 am

Well here is another sticky debate item,,

Should you be able to log the time that you spend reading a book, or whatever other pastime you enjoy doing, while the aircraft is on autopilot?

For example if you have 1000 hrs of book reading time, does this make you a better pilot than the guy with 500hrs in the same airplane but with no autopilot?

I personally think that if your putting the time in your book, your attention should be directed toward the aircraft. not the newest copy of FHM..

Trent Steel · Post by **Trent Steel** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 5:06 am

You're kidding, right? I can see it now, heading across the ocean, scanning...scanning........scaninng.....ok looks good........scanning.

gelbisch · Post by **gelbisch** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 5:58 am

Wadd · Post by **Wadd** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 7:04 am

I really don't know if this is a discussion on whether you should log time reading as much as it is... "are you an idiot while flying?"

If you're flying on autopilot and you're reviewing your cfs, poh or cap/cap gen preparing for an approach or just getting info on your next arrival point then yes you should be logging that time still.. grantit you're only reading in like 30 second intervals.

If you're flying on autopilot and pull out your old copy of "1984" and don't look up from it for 20 min then you shouldn't be in the cockpit at all let alone logging the time.

scotothedoublet · Post by **scotothedoublet** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 8:01 am

I agree with Trent Steel. If you want to read, I say fill your boots. That's why we have red flags, audible warnings and warning panels. If something is a miss, most instruments are designed to grab your attention.

leftyxl · Post by **leftyxl** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 8:11 am

Calm and smooth cruise....... fill your boots.
I love Orwell....can't wait for the next Harry Potter.

TTail · Post by **TTail** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 8:18 am

Wadd wrote: If you're flying on autopilot and pull out your old copy of "1984" and don't look up from it for 20 min then you shouldn't be in the cockpit at all let alone logging the time.

Just curious, what's the longest leg you've ever flown?

scm · Post by **scm** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 9:19 am

What do you have against FHM?

And who the hell reads FHM???

nightrunner · Post by **nightrunner** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 10:11 am

I'm guessing that homerj and wadd either have very little time or too much cherokee time.

TTail · Post by **TTail** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 10:48 am

mental vomit wrote:
homerj wrote:Well here is another sticky debate item,,

Yah a real HOT topic. I was wondering if I could log the time if I stood up to go to the shitter as well.

go ahead, you're 'logging' anyway?!!

alright, alright, that one sucked but I just had to!

Right Seat Captain · Post by **Right Seat Captain** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 11:15 am

I'm not really one to speak, since I haven't flown anything that would allow one to read. But, from what I understand from peoples expeiences, whether you're reading or not, you're still responsible for the aircraft. If you wouldn't 'log' the time while you're reading, wouldn't that mean that you're no longer responsible, or no longer the PIC? Sitting there reading a book, waiting to react when something happens still means being responsible for an aircraft while in flight, IMHO.

ice ice baby · Post by **ice ice baby** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 11:30 am

Anybody done this with passengers on board?? if so what sort of reactions do you get (presuming that they can see the pilot reading.)

gelbisch · Post by **gelbisch** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 11:53 am

Everyone... REMAIN CALM.

I second scotty's sentiments.

leftyxl · Post by **leftyxl** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 10:08 am

Hey Gelbisch:
I guess that means the Swede only has about 527 hours then eh?
Havin fun in steel town on the three holer?

Katmando · Post by **Katmando** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 11:00 am

I guess by that standard that if the auto was flying and you carried on a general non work related conversation with the other pilot neather one of you could count the time during conversation. eh payroll-It was a two hour flight but just pay me for 1.5 because I talked non company business and oh yes deduct another .2 because I referenced the MEL and wasn't in control of the aircraft at that time.

groundtoflightdeck · Post by **groundtoflightdeck** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 11:05 am

I worked at a company where they sent out a memo saying that only 1 pilot could read the paper at a time with the cockpit door open... I guess a couple passengers got nervous

tink · Post by **tink** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 5:00 pm

I got laid with the autopilt on. The heck with reading!

Tango01 · Post by **Tango01** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 5:56 pm

No offence to anyone, but wether reading, eating, taking a crap or planning your arrival, you are still flying and responsible for your aircraft. How can you not log your time?

T01

TTJJ · Post by **TTJJ** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 6:47 pm

Does this mean that all that time that I spent snoring and drooling on my tie in the cockpit, I have to delete from my logbook????

Christ, there will be nothing left to put in the damn thing!!!!

Right Seat Captain · Post by **Right Seat Captain** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 7:38 pm

Okay, it would seem there's a definite majority of pilots in this forum that don't have a problem with reading while flying. Enough that we might call it somewhat normal to read the newspaper, do a crossword and so on in the cockpit.

So now the question I have, which is more of a thought, is how would the public perceive it? Sure we've heard of a complaint here and there so far on this forum, but I mean what if an accident happens, and there's a fatality, a passenger. Lets say the accident was not directly caused by the pilot reading, we as pilots understand this. But the family of the deceased would no doubt go after the pilot for negligence if it was learnt they were in the middle of their favorite novel just prior to the accident. What do you think would be the outcome?

Most pilots understand this is a relatively harmless thing, but what would the coursts and the public decide?

Lost in Saigon · Post by **Lost in Saigon** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 8:31 pm

The original question of this thread was not about the morality of reading on the flight deck....It was about logging time while reading....

Taking it up a level, how about logging time while sleeping in a bunk in the back of the aircraft. Often as long as 4 hours in one stretch in the rack.

Every pilot I know, who flys in an "augmented" crew, logs every minute of nap time.

How do you guys feel about that?

grouchy · Post by **grouchy** » Sat Mar 26, 2005 7:44 am

RSC, I would hope that the pilot of an airplane having a problem would at least put the newspaper down.

Reading a book on autopilot/ logging the time

Reading a book on autopilot/ logging the time

Re: Reading a book on autopilot/ logging the time

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