how do pilots count there airtime?

Question

how do pilots count there airtime and how would the airlines know they are lying if they say they have more airtime than they act have

Answer 1

The hobbs meter begins when the engine starts and tracks hours in tenths. I would bet that is how most pilots do it.

Answer 2

Pilots log their airtime by the hour, and have to keep an up to date record of their hours. They have to keep a log book, which is treated as an equivilent of a government document.
To confirm a pilot's flying hours, an airline would have to request a candidate's records from previous employers, as each airline is required to keep a record of their pilots hours in order not to exceed any restrictions. If a pilot has no previous employment record, then the airline would have to go by the pilot's personal log book. A pilot's personal log book has to be truthful and accurate. If any doctoring of the log book by a pilot is discovered, an airline has the right to immediately fire a pilot, and sue the pilot for training costs, as it is considered fraud. If it is reported to an aviation authority, such as the FAA, a pilot could find a lot more trouble than bargained for.

p.s. Flight time starts from brake release at the point of origin and begins to taxi to the runway for take off, because the aircraft is in motion, now under the control of the pilot, (which includes a push back or being towed from the gate because during this phase, the pilot is required to release the brakes) until the aircraft comes to a final stop and brakes are set at the destination point, and the pilot can release control of the aircraft.

Answer 3

FAR Part 61.51 outlines the conditions under which a pilot can log PIC time. We call this the “sole manipulator” rule. FAR Part 61.51 states that a recreational, private, or commercial pilot may log as PIC time only that flight time:

during which that pilot is the sole manipulator of the controls of an aircraft for which the pilot is rated in class (airplane, rotorcraft, etc.) and category (multiengine land, single engine land, etc.), or
when the pilot is the sole occupant of the aircraft (including solo flight time as a student pilot), or
except for a recreational pilot, when acting as PIC of an aircraft on which more than one pilot is required under the type certification of the aircraft or the regulations under which the flight is conducted.

Answer 4

I'm not sure how the airlines would back check... but it shouldn't be hard !! Any prior commercial and multi-engine time would have to be accurately logged.

Also, falsifying your records would be a DEFINITE violation of the hiring contract... and a violation of FAA policy: I'm curious to know if that would be illegal.

I flew as a US Navy Helicopter crewman for 15 years, and the rules stated that flight time counted from rotor-turn to rotor-stop, or climbing out if we were turning over a hot-aircraft.

We wrote out times down on the maintence / flight sheet as soon as we got home, and that data was then logged by both the maintenance and operations departments. The Operations Petty Officer would then enter the data into the logbook for each pilot / aircrewman. That data was cross-checked by the Ops Officer weekly, and the Commanding Officer Monthly.

Each QUARTER, that data would be sent to headquarters... a permanent part of your record.

Answer 5

There are many ways in which the dishonest can be found out. For example, most airlines want pilots with commercial experience and will check up with your past employers your actual flight time. Its all on the system for commercial guys and to a certain extent lying about your hours are prevented against

Answer 6

Like calnickel said, you cant fake the knowledge... and if you are found out, you will be in BIG trouble... Airlines know how much time pilots have because they keep a record of when the airplane pushes back from the gate and when it arrives... those numbers, creditied to the pilots, would make up the pilot's hours...

Answer 7

Pilots log flight time (which is the time from engine start to engine stop) instead of air time (wheels up to wheels down). It is up to the pilot to ensure the records are accurate and match the journey log of the aircraft flown.

In reality, there are very few who would cross check the logbook to the aircraft journey logs (getting access to all the logs would be almost impossible). Also it is possible to fudge the times in the journey logs, but since maintenance costs are by the hour (air time) this almost never happens. Previous employers usually keep track of pilot's yearly flight times and would be required as references for future employers

I have heard of pilots making large falsifications in their log books and actually getting hired with major air carriers, but none got on the line, all were charged, and all had to reimburse training costs (big $$$). You just can't fake knowlegde and experience.

Answer 8

Aviation is based on honesty the airplanes you fly have a hobbs meter which starts running when you start the plane and stops when you turn it off you right down the times and put it in your log book..Besides the law and general morals there isnt a whole lot stopping a pilot from lying about their hours

Answer 9

Piston powered aircraft are equipped with both a Hobbs meter and an hour meter on the Tachometer. Both begin to register hours when the engine is started. Most tachs register one hour for 1000 rpm, so if you are taching 2000 it will register 2 hours for every hour of flight. For that reason, no one uses tach time.
The Hobbs meter is a good timer that records 1 hour every 60 minutes, just like a clock. It begins to run when the engine develops oil pressure, so it is used to record flight time.
Now, quick, somebody enlighten us on the timekeeper in jet powered planes.

Answer 10

If it's in your logbook and you signed it, they trust you, but you also have to go through a grueling interview. They'll know a 3000 hour pilot from a 500 hour pilot...it's not that hard. Also they can look at the time that you got each rating...