top of page
Writer's pictureJose Godoy

Decoding the Acronyms Used in a Pilot Logbook



As you know, the pilot logbook is a critical tool for recording your flight hours, tracking your flight experience, and maintaining a record of your pilot's aviation history. Moreover, it's a comprehensive document that can help you as a pilot to demonstrate your experience to potential employers, and assist in your personal growth as a pilot.


In a pilot logbook, many acronyms are used to represent aviation terms and activities that at first can be a bit confuse, so here are some of the most commonly used acronyms and terms in a pilot logbook to help you understanding them better:


Pilot Functions


PIC - Pilot in Command

It represents the pilot who is responsible for the operation and safety of the aircraft during a flight. This pilot has the final authority and makes all decisions regarding the flight.


SIC - Second in Command

It refers to the second pilot on board an aircraft who assists the PIC in the operation of the aircraft.


PICUS - Pilot in Command Under Supervision

It means a co-pilot performing, under the supervision of the pilot-in-command, the duties and functions of a pilot-in-command.


SPIC - Student Pilot in Command

It means a student pilot acting as pilot-in-command on a flight with an instructor where the latter will only observe the student pilot and shall not influence or control the flight of the aircraft.


DUAL - Dual Given

Flight time during which a pilot is receiving flight instruction from a properly and authorized flight instructor.


Flight Rules

IFR - Instrument Flight Rules

It is used to describe a type of flight conducted in accordance with Instrument Flight Rules, which allow properly equipped aircraft to be flown under instrument meteorological conditions (IMC).


VFR - Visual Flight Rules

It is used to describe a type of flight conducted in accordance with Visual Flight Rules, which allow for a more relaxed level of navigation, communication, and weather requirements.


Y (IFR-VFR)

A flight plan that initiates under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) and in a determined point of the navigation transitions to VFR (Visual Flight Rules). In this case, when logging flight times in the logbook, it is important to specify the elapsed flight time under each flight rule, VFR and IFR.


Z (VFR-IFR)

It is the opposite of the Y (IFR-VFR): a flight plan that initiates under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) and transitions to IFR (Instrument Flight Rules). It also requires the pilot to inform the elapsed time under each flight rule.


Flight Time


EOBT - Estimated Off-Block Time

It represents the estimated time an aircraft will be ready to taxi and depart from the airport.


HRS - Hours

It is used to represent the total flight hours a pilot has accumulated.


UTC - Coordinated Universal Time

It represents a standard time used for navigation and flight planning purposes. It is based on the time at the Prime Meridian (0° longitude) and is used as the reference for determining local time all over the world.


T/O - Takeoff

It represents the takeoff phase of flight, which begins when the aircraft starts moving under its own power and ends when it reaches a safe altitude.


LNDG - Landing

It represents the landing phase of flight, which begins when the aircraft starts its descent towards the landing surface and ends when it comes to a complete stop.


TAXI OUT

Time elapsed between initial movement of the aircraft during the pushback and takeoff.


TAXI IN

Time elapsed between the landing and the moment the aircraft stops at the final parking position.


BLOCK TIME

Time interval between the moment that the aircraft start its movement (pushback or taxi) and the moment the aircraft stops at the final parking position after the flight. This time interval comprehends taxi out, flight time and taxi in times.


FLIGHT TIME

Time interval between takeoff and landing. This time interval does not take into account taxi out / taxi in times.


N/R - Night and/or Recency

It is used to track night and recency flight time. Night flight time is defined as the time from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise. Recency flight time is the time a pilot has flown in the previous 90 days.



OOOI Time System


OOOI is an acronym used in aviation to define the four main triggers to record flight times. This terminology is normally used by the ACARS (Aircraft Communications, Addressing and Reporting System).


O – Out of blocks – is the moment the aircraft starts its movement (pushback). Aircraft equipped with ACARS get this time when the FMS position starts to move.


O – Out of ground – is the moment of lift off. Aircraft equipped with ACARS usually get it by the signal of Weight on Wheels sensor.


O – On ground – the third time register at the touch down. Aircraft equipped with ACARS get this time by the Weight on Wheels sensor as well.


I – In the gate/ In the blocks – the forth and last time is registered when the aircraft comes to its final parking position after the flight. Aircraft equipped with ACARS usually get this time when the first door is opened.



Missing any acronym? Check the Abbreviation tool within Wader Pilot Logbook, which provides the most up-to-date list of abbreviations used in aviation.

880 views0 comments

Comments


bottom of page