# Pilot in command > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Pilot_in_command > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Pilot_in_command.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilot_in_command > Source revision: 1329521808 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Flight crew role The pilot in command must hold the rank of [captain](/source/Captain), and typically sits in the left seat. The second in command can be a [first officer](/source/First_officer_(aviation)) or another captain, and will occupy the right seat. An exception exists where a captain is being trained, in which case two captains will occupy the cockpit: a training captain will be the pilot in command and will occupy the right seat. The **pilot in command** (**PIC**) of an [aircraft](/source/Aircraft) is the person aboard an [aircraft](/source/Aircraft) who is ultimately responsible for its operation and safety during flight. This would be the **captain** in a typical two- or three-[pilot](/source/Aircraft_pilot) [aircrew](/source/Aircrew), or "pilot" if there is only one certificated and qualified pilot at the controls of an aircraft. The PIC must be legally certificated (or otherwise authorized) to operate the aircraft for the specific flight and flight conditions, but need not be actually manipulating the controls at any given moment. The PIC is the person legally in charge of the aircraft and its flight safety and operation, and would normally be the primary person liable for an infraction of any flight rule. The strict legal definition of PIC may vary slightly from country to country. The [International Civil Aviation Organization](/source/International_Civil_Aviation_Organization) (ICAO) definition is: "The pilot responsible for the operation and safety of the aircraft during flight time."[1] In Annex 2, "Rules of the Air", under par. "2.3.1 Responsibility of pilot-in-command", ICAO declares:[1] The pilot-in-command of an aircraft shall, whether manipulating the controls or not, be responsible for the operation of the aircraft in accordance with the rules of the air, except that the pilot-in-command may depart from these rules in circumstances that render such departure absolutely necessary in the interests of safety. In Annex 2, par. "2.4 Authority of pilot-in-command of an aircraft", [ICAO](/source/ICAO) adds:[1] The pilot-in-command of an aircraft shall have final authority as to the disposition of the aircraft while in command. ICAO Annex 2, par. 2.3.1, specifically empowers the PIC to override any other regulation in an emergency, and to take the safest course of action at his/her sole discretion. This provision mirrors the authority given to the captains of ships at sea, with similar justifications. It essentially gives the PIC the final authority in any situation involving the safety of a flight, irrespective of any other law or regulation. ## Logging pilot in command time Logging [flight time](/source/Flight_time) as a PIC is distinct from acting as the legal PIC of a flight. The PIC of a given flight may always log their flying time as such. Other crew members may or may not be authorized to log their time on that flight as PIC time, depending on the specific circumstances and the controlling jurisdiction.[2] Time logged as "student pilot in command" (SPIC) can sometimes be partly used towards the hour requirements for the issue of a [commercial pilot licence](/source/Commercial_pilot_licence) (CPL). In [EASA](/source/EASA) states, SPIC time 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." It is logged in the pilot's [logbook](/source/Pilot_logbook) as PIC but must be [countersigned](/source/Countersign_(legal)) by the [flight instructor](/source/Flight_instructor).[3]: 36 SPIC time may be partially used by the holder of a [multi-crew pilot licence](/source/Multi-crew_pilot_licence) towards the issuance of a CPL.[3]: 717 Time logged as "pilot-in-command under supervision" (PICUS) may be partly used towards the hour requirements for the issue of an [airline transport pilot licence](/source/Airline_transport_pilot_licence) (ATPL). In EASA states, a pilot-in-command under supervision means "a [co-pilot](/source/Co-pilot) performing, under the supervision of the pilot-in-command, the duties and functions of a pilot-in-command."[3]: 19 PICUS time is logged as PIC as long as "the intervention of the PIC in the interest of safety was not required", but must be countersigned by the PIC.[3]: 31[4] ## See also - [Aircrew](/source/Aircrew) (flight crew) - [Sea captain](/source/Sea_captain) - [Pilot flying](/source/Pilot_flying) - [Pilot logbook](/source/Pilot_logbook) ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-annex2_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-annex2_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-annex2_1-2) ["ICAO Annex 2 – "Rules of the Air""](https://web.archive.org/web/20110930021843/http://www2.tech.purdue.edu/at/courses/at300/Documents/Annex2.pdf) (PDF). International Civil Aviation Organization. Archived from [the original](http://www2.tech.purdue.edu/at/courses/at300/Documents/Annex2.pdf) (PDF) on 2011-09-30. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Fried, Howard (1997). *Beyond The Checkride*. McGraw-Hill. pp. 101–111. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-07-022468-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-07-022468-4). 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Part-FCL_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Part-FCL_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Part-FCL_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Part-FCL_3-3) ["EASA Part-FCL"](https://www.easa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/dfu/Part-FCL.pdf) (PDF). *EASA*. Retrieved 16 September 2023. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Recording of flight time and formatting acceptable to the Irish aviation authority"](https://web.archive.org/web/20201030130558/https://www.iaa.ie/docs/default-source/publications/advisory-memoranda/personnel-licensing-advisory-memoranda-(plam)/recording-of-flight-time-and-formatting-acceptable-to-the-irish-aviation-authority.pdf?sfvrsn=3b521ff3_6) (PDF). Archived from [the original](https://www.iaa.ie/docs/default-source/publications/advisory-memoranda/personnel-licensing-advisory-memoranda-(plam)/recording-of-flight-time-and-formatting-acceptable-to-the-irish-aviation-authority.pdf?sfvrsn=3b521ff3_6) (PDF) on 2020-10-30. ## Further reading - Craig, Paul A. (2000). *Pilot in Command*. New York: McGraw-Hill. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-07-134844-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-07-134844-1). v t e Commercial aviation Airlines Airline codes Airline holding companies Cargo airline Charter airlines Flag carriers Low-cost airlines Non-scheduled airline Passenger airlines Regional airlines Alliances Oneworld SkyTeam Star Alliance Value Alliance Vanilla Alliance U-FLY Alliance Trade groups International ACO ATAG IATA IATAN IFALPA ISTAT United States A4A RAA Europe A4E ASD ECA EBAA ERA ETWF Other regions AACO AAPA AFRAA RAAA Aircrew Pilot in command (Captain) First officer Second officer Third officer Relief crew Flight attendant Flight engineer Loadmaster Aircraft pilot Purser Dead mileage Airliner Travel class First class Business class Premium economy class Economy class Basic economy class Aircraft cabin Aircraft lavatory Aircraft seat map Airline meal Airline seat Buy on board Crew rest compartment In-flight entertainment Inflight smoking Galley Sickness bag Airport Aerodrome Airline hub Airport check-in Airport lounge Airport rail link Airport terminal Airside pass Airstair Boarding Domestic airport Gate International airport Jet bridge Low-cost carrier terminal Runway Transit hotel Customs / Immigration Arrival card Border control (internal) Departure card Passport Timatic Travel document Travel visa (Electronic) Environmental effects Hypermobility Environmental effects of aviation Law Air transport agreement Air route authority between the United States and China Bermuda Agreement (UK–US, 1946–1978) Bermuda II Agreement (UK–US, 1978–2008) Cross-strait charter Beijing Convention Cape Town Treaty Chicago Convention Convention on the Marking of Plastic Explosives European Common Aviation Area Flight permit Freedoms of the air EU–US Open Skies Agreement Hague Hijacking Convention Hague Protocol Montreal Convention Paris Convention of 1919 Rome Convention Sabotage Convention Tokyo Convention Warsaw Convention Intergovernmental organizations ICAO ECAC Eurocontrol EASA ENCASIA Baggage Bag tag Baggage allowance Baggage carousel Baggage cart Baggage reclaim Baggage handler Baggage handling system Baggage sizer Checked baggage Hand luggage Lost luggage (WorldTracer) Luggage lock Aviation safety Air rage Air traffic control Air traffic service Aircraft safety card Airport authority Airport crash tender Airport police Airport security Airspace class Area control center Brace position Civil aviation authority Control area Control zone Controlled airspace Evacuation slide Flight information region Flight information service Flight recorder Instrument flight rules Overwing exits Pre-flight safety demonstration Sky marshal Special use airspace US Special visual flight rules Terminal control area Terminal control center Uncontrolled airspace Upper information region Visual flight rules Airline tickets Airline booking ploys Airline reservations system Airline ticket Airline timetable Bereavement flight Boarding pass Codeshare agreement Continent pass Electronic ticket Fare basis code Flight cancellation and delay Frequent-flyer program Government contract flight One-way travel Open-jaw ticket Overbooking (Overselling) Passenger name record Red-eye flight Round-the-world ticket Standby Tracking Travel agency Ground crew Aircraft maintenance technician Aircraft ground handling Baggage handler Flight dispatcher Miscellaneous Air cargo Air travel Airplane film Aviation taxation and subsidies Mile high club Steffen Boarding Method --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Pilot in command](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilot_in_command) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilot_in_command?action=history)). 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