Don’t Log That! FAA Time-Building Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

In this week’s VSL Aviation Podcast, Seth dives deep into three critical topics for pilots and instructors alike. First, he breaks down how to get involved with the FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) and make the most of the WINGS Program. Next, he explains the real why behind airspace design—offering a fresh approach for CFIs to improve student understanding beyond rote memorization. Then, he tackles an alarming Reddit story about improperly logged SIC time that cost a pilot their airline job. As always, Seth answers live listener questions, covering topics like logging PIC as a student pilot, scheduling hard-to-find CFI checkrides, and understanding how training time can (or can’t) be double-counted across certificates. If you’re a student, CFI, or examiner, this is a must-listen. Chapters: 01:56 – FAASTeam and the WINGS Program Overview 12:15 – Responsibilities of a FAASTeam Representative 16:52 – Reddit Post: Invalid SIC Time and Logbook Accuracy 23:08 – Why Airspace Exists: A DPE’s Perspective 25:17 – ForeFlight Demo: Airspace Boundaries and Cloud Clearance Logic 33:04 – Service Difficulty Reports (SDRs) Explained 35:46 – Q&A: Can Student Pilots Log PIC Time? 38:41 – Q&A: Finding a CFI Checkride Examiner 43:04 – Q&A: Testing Instrument ACS Knowledge Areas 47:33 – Q&A: Logging Instrument Time for Private vs Commercial 53:43 – Wrap-Up and Discord Community Plug