Hi guys,

 

I hate to keep beating a dead horse, especially about a minor symantic matter that is truly the FAA's fault for defining the way they did. Walter and Jim just sent out posts that might add (understandably) to the confusion about wording.

 

Walter:  " 15% difference between block to block and flight times"

 

Jim: "That gives you flight time and total time on the engine"

 

Here's the way I used to teach it. Look at the terms "Flight Time" and "Time In Service". Define them in the way that a reasonable person who understands the English language and logic would. FT would be the time the airplane is flying, ie; off to on. Time in service would include other things such as taxiing, ie; block to block.

 

Now... consider who made up the official definitions.  That's right, the FAA so of course the official definitions are exactly opposite of what the reasonable person above would conclude.

 

It also helps to remember that they are used for different purposes. FT is what you put in your PILOT logbook. TIS is what goes in the AIRFRAME and ENGINE logbooks.

 

Sorry about being so anal about this. They'll have me back on my medication soon and  might let me out in public so I'll have other outlets for my ranting.

 

Bill Harrelson

5zq@cox.net   N5ZQ  LNC2   Dogwood Airpark     Fredericksburg, VA