EASA co-pilot and multi-pilot time: how to log it
Checked against the sources below on 29 October 2026. How these guides are written
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Under EASA you log co-pilot time for all flight time in a pilot seat as co-pilot on an aircraft that needs more than one pilot under its type certification, the regulations or the operator's operations manual. A cruise relief co-pilot logs all time in a pilot's seat as co-pilot and writes CRCP in Remarks. Multi-pilot time is time in an operation needing two pilots using multi-crew cooperation, in a multi-pilot or single-pilot aircraft. The ATPL(A) needs 500 hours of it.
- Co-pilot time
- All flight time in a pilot seat as co-pilot where more than one pilot is required by type certification, regulations or the operations manual
- Each flight
- AMC1 FCL.050(b)(2)
- Cruise relief co-pilot
- All flight time as co-pilot while occupying a pilot's seat; write CRCP in Remarks
- Each flight
- AMC1 FCL.050(b)(3); logbook note (i)(10)(vi)
- Multi-pilot operation
- At least 2 pilots using multi-crew cooperation, in a multi-pilot or single-pilot aircraft
- Logbook column 5
- FCL.010; GM6 FCL.010
- Crediting co-pilot time
- All co-pilot time counts toward the total flight time for a higher licence
- Unless Part-FCL says otherwise
- FCL.035(a)(3)
- ATPL(A) multi-pilot
- 500 h in multi-pilot operations on aeroplanes, within 1,500 h total
- Before the ATPL(A) skill test
- FCL.510.A(b)(1)
- Restricted (cruise relief) type rating
- Flight time under it credited toward the ATPL(A) up to 250 h
- ATPL(A) application
- FCL.510.A(c)(3); FCL.720.A(c)
- Cruise relief recency
- 3 sectors as CRCP in type, or one of the listed alternatives
- Preceding 90 days
- FCL.060(b)(3)
Who can log co-pilot time under EASA?
FCL.010 defines a co-pilot as "a pilot operating other than as pilot-in-command, on an aircraft for which more than one pilot is required, but excluding a pilot who is on board the aircraft for the sole purpose of receiving flight instruction for a licence or rating." AMC1 FCL.050(b)(2) turns that into the logging rule: "the holder of a pilot licence occupying a pilot seat as co-pilot may log all flight time as co-pilot flight time on an aircraft on which more than one pilot is required under the type certification of the aircraft, the regulations or the operations manual of the operator under which the flight is conducted".
Something has to require the second pilot: the type certificate, a regulation or the operations manual. Two friends sharing a single-pilot aircraft on a private flight cannot log co-pilot time because nothing requires a second pilot. Co-pilot time goes in the CO-PILOT column of pilot function time (column 10).
What counts as multi-pilot time?
FCL.010 defines a multi-pilot operation as "an operation requiring at least two pilots using multi-crew cooperation in either a multi-pilot or a single-pilot aircraft." A multi-pilot aeroplane is one "certificated for operation with a minimum crew of at least two pilots". The operation decides it, so a single-pilot type flown under an operations manual that requires two pilots working as a crew is a multi-pilot operation.
GM6 FCL.010 draws two lines. For crediting prior experience, multi-pilot operation "can be understood to include State aircraft operations (such as military or search & rescue) where two pilots are required" by national regulations or the operations manual. Operations under Part-NCO "are not under the 'multi-pilot operation' category, except for operations at an ATO for the purpose of providing training in multi-pilot operations".
In the AMC logbook, column 5 splits the flight into single-pilot time (SE or ME) and multi-pilot time, and the notes say to "indicate whether the operation was SP or MP, and for SP operation whether SE or ME". Multi-pilot time describes the operation, and pilot function time in column 10 records your seat.
How does a cruise relief co-pilot log time?
A cruise relief co-pilot is "a pilot who relieves the co-pilot of his/her duties at the controls during the cruise phase of a flight in multi-pilot operations above FL 200" (FCL.010). AMC1 FCL.050(b)(3) says "a cruise relief co-pilot may log all flight time as co-pilot when occupying a pilot's seat". Time in the bunk or a cabin seat does not qualify. The Remarks notes ask for "'CRCP' when the pilot acted as cruise-relief co-pilot."
FCL.720.A(c) allows a type rating with restricted privileges that lets the holder act as cruise relief co-pilot above FL 200, "provided that two other members of the crew have a type rating in accordance with point FCL.720.A(b)." FCL.510.A(c)(3) credits flight time flown under that restricted rating toward the ATPL(A) "up to a maximum of 250 hours."
Cruise relief has its own recency in FCL.060(b)(3): within the preceding 90 days, at least three sectors as cruise relief co-pilot in the type, or operator training with at least three sectors in an FSTD of the type, or recurrent training under ORO.FC, or a cruise relief proficiency check under Appendix 9.
What counts toward the ATPL(A) 500 hours multi-pilot?
FCL.510.A(b) requires a minimum of 1,500 hours of flight time in aeroplanes, "including at least: (1) 500 hours in multi-pilot operations on aeroplanes". The hours come from the multi-pilot operation definition above, so time in a multi-pilot aeroplane and time in a single-pilot aeroplane flown under a two-pilot requirement with multi-crew cooperation both qualify, while Part-NCO flying does not.
The same paragraph asks for "100 hours of night flight as PIC or co-pilot" in (b)(5). Of the 1,500 hours, up to 100 may be in an FFS and FNPT, with no more than 25 in an FNPT. Holders of a flight engineer licence get 50 per cent of flight engineer time up to 250 hours, which can count against both the 1,500 and the 500 hours, with a combined cap of 250 hours.
Helicopter pilots need 350 hours in multi-pilot operations in helicopters within 1,000 hours for the ATPL(H) (FCL.510.H(c)(1)). Keep multi-pilot time as its own total from your first crewed flight, because your ATPL(A) application has to show it.
Mistakes pilots make
- Logging co-pilot time in a single-pilot aircraft when no type certificate, regulation or operations manual required a second pilot.
- Logging multi-pilot time on private two-pilot flying. GM6 FCL.010 puts Part-NCO operations outside multi-pilot operation, except ATO training in multi-pilot operations.
- Logging time in the crew rest bunk as co-pilot. A cruise relief co-pilot logs co-pilot time only "when occupying a pilot's seat".
- Leaving CRCP out of Remarks. The AMC1 FCL.050 notes list it as an entry that should always be made.
- Expecting all restricted type rating time to count toward the ATPL(A). FCL.510.A(c)(3) caps that credit at 250 hours.
What Off Chocks tracks
- The flight form has a Multi-pilot box. Left blank, it follows the aircraft's Multi-pilot aircraft setting and fills the whole flight time; a typed figure wins, including 0, so you can log multi-pilot time in a single-pilot type.
- For the Co-Pilot and Co-Pilot (relief) seats, the Break (out of your seat) row takes the time you spent out of your seat off block time. The printed EASA logbook puts both seats in the CO-PILOT column and splits each row into single-pilot SE, single-pilot ME and multi-pilot time that add up to the total.
- The ATPL goal shows a 500 hour multi-crew bar from your multi-pilot time.
- Off Chocks does not write CRCP in Remarks for you and does not apply the 250 hour restricted type rating cap.
Common questions
- Can I log co-pilot time in a single-pilot aircraft under EASA?
- Only when the type certification, the regulations or the operator's operations manual require more than one pilot for that flight (AMC1 FCL.050(b)(2)).
- Does multi-pilot time have to be in a multi-pilot aircraft?
- No. FCL.010 defines a multi-pilot operation as two pilots using multi-crew cooperation "in either a multi-pilot or a single-pilot aircraft". Part-NCO flying is excluded by GM6 FCL.010, apart from ATO training in multi-pilot operations.
- How much multi-pilot time do I need for an EASA ATPL(A)?
- 500 hours in multi-pilot operations on aeroplanes, within the 1,500 hours total (FCL.510.A(b)(1)).
- Can a cruise relief co-pilot log co-pilot time?
- Yes, all flight time while occupying a pilot's seat (AMC1 FCL.050(b)(3)), with CRCP written in Remarks.
- Does military two-pilot time count as multi-pilot?
- For crediting prior experience, GM6 FCL.010 says State operations such as military or search and rescue, where two pilots are required, can be treated as multi-pilot operations.
Sources
- EASA Easy Access Rules for Aircrew, October 2026 revision: FCL.010 Definitions and GM6 FCL.010
- EASA Easy Access Rules for Aircrew: AMC1 FCL.050 Recording of flight time
- EASA Easy Access Rules for Aircrew: AMC1 FCL.050 Pilot logbook
- EASA Easy Access Rules for Aircrew: FCL.510.A ATPL(A) experience and crediting
- EASA Easy Access Rules for Aircrew: FCL.720.A restricted type rating for cruise relief
- EASA Easy Access Rules for Aircrew: FCL.060 Recent experience
This is a plain-words summary to help you keep your own records, not legal advice. The regulation and your operator's procedures always take precedence.