Does the PIC Need to Countersign PICUS Flights in an EASA Logbook?

Published 31 October 2026

Short answer: yes. Under both EASA and UK rules, a co-pilot can log PICUS time as PIC only if the aircraft's PIC countersigns it. Their name and signature go in your logbook's Remarks column. For a UK ATPL you also need a PICUS letter from your airline.

This matters most to co-pilots working towards an unrestricted ATPL. PICUS hours can make up the whole PIC requirement, so missing signatures can cost you time when you apply. Here is what the rules ask for and how to stay on top of it.

What PICUS means

PICUS stands for pilot-in-command under supervision. It describes a co-pilot performing the duties and functions of a PIC, under the supervision of the aircraft's actual PIC. Only one pilot is the PIC of the flight. The co-pilot is demonstrating the role rather than taking it over.

What EASA and the UK require

EASA's AMC1 FCL.050 and the UK CAA's version use the same wording on PICUS. Point (b)(1)(v) of each sets out two conditions:

A multi-pilot aircraft or operation: more than one pilot must be required, either by the aircraft's type certification or by operational requirements.
A countersignature: the PIC must countersign the PICUS time.

National authorities and operators can add detail. Switzerland's FOCA, for example, expects the method of supervision to be documented in the operations manual, including the qualifications and experience required of the supervising PIC. It also says the PIC must not have needed to intervene in the interest of safety.

If your operator has no PICUS scheme, don't assume you can log it. Ask your operator or authority first.

How to record it

A co-pilot logs PICUS time as PIC under AMC1 FCL.050, and the Remarks column does the rest. Both the EASA and UK texts say the entry name and signature of PIC should always be made when you record time as PICUS.

That means each PICUS entry needs a name and a signature, not just the captain's name in the PIC name column. Your authority may ask for more, so check its guidance.

Why the hours matter for your ATPL

EASA and the UK set out the same three ways to meet the PIC part of the ATPL(A) experience requirement:

500 hours as PIC under supervision
250 hours as PIC
250 hours including at least 70 hours as PIC, with the rest as PIC under supervision

The requirement also includes 200 hours of cross-country time, at least 100 of which must be as PIC or PIC under supervision. All of this experience has to be complete before the ATPL skill test.

UK: you also need a PICUS letter

The UK CAA's ATPL page says a PICUS letter from your airline is required, on company headed paper where applicable if you apply online. You must also verify your hours with logbook pages or UK AOC hours confirmation. If you work for a UK AOC, you can supply the ATPL Flying Hours Confirmation (Form CAA5013). Check the CAA's current list before you apply.

What about the FAA?

PICUS isn't an FAA logging category in the same way. Under 14 CFR 61.51(e), you log PIC time when, for example, you are the sole manipulator of an aircraft you are rated for, or you are acting as PIC of an aircraft requiring more than one pilot. Otherwise, a qualified second pilot logs SIC time under 61.51(f).

The closest equivalent is in the ATP requirements. 61.159(a)(5) counts 250 hours as PIC, or as SIC performing the duties of PIC while under the supervision of a PIC, or any combination. That paragraph doesn't set a signature requirement of its own, but it's still sensible to keep a clear record of which flights qualify.

Does an electronic logbook change anything?

The signature is still needed. Authorities don't all treat electronic logbooks and signatures in the same way, so confirm what yours will accept before you rely on them for a licence application. The UK CAA accepts electronic logbooks submitted as a signed file or as a signed printout, but that signature confirms the logbook is yours. It doesn't replace the PIC's countersignature on PICUS entries.

Common mistakes to avoid

Leaving signatures until you apply. Captains change bases, change airlines and retire. Get each entry signed while the flight is recent.
Assuming a block sign-off will do. The rules refer to the entries being countersigned. If you want to certify a batch at once, check that your authority accepts it.
Confusing the signatures. PICUS is countersigned by the PIC. SPIC time and flight time under supervision are countersigned by the instructor.
Double-counting. Don't log the same time as both co-pilot and PICUS.

Recording PICUS in Logbook.aero

Switch on PICUS Time in your settings to record it against each flight and see it in your totals. It is offered for the EASA, Canada, Australia and South Africa formats. As AMC1 FCL.050 logs PICUS as PIC, check how your authority wants it presented before you submit your logbook.

To collect a countersignature, open the flight and choose Signature. The captain can enter their name and licence number and sign on your device. If they aren't with you, use Remote Sign to email them a link. They don't need a Logbook.aero account. To sign many flights at once, use Bulk Edit on the flights page. Signatures print on your PDF logbook.

Sources

This article is general guidance, not legal advice. Rules change and vary by authority, so check the current requirements with your own licensing authority.