Flight time – part 1 definition- recorded from when the aircraft wheels first move for the intention of flight until they stop moving after landing/flight this must be recorded in the pilots log book and daily flight records, and obviously match up (this is one of the first things CAA employees check at an audit)
Air service time – part 1 definition – recorded from when the aircraft gets airborne until after landing (when the loading comes on the wings and airframe propellor and engine) This time must be recorded in the aircraft logbooks.
Method of recording flight time – Hobbs meter triggered by electric power turned on – in most cases this will only be one minute of extra time recorded before the wheels first start turning for the intention of flight (the more sophisticated the aircraft ie an IFR twin and above, a different method will be better).
Method of recording, air service time-
An airspeed switch installed in the pitot tube just before dynamic pressure enteres the ASI. Set to start timing at 30KTS.
Summary:
• 2 meters installed in each aircraft
• Tachos – older ones are obsolete
• New tachometer – ok for FLT time, modern aircraft.
• New meter installed to measure air service time.
• Ideally this – should be set to reflect the true time since new. ie if the aircraft has completed 250 hrs air service time obtained from the aircraft airframe log book then the meter should be set up to 250 hours and then installed by a part 145 operation. This makes it easy for the pilot to see when the next check is due (ie 300 Hrs).