Most direct-entry captain ads look simple: a total-hours figure and a command-hours figure. Read them closely and the wording is far more specific. "PIC on multi-crew jet." "Excluding P1 U/S." "On aircraft with MTOW above 55 tonnes." "Recent widebody command." Each of those words changes which lines of your logbook count.
After more than twenty years and several logbooks, flying since 2003 on turboprops, narrowbodies and widebodies, I've had to total my hours for more than one application. Here's how I'd read the requirements and prepare the numbers today.
Why this matters
Your hours are the first filter. If an ad asks for 2,000 hours PIC and your PIC figure only reaches that by counting time the airline excludes, you may be screened out before anyone reads your CV. Worse, if your logbook, CV and online form give different totals, it looks careless at best.
The terms, one by one
| Term in the ad | What it usually means | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Total time | All your logged flight time | Some forms ask for aeroplane time only, or exclude simulator time |
| PIC / P1 / command | Time as pilot in command | Whether P1 U/S (PICUS) is included or excluded |
| P1 U/S / PICUS | Time performing PIC duties under supervision | Logged differently under different authorities |
| Co-pilot / P2 / SIC | Time as first officer | Some ads set no minimum, but still want the figure |
| Multi-crew / multi-pilot | Aircraft certificated for, or operated with, two pilots | Single-pilot turboprop time may not count |
| Jet / turboprop | The aircraft's engine type | Some ads accept "high-speed turboprop" as well as jet |
| MTOW / MTMA category | Time on aircraft above a stated weight | Only the time on qualifying types counts |
| Recent / current | Hours in a recent window, or currency on type | The window is set by the airline, so read it |
P1 U/S: the one that catches people out
Pilot in command under supervision (PICUS, often written P1 U/S) is time when a co-pilot carries out the duties of the commander while a qualified captain supervises, for example during command training.
How it's logged depends on the authority:
- Under EASA rules, a co-pilot may log PICUS time as PIC time when all the PIC duties were carried out without the PIC needing to intervene in the interest of safety, and the PIC countersigns it. The Irish Aviation Authority explains this in its >logbook FAQ.
- Under FAA rules, logging PIC time while performing PIC duties under supervision is allowed only under specific conditions, including an approved PIC training programme and the supervising captain's certification in the logbook (>14 CFR 61.51(e)).
So what you can legally log and what an airline will accept are two different questions. Scoot's published direct-entry requirements, for example, ask for PIC hours that "exclude P1 U/S hours" (>Scoot DEC posting). If you've logged PICUS as PIC, be ready to show the split.
Weight and engine categories
Several current ads set the command requirement on a specific class of aircraft. SAS's A320 DEC posting asks for 1,000+ hours PIC on aircraft with an MTOW above 55 tonnes, alongside 2,000+ hours on jet aircraft or high-speed turboprops (>SAS careers). Scoot's turboprop-experienced DEC ad counts total time on aeroplanes with an MTMA of 5,700 kg or more.
If you've flown a mix of types, add a column for each category the ads you're targeting use. A turboprop command may count fully toward one airline's PIC requirement and not at all toward another's.
"Recent" and "current"
Some requirements are about recency, not just totals: recent widebody command, or being current on type. The window is the airline's choice, so check whether it means the last 12 months, the last few years or simply "currently flying". If you've had a break, a change of type or a period off line, make sure the dates in your CV make that clear.
How to total your logbook before you apply
- Start from the logbook, not memory. Paper or electronic, work from the source and note which logbooks the totals come from.
- Build columns that match the ads. Total, PIC, PICUS, co-pilot, multi-crew, jet, turboprop, each weight category, each type, and the last 12 months.
- Keep PICUS separate, even if your authority lets you log it as PIC.
- Reconcile. Your logbook, CV and every online form should show the same figures. If an airline asks for numbers in a different way, note how you calculated them.
- Get signatures in order. Under EASA, PICUS time not countersigned by the PIC can't be included in your total for licensing purposes, according to the IAA's FAQ.
- Be honest about gaps. If you're just short of a minimum, ask the recruiter rather than rounding up.
The ads themselves change every month. See the latest figures side by side in the direct-entry captain openings roundup.
Next steps
- New to the process? Start with the direct-entry captain application checklist.
- Take the free Airline Move Readiness Self-Check to see where your preparation stands.
- The Airline Move Playbook covers the whole move, from application to DEC interview. Moving to the A320? The A320 Systems Question Bank ($19) is built for technical interview revision.
Logging rules differ between authorities and change over time. Always check your own authority's current rules and the airline's own wording.
Frequently asked questions
Do airlines count P1 U/S (PICUS) time as PIC?
Some do and some don't. EASA rules let a co-pilot log qualifying PICUS time as PIC when it is countersigned by the PIC, but several direct-entry ads say their PIC requirement excludes P1 U/S hours. Read the exact wording of each ad and keep PICUS in its own column.
What counts as total time?
Usually flight time as defined by your licensing authority. The FAA, for example, defines flight time as starting when the aircraft moves under its own power for the purpose of flight and ending when it comes to rest after landing. Check how the airline asks you to report it.
What does "PIC on aircraft with MTOW above 55 tonnes" mean?
Only command time on aircraft above that maximum take-off weight counts toward that figure. Time on lighter types still counts toward your total, but not toward that specific minimum.
Can I round my hours up to meet a minimum?
No. If you are short of a published minimum, ask the recruiter whether they accept applications, and say so honestly. Inflated or inconsistent figures are one of the easiest ways to lose credibility.
