When can a CFI-I log instrument time?

A Certified Flight Instructor – Instrument (CFI-I) can log instrument time in actual Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) because this scenario meets the regulatory definitions of what constitutes instrument flight time. Instrument time is accrued when the pilot operates the aircraft solely by reference to instruments, which is the primary requirement for logging such time.

In actual IMC, conditions are such that visual references are limited, thereby requiring reliance on instruments for navigation and control. This is essential for developing and demonstrating the skills and abilities necessary for instrument flight. Logging this time is crucial for both the instructor’s experience and for the quality of the training they provide to their students.

The other options do not satisfy the requirements for logging instrument time. Training only under flight training conditions limits the logging to instructional scenarios and does not encompass actual instrument flying experience. Logging instrument time solely under VFR conditions is not permissible, as it generally involves visual flight rules, which may not require instrument reliance. While an instructor may log time when instructed by an examiner, such time would typically not be in an instrument context unless it specifically occurred during an actual instrument flight scenario.