During training for instrument flight under visual meteorological conditions, a safety pilot is a pilot who helps maintain visual separation from other aircraft, clouds, and terrain while another pilot is wearing a view-limiting device for the purposes of simulating instrument conditions.
However, after a pilot has been issued with an instrument rating, to maintain currency, he or she must complete at least six instrument approaches, practice holding procedures, and practice intercepting and tracking courses with the use of navigation systems every six months.
The safety pilot does not have to be a flight instructor, and does not have to be instrument rated.
This makes using a safety pilot a cheaper option than flying with an instructor.
[2][3] A safety pilot sitting in a jump seat cannot log time as flight hours.