FAA Sport Pilot Practice Test

Flight time is the total time from when the aircraft first moves under its own power for the purpose of flight, through the takeoff, all in-flight portions, and then the final landing and the aircraft coming to rest. This definition matches how pilots log experience and how currency and proficiency are tracked, because it captures the entire period you’re actively flying or preparing to fly, including taxiing under power.

The other terms aren’t as precise for this purpose. Flight duration often suggests the time the airplane is airborne or the main flight segment, not including the ground movement before takeoff or after landing. Pilot time isn’t a standard log category, and operational time is vague and can refer to various non-flight activities.