Can a Canadian pilot without an instructor rating (and not as FO) legally fly from the right seat?
Plenty of opinions were thrown around but no one could find a specific reg that prohibited it. I know it's not a very smart idea anyway, but from a legal stand point, is it doable? If not, can you point me to the reg?
Why wouldn't it be a smart idea? I don't have an instructor rating, I give type checkouts, teach instrument ratings, do tailwheel conversions, and provide refresher training. Usually all of that is from the right seat.
ahramin wrote:Why wouldn't it be a smart idea? I don't have an instructor rating, I give type checkouts, teach instrument ratings, do tailwheel conversions, and provide refresher training. Usually all of that is from the right seat.
All valid reasons, as you've got a body in the seat beside you.
I guess I wasn't clear: I meant flying the aircraft alone from the right seat.
I can't see how that's an issue. I thought the only reason instructor's sat on the right side was because the more predominant instrumentation was on the left side (not that you should be using those much in ab-initio anyway). Hence why when you are employed by an operator, you can receive line indoc training from your Captain who is now training you from the left seat. If for some reason your king air only had instruments on the left side, i'd imagine your captain would sit on the right seat and provide training.
So answer your question, yes - you can fly from any seat. I can't see there being any reg to prohibit you from doing so. If you find one, I'll bite my tongue
I certainly think getting a briefing from your instructor about the differences about flying from right seat would be a good idea - you know the parallax effect, side view of instruments as opposed to head on, etc.
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Last edited by loopa on Sun Oct 11, 2015 9:34 am, edited 1 time in total.
Sometimes I fly from the right seat when I rent Cessnas to switch things up. There is no rule against it and if anything it helps you hone your skills a bit.
I know of no regulation in the CARS that prohibits doing so.
I made a similar comment in another thread but I'll make it again here (sorry). The CARS are complicated enough. Why make up more rules that aren't in there?
On a practical level, my Mooney does not have brakes on the right side so I cannot fly it from the right side unless somebody I trust to use the brakes is sitting in the left seat.
The limitations section of the POH is where you would find any prohibition. No Cessna single piston has a limitation saying you must fly from the left seat. The Caravan does, as does the Diamond Katana.
Many tandem seat aircraft will specify where you must sit if you are flying solo.
Big Pistons Forever wrote:The limitations section of the POH is where you would find any prohibition. No Cessna single piston has a limitation saying you must fly from the left seat. The Caravan does, as does the Diamond Katana.
Many tandem seat aircraft will specify where you must sit if you are flying solo.
BPF,
None of the aircraft I have flown have that limitation so I never thought of that. Good point.
I did one of my solo flights while getting my PPL from the right seat.
Apart from having to learn a new perspective over the nose when doing turns, and the different perspective on landing, it was just like any other flight.
My instructor saw me taxi back in after the flight and said I shouldn't do it again though. He was okay with it but figured the school owner would go ballistic if he knew...
One could argue that you always try to make the flight happen as safe as you can, without any unnecessary risks. You could argue that, as mentioned above, the main instruments are on the left seat, and the whole airplane is designed to be operated from the left seat, flying it from the right increases your chances of , for example, misreading an instrument or gauge.
I don't really think it is significantly more dangerous to fly from the right instead of the left seat, but it is a reasoning I have heard a couple of times when looking for an answer to the same question. No legal reference though.
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As an AvCanada discussion grows longer:
-the probability of 'entitlement' being mentioned, approaches 1
-one will be accused of using bad airmanship
As I understand some aerial photography is flown single pilot from the right seat. AFS is an example of it. Mind you this is all done in a 152 at that company. Not sure if that makes a difference.
How is the landing sightine different from the right seat? Much? I'd like to become proficient but I've never taken off or landed from the right seat, although have hand flown and no big deal
iflyroads wrote:As I understand some aerial photography is flown single pilot from the right seat. AFS is an example of it. Mind you this is all done in a 152 at that company. Not sure if that makes a difference.
I've never seen that. Not saying it isn't fact, but I did survey for quite a while. Interesting for sure. I flew a Cessna 206 for survey and right seat definitely wasn't an option. The right side control column and rudder pedals had been removed years before to make way for equipment. Literally nothing for instruments that side either...
On topic, as BPF stated if it is a limitation it will be in the POH. Flying from the right is not a big deal. After spending much time instructing it actually felt really weird to get in the left (charter ops) for me. I certainly fly no worse on the right as opposed to the left. Do what you feel comfortable with.
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"...flying airplanes is really not all that difficult so it attracts some of the most mentally challenged people in society." - . .
"Baby, stick out your can... 'cause I'm the garbageman"
I had occasion years ago to be test flying a C172 for a modification. The Chief pilot came along right seat for insurance. During the flight, he remarked that that the plane had not flown in more than 6 months. As this was their only plane, I asked if he, and his three other company pilots had flown any more recently that that. No, none had, he was going to fly with each of them the following week .
I suggested that he take the opportunity to fly a few circuits from the right, just to refresh. He needed the refreshing, it was not good. Two landings were poor, the third I took away from him to save the plane. I suggested that he rethink flying right seat to his pilots, as if they got it wrong, it could end badly.
I never heard how it went after that...
Right seat flying is a bit of a skill on its own, but worthy of learning. Don't let your mind get too fixated on which hand does what. Make your mind fly the plane, not move your hands. It is very possible that you might one day be flying something with the throttle on the other side anyway!
Sometimes I fly from the right seat when I rent Cessnas to switch things up. There is no rule against it and if anything it helps you hone your skills a bit
.
What skills are you "honing" by flying from the right seat instead of the left?...
There are some pretty legitimate reasons to learn to fly from the right seat (Snowbird pilot wannabes !),
But just to do it to switch things up...You must be at the top of your game from the left seat.
The problem I see is young and inexperienced pilots who want to do new and interesting things to test their limits...and sometimes they fail the test and have to try and rationalize what the heck they were doing to the people that rented (and trusted them with) an airplane.
As to the legality of it..perfectly legal..Most instructor-students do their solo flying from the right seat, as well as all their dual. Or at least they used to..
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Accident speculation:
Those that post don’t know. Those that know don’t post
Commercially - you must be right seat qualified to fly in the right seat -- meaning -- if you are a captain on the aircraft you must have been trained in the right seat before you can even occupy that seat as a crew member - this is for 704/705 for sure and I'll do some digging for 703 -- now privately unless specified by the aircraft manual you can fly from any seat you choose -- I have see aircraft flown from the right seat especially if they used a stick since most use their right hand to fly stick controlled aircraft -- look at the snow birds -- they fly from either seat depending I suppose dictated their position in the formation --
Could you equate flying right seat to something similar as driving a right hand controlled car? European people learn to drive a stick shift in the right seat all the time then jump into the left seat of a plane. As stated, it would be advisable to get some training in the right seat before you go blasting off into the blue.
@Broken Slinky, that's a good analogy. There isn't much difference in the air, although when you turn the left side of the cowling goes above and below the horizon instead of the right... You'll figure out how to hold altitude after a couple of turns. Also, because the nose is now to your left instead of your right, you'll find yourself subconsciously pushing on the right rudder to bring the nose over where it should be. Again, you'll figure it out in a few minutes when you realize your heading is constantly turning.
@trey_kule, what's being honed is the ability to adapt to a new situation. It builds hand/foot/eye coordination and teaches you to still keep the plane straight on landing/takeoff despite the sight picture having changed. Basic stick/rudder skills, which all pilots should have but apparently not all do these days.
