Flying from the right seat

[Rick1128]

If he is in a G4 he should know that he has much better control of the aircraft from the right seat that I ever did in a SD3-30 or an Twin Otter. He needs to grow up.

Our company policy is that a FO flying his legs from the right seat. The only exceptions are PIC qualified FO's (in other words, two captains flying together) or a FO that is in the process of up grading while flying with a qualified company instructor or check airman(at the Instructor's or Check Airman's sufferage) As for typing a FO, it depends. We really like to fly with him/her a bit before we invest that kind of money. Some people interview real well then you find out that they can't play well with others.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

I was always told never to answer a question with a question.

However, what's wrong with trading seats?

nothing.

Only time it would be an issue IMHO is if money was involved.

but like I said, bad attiude? sit there and do $hit until it changes.

 

[h25b]

I say it depends on the individual new hire..

For me, I haven't flown in the right seat in about 6 years. All of the corporate operations I worked for we just swapped seats, but then again, none of them were hiring inexperienced pilots either. If you're bringing in someone with low or no jet experience along with no left seat time I'd put them in the right seat since that's probably where they are more comfortable in the first place. I certainly wouldn't put someone like myself in the right seat.

I would actually say that I need to start flying from the right seat on occassion and everyone should maintain proficiency from both seats... Sounds like the guy might have an attitude problem though. But I'd solve that outside the cockpit.

 

[CapnVegetto]

There's nothing in the world wrong with flying from the right seat.....every single airline in the country does it. When I hired our copilot, I wanted to type him right away, but he was about 50 hours short of ATP mins and had no written, and we all know you can wipe your butt with a commercial type rating but that's about it. Insurance said he had to have school before he could touch the thing, so we sent him to an SIC initial at Simuflite, and we're gonna type him at recurrent next year. No contract. If you treat your pilots well, you don't need a contract.

Right now, there are only 2 pilots, (him and I), and he flies every other leg from the right seat. Once he gets some time in the airplane, figures out that it's not a piston single, and learns how to be a good FO, then we'll be swapping seats. He flies left seat anyway on empty legs, but there aren't many of them at all.

Point is, the guy that's complaining to you is a ******************************nut. Tell him to quit his bitchin and pull the dam-n gear. I've never flown a Gulfstream, and I sure wouldn't mind pulling gear in the thing for a while before flying, especially with the boss on board. You gotta learn how to fly the right seat before you can fly the left. Tell him to go kiss a monkey's butt.

 

[GIVSP]

Gents, Thanks for all the great input. We hired this guy because he did infact have jet time. We sent him to F2000 school and gave him a type. He was hired as a CO-PILOT. This has been the way we do things forever. We keep them in the right seat for about 100 hrs then start to move them over. Out of the 25 or so pilots that have come through this place, we never had a problem. What he has done is, delayed his time to the left seat. Anyway, thanks again for the great info.

 

[XTW]

Tell him to go kiss a monkey's butt.

Hey, hey, how'd I get dragged into this?



X


PS I hope he's at least cute!:nuts:

 

[PHX767]

Does the plane in question have nose wheel steering through the rudder pedals? All the airliners I flew had that, so when the CA let go of the tiller I had positive steering. Many of them would give control to me on the line up coming around the corner ... "Okay - your throttles and brakes.... (and when just about lined up) your steering - your airplane!"

On our Beechjet, I know guys that do not want to fly from the right seat because the other guy would have trouble getting the speed brake switch in an abort situation. I don't really care, myself. I'm comfy in the right seat - but then I have a bunch of copilot time with the airlines in the right seat.

With my present employer, we just swap seats for the leg/day whatever. The only difference is I am a Co Captain, and when the boss flies our other plane I am the PIC with a contract pilot.

Outside of that it's an ego thing.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

consideration should be given to how the a/c is steered on the ground..

also, a company should have very clear SOPs on right seat ops, including abort procedures.

we also get right seat qualifed each simulator recurrent.

no big deal.

 

[Diesel]

I personally like staying in whatever seat it is. Moving back and forth means i have to move all my crap over and I like to make a little nest. You want me to fly from the right seat sure no problem. I'll even do it from the lav. Just lets switch legs back and forth and let me keep my seat just perfect the way it is.

 

[rice]

I personally like staying in whatever seat it is. Moving back and forth means i have to move all my crap over and I like to make a little nest. You want me to fly from the right seat sure no problem. I'll even do it from the lav. Just lets switch legs back and forth and let me keep my seat just perfect the way it is.

D,
You gotta be the easiest going guy on this board!!!! Well maybe the second (after G200). In my op we swap each and every leg but IMO it really doesn't matter, in fact I wouldn't mind getting a few right seat T/O's and landings just for the helluvit once in a while. Doing the one at FSI evry six months really doesn't cut it for me.:beer:

 

[Say Again Over]

consideration should be given to how the a/c is steered on the ground

What does the nose wheel steering have to do with flying, in my experience, NWS is for taxiing?

 

[Gulfstream 200]

What does the nose wheel steering have to do with flying, in my experience, NWS is for taxiing?

well, if I was flying with a new guy and it was icy and a 30+kt crosswinds I might want it avaliable quicker than he would get to it. On the planes we fly the tiller gives you much more steering than the pedals.

thats the only reason I said "consider" where the steering is...and choose the legs you fly appropriatly with a brand new guy.

and yes, Im with Diesel...if you fly witht the same guy all the time, forget switching legs maybe...just switch days...I carry way too much $hit in the cockpit to be changing my nest every leg. Unless of course, your specialty is 13 hr legs every other day...

 

[irapilot]

I think this accident report is worth looking at in regards to this issue. It is not about the seat per se, it is about the SOPs, procedures, and the CRM issues tend to be more important than the seat.

http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief2.asp?ev_id=20001208X06863&ntsbno=CHI97MA017& akey=1

I have always made sure a co-pilot has had time enough in the aircraft before swapping seats, depending on their experience. I would have an adverse reaction to this "unsafe" issue, sounds like others that chimed in were on the right track about poor attitude - maybe it is ego or just poor flying skills.

 

[AA717driver]

In my past life we always got a takeoff briefing like this: "I'll steer prior to 60 knots. At that point, I'll say "your steering". You respond "I've got it". On landing you maintain directional control to approximately 60 kts. when I will say "I've got it". At that point, you will take your feet off the rudders and say "your aircraft".

And if he doesn't, you slap the $h!t outta him! TC

 

[Say Again Over]

well, if I was flying with a new guy and it was icy and a 30+kt crosswinds by Gulfstream

I'm a line check airman and would be shot if I was training in those conditions. My advice is never do something you can't defend in a court of law, just my opinion.