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Left or Right seat-PIC?

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trol1374

Member
Joined
Sep 23, 2005
Posts
15
I'm curious as to if there is a rule regarding if the "PIC" has to sit in the left seat of a GA plane (ie 172,182 ect). If a pilot is in the left seat, and a pilot in the right seat and the right seater wanted practice flying in the right seat, agrees to be PIC and does the entire takeoff and landing from the right seat. This being done as prep for CFI. Is there any regulation regarding if a "pilot" has to be in the left seat if a non CFI pilot is in the right seat? Note again: the right seater is a NON CFI.

Thanks in advance
 
trol1374 said:
I'm curious as to if there is a rule regarding if the "PIC" has to sit in the left seat of a GA plane (ie 172,182 ect). If a pilot is in the left seat, and a pilot in the right seat and the right seater wanted practice flying in the right seat, agrees to be PIC and does the entire takeoff and landing from the right seat. This being done as prep for CFI. Is there any regulation regarding if a "pilot" has to be in the left seat if a non CFI pilot is in the right seat? Note again: the right seater is a NON CFI.

Thanks in advance

If you are certificate in category and class and you are manipulating the controls, then it matters not what seat you are in.
 
aeronautic1 said:
If you are certificate in category and class and you are manipulating the controls, then it matters not what seat you are in.

Correct .....unless the manufacture specifies a PIC seat in the AFM. Cessna does not for its singles.
 
trol1374 said:
If a pilot is in the left seat, and a pilot in the right seat and the right seater wanted practice flying in the right seat, agrees to be PIC and does the entire takeoff and landing from the right seat.

Yes...Get in that right seat now...a major portion of your commercial training should be in the right seat...that's where you're gonna start most of your commercial jobs, as fllight instructor or co-pilot.
...aaand, you don't hafta have a pilot in the left seat. You can fly solo or carry a passenger in the left seat.
 
Other than the seat-specific limitation that matt mentioned, be aware that there are sometimes insurance issues and club rules on the issue. That an FAR issue but something to consider.
 
nosehair said:


Yes...Get in that right seat now...a major portion of your commercial training should be in the right seat...that's where you're gonna start most of your commercial jobs, as fllight instructor or co-pilot.



Doesnt matter, the plane flys the same regardless of which seat you are at. It takes like one flight to get used to it. But it wouldnt hurt to get into the right seat now.
 
BLing said:
Doesnt matter, the plane flys the same regardless of which seat you are at. It takes like one flight to get used to it. But it wouldnt hurt to get into the right seat now.

Flying the 152 did feel the same left or right. Doing it in the 172RG feels a little bit more different. I make more errors in the RG than in the 152 (right seat that is). I guess it has something to do with sitting further from the longitudinal axis since the RG is a bit wider.
 
How long did it take for you to get comfortable in the right seat?" is a bit like "How long did it take you to solo." People and different so the adjustment to the view can take different lengths of time. Some do it quicker; others slower. Hardly matters.
 
nosehair said:


Yes...Get in that right seat now...a major portion of your commercial training should be in the right seat...that's where you're gonna start most of your commercial jobs, as fllight instructor or co-pilot.
...aaand, you don't hafta have a pilot in the left seat. You can fly solo or carry a passenger in the left seat.


Never thought of this, what do you have your students do for a checkride? Fly in the right seat?

if so, do the examiners give them a hard time?
 
BOOYA said:
what do you have your students do for a checkride? Fly in the right seat?

Talk with your local examiner...it's up to him which seat he will fly. It is becoming more acceptable for examiners to see this request.
 

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