Over 60? C'Ya!

[CelticCitation]

Had a very qualified pilot applicant turned down by our insurance today. The reason- no single pilot ops (B-200) for over 60 pilots. The pilot is 61, 19,000 hours, 9500 in type.

Anyone else run into this? This insurance environment is getting out of hand. Most guys will be 60 by the time they can meet any insurance minimums, then they'll be forced to retire.

 

[pilotman121]

Over 60?

It is hard for most customers to feel comfortable flying single pilot with older pilots,that is why we always run two pilots on all of our operations.There are alot of qualified King-Air 200 pilots depending on your pay,benefits and quality of life.

 

[pilotyip]

We routinely have two over 60 pilots in the cockpit at the same time. The insurance company could care less.

 

[CelticCitation]

We have been single pilot in King Airs for years, often send a CFI for experience, and are in the process of training 135 SICs. However, our POI as well as many on this board have pointed out the loggability issues of two pilot operations in aircraft requiring only one pilot. And yes, I know we could change our op specs to require SICs, and so on.

The real issue here is that insurance rates are increasing exponentially, and pilot requirements are increasing at about the same rate. We should not be at the whim of underwriters to define our operations.

Anyone out there have a reasonable insurance program? I know some of the larger operators have more buying power, and thus more negotiating power, but for us, it is getting rediculous.

 

[CapnVegetto]

I've dealt with this before. Worked with a buddy on flying a Citation. Guy said we send him to initial at Simuflite, then get 50 hours in type, and he's good to go. Very reasonable. Then, right before he went to school, the broker changed his tune to 200 hours in type. We told him to go to hell. You either work with us, or we take our umpteen thousand bucks a year elsewhere. He chose the latter. It took about two calls to find another company that was willing to work with us.

 

[Rick1128]

We have been single pilot in King Airs for years, often send a CFI for experience, and are in the process of training 135 SICs. However, our POI as well as many on this board have pointed out the loggability issues of two pilot operations in aircraft requiring only one pilot. And yes, I know we could change our op specs to require SICs, and so on.

Your POI is mis-informed. Legal has confirmed several times in writting that under 135, if the company assigns a SIC to the flight it is loggable by that pilot. Even if the aircraft and PIC are Single Pilot/Auto Pilot qualified. The reason is that once a SIC is assigned to that flight he becomes required. Until he/she is relieved of duty. He has to meet all 135 requirements including training and testing.

 

[pilotman121]

Over 60?

The Flight Standards District Office in our area told us, unless the second in command is qualified in the aircraft with a current check ride, he or she cannot log any flight time on a charter flight.

 

[English]

That's what Rick1128 stated.

 

[filejw]

ie.Riding along doesn't count.

 

[pilotman121]

Riding along doesn't count!

Sorry for the senior moment,Rick1128 was one hundred percent correct and for some reason it did not sound the same.