Part 135 operations into airports without WX reporting

[dhoward]

Under part 135, two pilots are required for operations under IFR unless an exception is granted allowing the use of an approved autopilot in place of the SIC. Part 135.225(b) states that "...a pilot conducting an eligible on demand operation..." may fly an instrument approach into an airport without weather reporting. Eligible on demand operation is defined in part in 135.4 as consisting of a two pilot crew. An operator I know of operates single pilot into airports with no weather reporting on a regular basis with the blessing of their POI. The explanation is that the IFR flight requires two pilots and therefore qualifies as a two pilot crew even though the SIC has been replaced by the Autopilot exemption that all single pilot IFR operators operate under. I have never counted the autopilot as a crew member myself. Has anyone ever heard of this?

 

[pilotyip]

You must have Op Spec A-57 and an approved training program to conduct Eligible on demand operations. This would allow you under 135 to conduct approaches into airports without reported weather.

 

[b350capt]

also crew experience requirements

PIC - ATP w/ type if required and 1500 flight time (self explan)
SIC - Commercial w/ IFR and 500 TT
don't know how you could call an autopilot qualified there. But then again, as we all know, POI's do straaange things. Just make sure he's not flying in another FSDO's jurisdiction, lol.