Seat Dependant Training

[Stroker]

I am working on establishing a seat-dependent training program for our airline. I was wondering how other operators tackle the issue of Captains maintaining right seat currency (for emergency reserve at Captain pay). According to the FAA's Flight Standards Bulletin (FSB), our aircraft type has no seat specific differences per se. Nevertheless we want to ensure that Captains who occasionally serve in the right seat are proficient to do so. I have heard that some operators accomplish this goal via an annual right-seat sim event for Captains--something along the lines of:

1. A rejected take-off
2. A low-vis take-off
3. A V1 cut
4. An ILS to minimums

There seems to be some variety in the industry on this issue. How does your airline deal with it?

 

[pilotyip]

Write a right seat task dependant training program that you feels meets your needs and then submitt it to your POI and have him sign it off. You then have an approved program. We do it for all our Capt's.

 

[DoinTime]

One day in the sim per year will not keep captains proficient in the right seat. We used to do this at PCL but the stopped a couple years ago. Unless you frequently fly your captains in the right seat your just asking for an accident. Suck it up and hire more FO's.

 

[JustaNumber]

ASA also stopped their program about a year ago. I think management finally realized the enormous legal liability should something happen with a captain in the right seat for the first time in a year or more. Such a situation would beg for a lawsuit!

 

[atrdriver]

There is NOTHING more worthless in the right seat than a Captain. Every time I had to fly right seat I would end up with bruised knuckles from reaching into the wall. Hell, it takes a Captain 5 minutes to figure out how to adjust the seat over there.

 

[FmrFreightDog]

ASA also stopped their program about a year ago. I think management finally realized the enormous legal liability should something happen with a captain in the right seat for the first time in a year or more. Such a situation would beg for a lawsuit!

At ASA, the loss of seat dependant training came from the commission of Cat II. Can't do both. Too much time in the sim running both guys through both seat for three approaches every year.

 

[SizzleChest]

Stroker- We do the same thing at my airline. When the Capt. comes in for his once a year 2-day PT/PC training, we do the rt. seat stuff on the PT day. When we train new LCAs they do the same maneuvers from the right seat as well, as a minimum.... then we throw in some other things that have been coming up on the line in an effort to make sure that people see the "real world" incidents that have happened here. That also allows some time to "try" things that the student LCA would like to see. Works out pretty well especially when a reserve Capt. has to come in and fly the line in the right seat. With sim freezing and repo-ing it does not take much time and you can get more than 1 try at stuff.....

 

[pilotyip]

At small airlines like ours, USA Jet 67 pilots, Capt's routinely fly in both seats and the flexibility allowed by having right seat qualified Capt's is needed. I see no problems in crew performance with two Capt's flying together. Positional duties are well defined

 

[Cardinal]

Our right seat currency: "What's the first item in the FO's after landing flow?" - "Great, here's your yellow copy, see you in six months."