SIC Check and BFR

[Jump Pilot]

Does a 12 month 135 SIC check also count as a BFR?

 

[b82rez]

Yes .

 

[rickair7777]

When I use company training to meet BFR/IPC requirements for GA purposes, I bring my logbook and have the check airman sign it off as a BFR or IPC. That way I have a permanent record and don't have to worry about regs pertaining to what counts and what doesn't.

 

[MauleSkinner]

Yes...

(d) A person who has, within the period specified in paragraph (c) of this section, passed a pilot proficiency check conducted by an examiner, an approved pilot check airman, or a U.S. Armed Force, for a pilot certificate, rating, or operating privilege need not accomplish the flight review required by this section.

Note that it does not say a Pilot In Command check, or anything like that...simply "a pilot proficiency check".

Fly safe!

David

 

[charter dog]

Sounds like a previous ruling or interpretation from FAA legal council may be required in order to settle this one.

FAR 61.56 requires that a flight review must have been accomplished within the previous 24 calender months in order to act as PIC of an aircraft. Exception to this requirement is provided under para (d) of this section:

(d) A person who has, within the period specified in paragraph (c) of this section, passed a pilot proficiency check conducted by an examiner, an approved pilot check airman, or a U.S. Armed Force, for a pilot certificate, rating, or operating privilege need not accomplish the flight review required by this section.

At first glance, the flight and ground testing required by FAR 135.293 to act as a required pilot flight crewmember would appear to qualify as a "pilot proficiency check" for the purposes of 61.56 (d). It certainly seems to cover enough areas IMO. However, the .293, when used only to qualify an SIC, is not a pilot-in-command check. The purpose of 61.56 is to establish qualification as a PIC. This casts some doubt on whether the SIC check qualifies as a "pilot profciency check" for the purposes of 61.56. I have seen this come up in the past and the answers from FAA were not universal. Sorry to muddy the waters here, but this is a gray area in terms of interpretation. FAA, CFIs and others may not agree on a single correct answer to your question and "some guy on the internet" is not really a very solid reference source. So I have provided the references to applicable regs so that you may interpret and discuss their meaning with whoever you may wish to.

If the the check airman is a CFI, he may sign off a flight review at his discretion. However, the following excerpt from 61.56 (c) may indicate that you must be the holder of a type rating in the particular aircraft used for the check (if one is required) in order to qualify for a 61.56 signoff from the CFI:

(1) Accomplished a flight review given in an aircraft for which that pilot is rated by an authorized instructor and

While 61.58 clearly states that pilots operating under approved air carrier and fractional training and qualification programs are excepted from this requirement with regard to pilot-in-command proficiency checks, second-in-command requirements are not addressed here. So it appears to me that if SIC qualification is considered (by FAA legal) to be an "operating privilege" (as referred to in 61.56(d)), then your 135.293 SIC qualification entitles you to the exception provided for in 61.56(d). If you have any doubt at all, I suggest you just get a friend or co-worker who happens to be a CFI to do the flight review with you. Then there is no way to say you are not in compliance with 61.56 if it ever comes up. Sorry this comes out looking like a court opinion, but that's how rules interpretations sometimes go! My personal approach to this problem was to get the 61.56 signoff. Once designated as a PIC in 135, it will no longer be an issue.

Best,

 

[UndauntedFlyer]

In many years of airline work I have never seen or heard of a check airman being asked to sign off a 6-month type check as a Flight Review or anything else. In fact, most likely the check airman doesn't even have a CFI. If the pilot satisfactorily completes the check it is now a matter of company record so the pilots that keep logbooks just enter that they passed their pilot proficiency check on that date. As far as I know that has always counted for the purpose of meeting the Flight Review requirements. I have never heard of any challenges (other than on this board) as to whether or not that person is qualified to act as PIC of GA aircraft.

This applies to SIC checks too, whether the pilot has a SIC type rating or not.

 

[WMUSIGPI]

does the same then hold true for Instrument proficiency checks?

 

[rickair7777]

In many years of airline work I have never seen or heard of a check airman being asked to sign off a 6-month type check as a Flight Review or anything else. In fact, most likely the check airman doesn't even have a CFI. If the pilot satisfactorily completes the check it is now a matter of company record so the pilots that keep logbooks just enter that they passed their pilot proficiency check on that date. As far as I know that has always counted for the purpose of meeting the Flight Review requirements. I have never heard of any challenges (other than on this board) as to whether or not that person is qualified to act as PIC of GA aircraft.

This applies to SIC checks too, whether the pilot has a SIC type rating or not.

We have a lot of CFI's in the training dept. (regional), and I've always been able to get a signoff when I needed one. Actaully I suspect our training dept ONLY hires CFIs.

Majors may not have as many CFI's since they have more ex-military guys who would use their ATP as their 121 instructor authorization.

 

[wmuflyguy]

What if your company does AQP? Where there is only a Manuevers day and a LOE every 9 months. does that count as a BFR?

 

[MauleSkinner]

does the same then hold true for Instrument proficiency checks?

Assuming you're referring to a 135 ride counting for instrument proficiency, SIC's do not take an instrument proficiency check...The specific regs are:

135.293, which is company specific stuff, regulations, and aircraft knowlege/proficiency. Both PIC and SIC are checked. This is what the Flight Review would be based on.

135.297, which is the "instrument proficiency" check, is only required of PIC's.

So, no. SIC checkrides under 135 do not count as an IPC.

Fly safe!

David