Originally Posted by
JohnBurke
Actually, you don't. One need not be a trained crew member to handle baggage. One need not be a trained crewmember to fuel or observe fueling. Lineboys for the company with no pilot training at all can and often do fill those functions.
I didn't say anything about handling baggage - and supervising the actual refueling process is only ONE part of what I detailed in my post. If this manifested PASSENGER is the one ordering the fuel - then yes - he does need to be trained and he would be performing crew duties - I'm sure you would agree with this.
As for what duties the OP might be performing - he has been careful not to include many details because he is obviously not aware of the the *new* FAA slant towards enforcement as he stated:
I'm tempted to call the FAA, but I am afraid I will somehow be implicated and get in trouble.
I almost don't want to risk it. What about making an anonymous phone call to the FAA?
You chose to look at his posts from a different angel than others on the thread. Doesn't make your view the only correct view. As you point out JB - without further specific details on his so-called duties - we are not sure of what his actions entail so that makes your view as speculative as any other poster.
Personally - I choose to take what he has said and infer that the company is in fact having him perform SIC/crewmember duties:
My problem is they are requiring me to act as SIC on these 135 flights without adding me to the 135 certificate. I act as a full crew member, in uniform, performing checklists and various parts of aircraft operation.
But the big boss was pretty serious about it. Sent out a company wide email about standardizing the roll of the "first officer".
In this email were a list of responsibilities for the FO, including all pre-flight duties, ensuring the proper fueling, baggage loading etc.
You say:
At no point has he indicated that he "operates" the airplane,
Actually he did - post #24. Let's assume for the fun of it that you and he both have the same definition of 'operate'
...I do, in fact, operate the aircraft in the right seat. I seem to be given full SIC responsibilities. I don't just sit there looking pretty,...
Now even without him including any more detail in his future posts if he choses too, that is enough for me to make my speculative assumptions. You are free to speculate that he only loads luggage and watches the fueling like a lineboy.