Originally Posted by
dera
Nothing in Cato, Nichols, Tarsa etc letters are 100% relevant to this question, they merely touch it but don't directly answer this question. If a company has A015, Tarsa says it does not _mandate_ the operator to use it. But there is nothing in the legal interpretations that says you can use the autopilot while SIC logs SIC time as pilot not flying.
Starting at the end of page 2 of the Nichols letter is on point — 135 in a single-pilot certified aircraft. With A015, an operative AP, and a hunk of meat in the right seat, the only way that hunk of meat logs SIC time is if the AP is not used the entire flight. So you can’t just throw anybody in the right seat. The aircraft has to be equipped properly for the other seat, there has to be a CVR, and the SIC must be Part 61 IFR current. So, when can an SIC be required in a SP aircraft, with A015? Lower than standard takeoffs and when planned flight time for a duty period exceeds 8 hrs.
Put these “SIC-ish” hours on the application for an ATP at your own risk.