Yet I am not the only one who had it wrong. I even studied the law in college (but I am not a lawyer). Yet how many companies out there are misinterpreting the regulations? I know of at least 3 just in my own employment history, 4 if you count BTQ. Hell in my past employment history one company has a pilot flying without a commercial license for the class of aircraft he is flying. Still flying despite an investigation 2 years later. That is black and white. You either have a commercial certificate for the class of aircraft or you don't. Doesn't get any simpler than that and we are talking about a nation wide 135 who still has it wrong.


Another company hired a pilot who didn't have the correct certificates and it wasn't till he got to flight safety that it was noticed. This after being interviewed by 4 different pilots including the chief pilot, HR and various other people involved in the onboarding process. Another company Chief Pilot told me a test light not activating as required from the POH meant the aircraft was still airworthy. Even showing him in plan English, direct out of the POH that the aircraft should not fly without that light illuminating the airplane could not take off, he still argued with me the lowly line pilot.


So I am not the only one who misinterpreted the regulations. Based on the BTQ story the previous FSDO did too or they were not doing their job.


You are absolutely correct with everything you said above. Not disagreeing with you. The fact of the matter is our system is broken. This is happening at far too many companies. I don't need to give you examples because they were front page news over the last two years. The very regulation we are discussing is confusing. It clearly says a SIC is required, but then there is a exclusion that you can't find in the FARs. You have to go look elsewhere to do it. You don't think that ends up leading to misunderstandings? Apparently even the FAA didn't get it right.


Add to that pointing out the obvious incorrect interpretation of the regulation is grounds for termination in aviation (ask me how I know). If you are a young pilot just starting out are you going to speak up in the middle of ground school to tell the Chief their interpretation of the regulation is wrong? I did that once it got me fired, FAA did squat about it. Now imagine you are a brand new pilot with a thirty thousand dollar training contract just starting your career.


You are 100% correct we should know this stuff. But clearly since so many get it so wrong so often something is more wrong than one pilot who didn't read the regs enough for your liking.