Originally Posted by
NightIP
It's funny, a few of us sat around today and tried to figure that one out. An FO is required under IFR if 1) the Captain is on high mins, or 2) the autopilot is inop. I'm not sure how the FOs here are logging the time on crystal clear VMC days, but apparently the guy doing the ATP rides for the company doesn't mind how they're logging it. Can any current FOs clarify that?
I do this on a daily basis in King Airs. As I understand it, an SIC is required under part 135 unless the "autopilot in lieu of second in command" waiver is approved and in the company's ops specs. My company only has this waiver for its Barons, not the King Airs (even though they all were originally certified for one pilot and all have autopilots installed.) I believe the key is in the wording of the waiver. It says something to the effect of "an autopilot
may be used in lieu of an SIC." If it said "an autopilot
must be used in lieu of an SIC," then it would be a different story. Since the rule gives the operator the option of using the autopilot or not, an SIC can fly the airplane and the autopilot can be operational at the same time. The other caveat to this is that the SIC must have a current 135.293 checkride in the airplane.
I'm on beer 3 or 4 so let me know if any of this doesn't make sense.