Originally Posted by
johnnysnow
I work for a 135 op that has an FAA approved SIC program. Per the FAA's requirement, the SIC is trained and tested to the same standard as the 135 PIC's. They even get an 8410 that has to be kept on record with the company. They legally can manipulate the controls, as well as log PIC time for any duration of the flight that they are the sole manipulator, as long as of course a legal PIC is next to them.
As for when they are not the sole manipulator, this is where it gets tricky. I've read the letter that was sent to the company from the FAA in Washington in regards to this very topic. The letter stated that these SICs can "act as SIC" but because the plane is certified for one pilot only, "under no circumstances shall they log SIC". From what I understand if you touch the controls, it's PIC, if you don't, it's not even flight time.
That being said, we are a cargo op. If the regs require an SIC even though the plane does not require it (example: FAR 135.105), I imagine you would be able to to log it as SIC.
Let me state that this is my understanding, and by no means an exaustive one. However, I've seen the documents from the FAA and it seems very compelling.
Hope this helps
Nice writeup. I do think that it's a bit different with Cape because in being a scheduled commuter carrier with multiengine airplanes, an ATP is legally required to act as PIC on a live leg. I'm pretty certain FOs are only allowed to log SIC on a 135 leg unless they have an ATP, in which case they wouldn't be flying as an FO in the first place.
Hell, I dunno. This was the subject of a pretty good watercooler discussion I had with a few other pilots a few weeks back. That was the consensus. Could be horribly wrong.
