viking767

Ameriflight Petitions FAA for SIC Exemption
As of August 1, first officers for U.S. Part 121 air carriers will need to have logged at least 1,500 hours as well as meeting other requirements. The new regulations, however, do not address the quality of the logged time, and cargo operator Ameriflight has petitioned the FAA to allow pilots to log more time when flying as second-in-command (SIC) in Part 135 cargo operations where just one pilot is required. The petition was filed in February but just recently went live for public comment. Under certain circumstances, SIC pilots can log a small amount of time when flying on single-pilot cargo flights, but Ameriflight believes that aviation would benefit from the exemption, which, if approved, would allow other operators to file similar exemption petitions. “SICs…would gain real-world flying experience under the supervision of a qualified captain,” Ameriflight noted. And future airline pilots would gain experience far more beneficial than logging time teaching, flying traffic watch, banner towing and so on to bridge the gap between freshly licensed sub-300-hour commercial pilots and the new 1,500-hour minimum.

block30

Why would Ameriflight want to do this?

R57 relay

My guess is so they can sell the right seat.

I have to agree with them though. My first "airline job" was in the right seat of a B-99, a single pilot aircraft, but required a F/O if there was no autopilot(I think that was what it was-long time ago). That is where I really learned to fly, with up to 8 legs a day.

undflyboy06

When I was there, I heard that GR makes about $1 Million a year due to the FO program. It's all about the money boys.

DaRaiders

Another Cargo Cutout

viking767

Who is GR?

block30

This is my concern. I am very much in favor of developing our pilot force beyond a mere 250 hours....but taking advantage of pilots in the process? Paying to sit right seat in single pilot operations? I am tired of seeing pilots being used as an ATM to paraphrase Mr. Sullenberger. :/

Like when Roger Cohen said that pilots get paid to fly airplanes, and that's pretty cool...what upper management thinks of pilots and what we offer is ridiculous and out of touch.

Da40Pilot

Please correct me if I am mistaken, but, I believe they are doing that already, which is why they are begging for the exception.

I think they're selling seats in the Beech and the Metroliner already through Eagle Jet International.

Look:

Eagle Jet International, Inc.

and

Eagle Jet Flight Training and Sales, Piston Flight Training and Jet Sales, Airplane Sales.

R57 relay

I don't know, I haven't kept up with all of them.

That was the issue I had with the new law, that it was going to force more things like this. Where will guys get 1500 hrs these days? I would rather the FAA kept the old rules, but require more training based on the flight time and quality of the flight time.

props4ever

I know the faa shut down key lime airs pay to play program.