I got a call the other day from a guy who runs a part 91 op. He wants me to sit right seat with him in a turboprop and says that I can log the time as SIC. The airplane is deff single pilot certified, being that he flies it himself all year. I know the experience would be great, but I dont know if I could legally log the time. Hes not sending me to any type of formal traning, so im worried that if I go to any type of corporate interview im screwed. I know I could prob rip out the POH and pick his brain about the airplane, but more importantly, is the time legit. Thanks in advance.

 

You can log anything you want, but for the FAA and any interview, the time has little value. Might be OK if the guy lets you fly and gets you checked out. On the otherhand, you sound new enough I should be directing you back to something with a future in it. Try dental school!

Z

 

i have about 200 hours of multi PIC, and im an MEI, but i the opportunity looked good thinking I could just add to my experience. When you say it will have little value in an interview, do you mean they will completely ignore it as total time?

 

"Everything Explained for the Professional Pilot" has a specific section on this topic. Wonderful book by the way. I believe it says something to the effect of if the airplane type certificate only requires one pilot then you cannot legally log it unless you are the "sole manipulator of the controls". Even if the company or insurance wants 2 pilots, the time technically still doesn't count. That's not to say you wouldn't gain any experience from it, it's just not going to help you any in an interview. I don't have the book in front of me, it is down at my crashpad, if you want I'll send you a message in a few days with a scan of the page if you haven't completely answered your question by then.

 

that would be great..thanks for the feedback

 

It's worth the "experience" regardless if you can log it or not. Since it's a turbine, are you High-Alt endorsed? You definately need that sign-off before you can log anything except dual-recieved. SIC=Nope PIC=questionable TT=Sure can, but be able to talk about this aircraft.

 

Airlines and others are quite sticky about what kind of time you log. I would suggest you only log legal SIC or PIC time. BTW, most want the totally legit PIC time you spend as an instructor pulled out of that number. Not saying it won't be good from a learning point of view, but the time is not valued in an airline/frac interview.

 

Ewfflyer is right. The couple of hrs of time are not worth much. But the experience of the aircraft can help you to diversify.

 

You hit the nail on the head. Aviation can be a huge disapointment, stop and think about your options before it consumes you. Gulfstream-IV driving all over the planet for low wages, long duty days and weeks on end away from home and family is really depressing. Probably not what you were looking for but equally as important to understand before sacrificing it all and regreting it. People are turning and running from the industry, failing companies, low pay, layoffs, poor quality of life, dysfunctional flight departments, and the pressure to fly unsafe airplanes. At the end of the day, do you see yourself pulling into a crap hotel late in the night and not having eaten for 10 hours, having to deal with maintenance about a broken airplane during your rest period, having enough time to grab a few hours of sleep and then climb back into your seat with unhappy crew members, thankless passengers and do it again. Now, lets see, logging of flight time in order to get one of these crappy jobs? Don't bother! Go to Dental school or something else, make great money, have a life and hire some lame like me to fly you to any destination of your choice, and I will even thank you and beg for your business again. That is corporate aviation in its simple raw form. Best wishes.

 

Thanks for the advice, much appreciated...but unfortunately, i dont see myself doing anything else. I fly with a bunch of financial guys who work on wallstreet who are absolutely miserable, and even docs who complain about how they have no life. I deff dont see myself sitting behind an excel spread sheet for then next 40 years. That i DO know. The industry seems ****ty right now, but I have hopes that it will one day turn around. Where will I be in a year once the joy of college life comes to a screeching halt? NOO f*&^king clue, but like ever corporate pilot ive talked to, my time will come. Eventually. Hah.