There is a YouTube video featuring a guy named Tom who apparently does all sorts of cool things. For this show, his challenge is to take off and land an actual next-gen Boeing 737.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcrpR1YI1qc

He gets a work-up in the simulator, and the climax of the show has him sitting as an FO with a CKA in the CA seat, another pilot (probably qualified) in the jump seat, and a camera guy. He takes off and lands the 737, a bit shakily.

Right away, I thought "This cannot be legal". The 737 is certified for two qualified pilots, and this guy has at best an SEL rating, if that.

Q. for the hive - is this stunt legal? Assuming the jump-seater is qualified, what is the plan for an engine blowing up at V1? Swap seats really fast?

 

Why would it not be legal? How do you think they trained pilots before the days of Level D sims?

 

If this occurred in the US, it would be legal as long as the instructor pilot was typed in the airplane and had the appropriate CFI certificate (CFI MEL).

The fact that the instructor is a check airman allows him to train pilots employed by the 121/135 operator, but does not automatically allow him to teach the general public. He needs a CFI cert for that, which he almost certainly has. But not all 121 check airmen have a CFI cert, it's not a requirement although most usually have one that they acquired early in their careers.

I suspect the rules in Europe are similar.

 

So from that perspective, it would be entirely legal for a type rated 737 guy to buy a 737, and give "adventure" rides, letting anyone fly in the right seat, with passengers in the back. But oops, the aircraft is certified for two pilots.

At a minimum, the right seat needs someone with AT LEAST a MEL rating. AFAIK, the guy in the right seat of this show has NO rating at all. He may have an SEL.

I may be completely wrong, and confused. How can an aircraft that is certified for two pilots, get by with only one?

 

Granted it was the Navy but I flew both the SH-60B and E-2C with midshipmen, politicians, NFOs, and a plethora of other non rated people.

Had the hours and the instructor qualification.

 

Under U.S. rules, if he was a "student pilot" it would not be legal. That much is pretty specific. If he had at least a PPL it could be legal I believe.

61.89 (b) A student pilot may not act as a required pilot flight crewmember on any aircraft for which more than one pilot is required by the type certificate of the aircraft or regulations under which the flight is conducted, except when receiving flight training from an authorized instructor on board an airship, and no person other than a required flight crewmember is carried on the aircraft.

 

Rick, I don't think that your statement about having a CFII-MEI is correct. See below a type rated ATP can instruct they can also instruct in category and class without a CFI.


§61.167 Airline transport pilot privileges and limitations.

(2) A person who holds an airline transport pilot certificate and has met the aeronautical experience requirements of §61.159 and the age requirements of §61.153(a)(1) of this part may instruct—

(i) Other pilots in air transportation service in aircraft of the category, class, and type, as applicable, for which the airline transport pilot is rated and endorse the logbook or other training record of the person to whom training has been given;

(ii) In flight simulators, and flight training devices representing the aircraft referenced in paragraph (a)(2)(i) of this section, when instructing under the provisions of this section and endorse the logbook or other training record of the person to whom training has been given;

(iii) Only as provided in this section, except that an airline transport pilot who also holds a flight instructor certificate can exercise the instructor privileges under subpart H of this part for which he or she is rated; and

(iv) In an aircraft, only if the aircraft has functioning dual controls, when instructing under the provisions of this section.

(3) Excluding briefings and debriefings, an airline transport pilot may not instruct in aircraft, flight simulators, and flight training devices under this section—

(i) For more than 8 hours in any 24-consecutive-hour period; or

(ii) For more than 36 hours in any 7-consecutive-day period.

(4) An airline transport pilot may not instruct in Category II or Category III operations unless he or she has been trained and successfully tested under Category II or Category III operations, as applicable.