I was thinking of grabbing a ride on a Cape Air flight later this week. Any info anyone can provide on how well this has been working out for them? Do pax occupy the right front seat on full flights or does it stay vacant (and an opportunity to j/s). Is w/b a big problem during the winter months on the 421? Thanks for any info.

Fly safe.

 

I can't comment on the W/B issues, but have used them from BOS successfully. Helpful, laid back agents in my experience. My experiences have been with fairly full flights (I was pax 8 of 9) and I was all the way in the back with a regular pax up front. (That's ok, I've got plenty of front-seat 402 time anyway....). Seems they could take a full boat with lots of luggage no problem, but this was summer weights with good VFR. Hope this helps a bit.

 

You didn't mention if he had to shave his beard off ,or wear a white shirt.

 

Hey Poprocket, the front seat is available to revenue passengers, so unfortunately if it's booked to 9 you'll get left at the gate as a jumpseater.

Weight and balance really shouldn't be a problem on the shorter routes unless you really get Bubba and his wife Bertha packin' it in there with the kids and 300 lbs of luggage. All of the aircraft are modified to increase MGTOW and MLW, but we do use actual passenger weights, not standard. Generally if everyone's weight averages 200 lbs or less, 9 people plus bags is fine. The only snafu might be on the longer north country EAS routes during the winter where pilots tanker fuel out of the hub into the stronger headwinds. That becomes an issue on the SLK, PBG, RUT flights normally. Those weight restrict to 8 quite a bit, but most pilots are good about holding off the fuel order if it's booked to 8 or 9 to ensure that everyone gets on.

Anyway, let me know if you have any more questions. We're always happy to have jumpseaters.

 

I jumped on them once. It was pretty easy, just like any other airline. I went from an outstation into BOS. I called the day before to get my name on the list just in case I had problems at the counter. There was only one passenger on my flight and me. I sat in front. Wish I had brought a headset or some ear plugs. It was pretty loud.

 

I'm confused about the right seat being available to pasengers. I was just looking at the pilot jobs section of Cape Air and I see requirements listed for first officer on the 402. Is this aircraft a single pilot or two pilot operation?

 

It's...both. Kinda strange that way. Even though the airplane is type certificated for one pilot, 135 passenger rules require an SIC for any flights done under IFR. However, we have the ops spec that allows us to fly IFR single-pilot provided we have an operating autopilot. On flights done single-pilot a passenger can sit in the right seat, but sometimes we have an FO sitting there when the autopilot's MEL'd or the CA is on high mins. Sometimes there's an FO scheduled just so they can build time and experience for upgrade. Upgrade isn't seniority based here. If you have ATP mins you go to class.

 

What's the number to call and list?

 

Nothing like getting bumped, because the Captain needs to add 200 lbs more fuel. " Honest I'm not as heavy as I look"

 

All great info. I appreciate it all. That J/S phone number would be handy, or is it just their regular reservations number? Do they give you the loads if you ask?