SODAs and the Airlines
 

Statement Of Demonstrated Ability (SODA) that is. I was born without my right hand. Needless to say, my flight training was a long, interesting, and at times, stressful experience. Long story short, after four SODAs, I became (mostly) restriction free. April 15th will be my fifth SODA medical flight test with the local FSDO. I will be taking the check ride in a C90B. After the successful completion of this check ride, I am on track to be hired with Pinnacle or be given an interview with American Eagle.

The question I am wanting to ask is not a matter of ability. I lack my right hand but am confident that I can fly any aircraft. My question goes out to those right seaters in the CRJ-200, ATR, Q-400, or Saab 340. Without getting to know me necessarily, what are your thoughts about my situation over flying as a right seater on one of these previously mentioned aircraft? Do you foresee any issues that I may have during sim training or over flying the actual aircraft?

I appreciate your inputs.

If you can fly a King Air, you can fly a Saab.

If I may ask, what sort of prosthesis do you have?

I guess my first question is how you actuate/guard both the throttles and yoke at the same time.

Have you flown from the right seat in any aircraft? With only electric trim? I don't know anything about the c90b. I'm an ex-crj fo (5+ years) and now a FO on a Embraer product.

I'm just trying to grasp how you manage it, in order to see what issues there might be.

Just off the top of my head maybe operating some of the yoke buttons could be yough...but then again I really have no idea as I don't have any experience with this type of thing.

All the best.

I can't offer you any advice as I have no personal experience with your type of situation.

I will, however, say that I greatly admire your determination and drive to do what you love despite roadblocks.

A most sincere good luck to you sir!

I agree with the words of encouragement and wish you the best of luck. When I actually get into the Saab in a couple of months perhaps I could offer better advice.

I had a flight instructor, one of my favorites, who lost his leg in a motorcycle accident as well as losing the ability to bend his remaining leg. He had a special device built to help actuate the rudders with his free hand and he was leading a very fulfilling career as an instructor and check pilot in my college 141 program. He was a former Army King Air guy and taught me more about CRM than I ever could have hoped to learn in school.

Keep it up. It's guys like you that blaze a path so others have the opportunity to follow. Let me know if I can help.

I think you can help him by answering his question and giving me 2 million dollars and an invitation to the Royal wedding.

To the OP, I would imagine if you can fly the King Air then it wouldn't be a problem to manipulate the controls of an RJ or 121 prop. I think it would be harder to fly a tprop as it's more legs per day while RJ you stay on auto pilot most of the time a few flights per day. But I'm curious as to how you actually manipulate the power and controls now.

I was referring to helping him get hired at my airline. You want to go to a wedding? Wow man.

She's hot man.

I can't offer any help with (SODAS), but if you have any questions about Pinnacle PM me... Hope everything goes well for ya!!!