Gary Baker
Well Known Member
The FAA has just opened the comment period for allowing a qualified second pilot in the cockpit during Phase I test flights. After more than a year of hard work, the final draft of the Additional Pilot Program, informally known as ?2nd Pilot,? is available for public comment. The program will be administered via an AC, with the working title AC 90-APP ?Additional Pilot Program for Phase I Flight Test.? You can find it on this page: http://www.faa.gov/aircraft/draft_docs/afs_ac/ (direct link to the document: http://www.faa.gov/aircraft/draft_docs/media/afs/AC_90-APP_Coord_Copy.pdf).
There is some background info in the beginning of the AC as to why the second pilot (Qualified Pilot) must meet certain flight experience requirements to be in the aircraft during the first eight hours of flight time. Yes, this proposed AC will allow the Qualified Pilot to be onboard the aircraft for the first flight. After the first eight hours and specific flight tests have been completed, the strict requirements are lessened and the second pilot can be another private pilot (Observer Pilot).
As one of many people involved in helping to create this program, I can assure you that there was very intensive discussion so that there was value added to each flight, not just another body.
The comment period is open until July 29, and I am sure that the FAA will be holding some forums through too the week at Oshkosh.
There is some background info in the beginning of the AC as to why the second pilot (Qualified Pilot) must meet certain flight experience requirements to be in the aircraft during the first eight hours of flight time. Yes, this proposed AC will allow the Qualified Pilot to be onboard the aircraft for the first flight. After the first eight hours and specific flight tests have been completed, the strict requirements are lessened and the second pilot can be another private pilot (Observer Pilot).
As one of many people involved in helping to create this program, I can assure you that there was very intensive discussion so that there was value added to each flight, not just another body.
The comment period is open until July 29, and I am sure that the FAA will be holding some forums through too the week at Oshkosh.