Yes, matter of a few hours, and spend most of them in the circuit I’d say. And include some X-wind landings. I also believe it is useful to stay ‘current’ regarding RHS flying.
agree with boscomantico – unless there is a limitation in the AFM (which is the case for Zlin Z-142 for example) you can fly from RHS even as non-FI/CRI. But for a start, I would recommend to fly with someone capable on the LHS, it´s simply different. You´ll get used to is pretty soon but in my view it might no granted on the first flight.
Mainly flying a sr22, so I guess (have to still check afm) it should be fine. Fuel selector in middle, dual breaks etc. the circuit breakers are a bit awkwardly positioned though.
I guess my biggest concern is wrong muscle memory in stressful situations as well as sight picture/feeling for landings. The few times when I was passenger in the rhs, I could have sworn the plane’s axis was not parallel to rwy axis, but the landings were fine.
So the ones among us who fly from rhs, how did you transition into it?
Nothing legally prevents it: PIC in RHS is ok, but then you may have some inconvenience from non-dual breaks, no electric trim, fuel selector, limited visibility in left hand circuits…although some pilots/instructors tend to exaggerate the difficulty of landings or flying IMC from RHS, maybe LHS/RHS matters with 50kts xwinds?
Some aircrafts do explicitly prohibit PIC in RHS for GPS/AP operations in AFM manual/supplement
Exactly. So, regarding the OP question, even if the left seat occupant is a pax, PIC may be on the RHS
Nothing in the European regs to ban flying from the righthand seat. There may be limitations to that effect in the AFM of some airplanes, but in most cases, there aren‘t.
Is a normal EASA PPL in an EASA registered plane allowed to be PIC from the right hand seat when flying alone? What if there is another PPL holder in the left hand seat?
If it is allowed in principle, are there any gotchas? Like an operators agreement or something that prevents this?
This might come in handy if for example you fly with a PPL friend and you are in the right hand seat and he is not instrument rated but you are. Then you can fly departures and approaches in case of non-vfr weather.
Not a legal eagle but typically the PIC signs the tech log,
What’s a tech log? We have a journey log as everywhere in France, where you also put “RAS” in the remarks column (“rien à signaler” – nothing to report). There you can surely just enter two lines, one for each PIC’s part of the flight. Agreed, a flight to nowhere would look strange if you changed in the air and never landed away. But long-haul pilots frequently do just the takeoff or just the landing as well… ok they would enter one line and not change commander, except in case of pilot incapacitation.
They do apply directly and many people hope that the FSAV and LuftBO will be deleted, but they regulate the national microlights, too, and mainly refer to EASA rules for the most parts.
