Cruise pilot Vs Relief Pilot

[magyar]

What (if any is the difference between these two) I thought i read somewhere long ago that a CRUISE pilot can have a cat 2 medical and only be allowed to fly the plane above 10000ft and only to relieve the duty of the main crew, is any of this true?

[Lear45XR]

Part VII - Commercial Air Services
Canadian Aviation Regulations 2009-2

Standard 725 SCHEDULE III - PILOT PROFICIENCY CHECK (PPC) - CRUISE RELIEF PILOT (CRP)
Content last revised: 1998/03/234

(1) Flight Planning and Equipment Examination

(a) Flight planning and equipment examinations are not mandatory when there are, in the training records, written examinations from initial or annual training for which the validity period has not expired.
(amended 1998/03/23; previous version)

(b) Flight planning shall include the CRP's knowledge of the air operator's Standard Operating Procedures and the Aeroplane Flight Manual.
(amended 1998/03/23; previous version)

(c) The equipment examination shall consist of a display of practical knowledge of the aeroplane systems including normal, abnormal and emergency operating procedures.
(amended 1998/03/23; previous version)

(2) Aeroplane Manoeuvres

(a) climb and descent shall be demonstrated as well as climbing and descending turns;

(b) steep turns shall be demonstrated;

(c) approach to stalls in the clean configuration shall be demonstrated;

(d) manoeuvring the aeroplane at minimum and maximum speeds (mach) at optimum altitude;
(amended 1998/03/23; previous version)

(e) auto-pilot use shall be demonstrated, including during normal climb and descent and turbulence; and
(amended 1998/03/23; previous version)

(f) steep turns and approach to stalls are not required if the PPC is conducted via either a LOFT scenario, a scripted PPC or on a fly-by-wire aeroplane; and
(amended 1998/03/23; previous version)

(i) for an initial PPC on aeroplane type, steep turns and approach to stalls have been satisfactorily demonstrated during initial training;
(amended 1998/03/23; previous version)

(ii) for a semi-annual PPC if:
(amended 1998/03/23; previous version)

(A) steep turns and approach to stalls are required in the applicable annual training syllabus and they have been satisfactorily demonstrated during this training; or
(amended 1998/03/23; previous version)

(B) steep turns and approaches to stalls are not required in the applicable annual training syllabus.
(amended 1998/03/23; previous version)

(3) Normal procedures

The CRP shall demonstrate use of as many of the air operator's approved Standard Operating procedures and normal procedures for installed systems, devices and aids as are necessary to confirm that the CRP has the knowledge and ability to properly use installed equipment.

(4) Abnormal and Emergency Procedures

The CRP shall demonstrate use of as many of the air operator's Standard Operating Procedures and abnormal and emergency procedures for as many of the emergency situations relating to cruise flight as are necessary to confirm that the CRP has an adequate knowledge and ability to perform these procedures.

(5) Instrument Rating Renewal

All of the manoeuvres required to satisfy renewal of an Instrument Rating shall be part of the proficiency check.

Pilot Qualifications

705.106 (1) Subject to subsection (3), no air operator shall permit a person to act and no person shall act as the pilot-in-command, second-in-command or cruise relief pilot of an aircraft unless the person

(a) holds the licence, ratings and endorsements required by Part IV;

(b) within the previous 90 days,

(i) has completed at least three take-offs and three landings as the pilot at the controls and one sector assigned to duty as a flight crew member in an aircraft of that type,

(ii) has completed five sectors assigned to duty as a flight crew member in an aircraft of that type, or

(iii) has fulfilled the training requirements set out in the Commercial Air Service Standards;

(c) has successfully completed a pilot proficiency check, the validity period of which has not expired, for that type of aircraft, in accordance with the Commercial Air Service Standards;

(d) has successfully completed or is undergoing a line check or line indoctrination training, the validity period of which has not expired, for that type of aircraft, in accordance with the Commercial Air Service Standards; and

(e) has fulfilled the requirements of the air operator's training program.

(2) A pilot who does not meet the requirements of subparagraph (1)(b)(i) or (ii) shall regain competency in accordance with the Commercial Air Service Standards.

(3) An air operator may permit a person to act and a person may act as the pilot-in-command or second-in-command of an aircraft where the person does not meet the requirements of subsection (1), if

(a) the aircraft is operated on a training, ferry or positioning flight; or

(b) the air operator

(i) is authorized to do so in its air operator certificate, and

(ii) complies with the Commercial Air Service Standards.

(4) A pilot shall, on successful completion of a pilot proficiency check, meet the requirements of the consolidation period in accordance with the Commercial Air Service Standards.

[Lost in Saigon]

What (if any is the difference between these two) I thought i read somewhere long ago that a CRUISE pilot can have a cat 2 medical and only be allowed to fly the plane above 10000ft and only to relieve the duty of the main crew, is any of this true?

It would depend on which country you are licenced in. Each country that has that type of position sets their own rules. In Canada it is called Cruise Relief Pilot. You only fly above 10,000', and you do need a Cat 1 medical.

EDIT: In Canada the regulations actually only allow the Cruise Relief Pilot to fly for the cuising portion of flight. At Air Canada this usually means the CRP will be in the jumpseat for the first 30 minutes and last 30 minutes when the aircraft is climbing or descending. Most Captains bend the rules a little, and let the CRP into the seat between 10,000' and cruise. Some even let the CRP sit there when below 10.000'.

http://www.tc.gc.ca/civilaviation/regse ... ds/725.htm

A captain or first officer may be relieved by a cruise relief pilot providing the cruise relief pilot:

(a) holds a Commercial Pilot License and is endorsed on the aeroplane type as a Cruise Relief Pilot;

(b) holds a valid Group I Instrument Rating;

(c) is qualified in accordance with section 705.106 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations;

(d) has successfully completed an approved ground and flight training course for a cruise relief pilot;

(e) has passed a cruise relief pilot proficiency check, consisting of the items in section 725.106 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations, Schedule III, conducted by an approved check pilot;

(f) has completed annual recurrent ground and synthetic training device training;

(g) has passed a cruise relief pilot line check conducted by an approved check pilot; and

(h) where the cruise relief pilot relieves the captain:

(i) the first officer is designated to act as pilot-in-command or is delegated with the responsibility for the safe operation of the aeroplane;

(ii) the first officer holds a valid Air Transport Pilot License; and

(iii) relief occurs during the cruise phase of flight only; and

(i) where the cruise relief pilot relieves the first officer:

(i) relief occurs during the cruise phase of flight only

[magyar]

so what the heack, would air canada hire someone as a cruise relif pilot only? how do the qualifications differ? i am guessing you still need an ifr rating? what is a cat 2 medical good for then anyway?

[whiteguy]

so what the heack, would air canada hire someone as a cruise relif pilot only? how do the qualifications differ? i am guessing you still need an ifr rating? what is a cat 2 medical good for then anyway?

At AC a cruise pilot is trained to the same standards as an FO.

[Lost in Saigon]

No one is hired as a Cruise Relief Pilot only. I would guess that most Air Canada pilots are hired with about 4,000-5,000 hours. Some with much more. Once hired, you will typically start as Embraer FO, 767 or 777 RP, or even A320 FO. After that you can bid on any position that your seniority will hold.

Cruise Relief Pilot can be an entry level position, but there are also some Air Canada pilots with 10-15 years seniority and 20,000 hours flying as "cruisers".

[robshelle]

Cat 2 medical is for ATC Licenses.