Beech 1900 is now single pilot approved

[N181CS]

A stall speed above 81 knots. Stall is 84kts.

[goingnowherefast]

"...a stall speed (Vso) of 80 KIAS or greater"

http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regu ... l#s-400.01

[Meatservo]

It's not a mythical airplane that requires two pilots to fly it safely.

I knew it! Aeroplanes that require two pilots to fly them are mythological!!

Why does ANY aeroplane need two pilots? No, I'm not being facetious*- I mean other than regulatory requirements, or the manufacturer designating it as such, what it the other person for? I suppose if the cockpit is so wide you can't press all the buttons without getting up?

You don't need an F.O. to hump boxes- that's true- but does that mean you DO need one to carry passengers? I wonder why? Serving drinks?



*Well actually I suppose I am.

[toelessjoe]

Personally I'm not a big fan of ANY airplane being flown single pilot IFR but I digress....

The mighty 1900 is no more difficult to fly than a king air 90, which obviously you can fly around in alone all day long. Recently I was given an incapacitated pilot scenario in the sim. Oddly enough I not only was able to reach everything and get sh!t done but I actually lived. It's basically just a big king air.

- Toeless.

[Nark]

Meatservo,

I'm pretty sure the manufacturer designated it single pilot, or else the several hundred, if not thousand of pilots here in the states that fly it single pilot are bona-fide hero's.

TC by regulation I guess. I haven't looked at the CARs since 2004 nor do I care too.

[Meatservo]

Meatservo,

I'm pretty sure the manufacturer designated it single pilot, or else the several hundred, if not thousand of pilots here in the states that fly it single pilot are bona-fide hero's.

TC by regulation I guess. I haven't looked at the CARs since 2004 nor do I care too.

Oh without a doubt. Not really what I was getting at.

1) Doesn't have much to do with why anyone would need a co-pilot. I've flown a lot of aeroplanes that were designated as "two crew" by the manufacturer. I haven't ever come across one that I wouldn't have been able to fly all by myself, perfectly easily. Except maybe for being able to reach a button or switch without getting up, but "meh"... who needs 'em? Why would you want a co-pilot?

2) Don't they have an "AvAmerica" for you to hang out on, you know, if you don't care to look at C.A.R.S. and such?

[goingnowherefast]

Would an airplane that is un-flyable with only 1 pilot be certifiable? I know it's rare, but pilot incapacitation happens. Every couple years, there's a news story about some airliner being landed by the FO because the captain died.

[PositiveRate27]

A friend of mine was recently phoned by one of the regionals for an interview and was told that because the 1900 is now considered single pilot by TC his IATRA is not frozen and will expire in a few months. Is there any validity to this? Do pilots who hold a valid 1900 PPC in the right seat have to now retake their IATRA exams every 2 years?

[Nark]

Oh without a doubt. Not really what I was getting at.

1) Doesn't have much to do with why anyone would need a co-pilot. I've flown a lot of aeroplanes that were designated as "two crew" by the manufacturer. I haven't ever come across one that I wouldn't have been able to fly all by myself, perfectly easily. Except maybe for being able to reach a button or switch without getting up, but "meh"... who needs 'em? Why would you want a co-pilot?

2) Don't they have an "AvAmerica" for you to hang out on, you know, if you don't care to look at C.A.R.S. and such?

1) I guess I missed your point.

2) There are several.

[bobcaygeon]

The CARs state that with an autopilot in a 1900 (with single pilot authority on my 0249 form (PPC)) I can fly IFR with bags or 9 passengers or less, all day.

I am however limited to 8 hrs of single pilot IFR per duty day even if only the 1st leg was single pilot. If I am operating under a 703 AOC (it is legal)
I can work a schedule that must ensure I get 5 consecutive days off in 42 days.'



Just saying...

[Nark]

Meat servo,
Looks like I'm not the only one who should spend a few more hours reading what CAR's has to say.

[Meatservo]

I'm sorry Nark, the only point I was trying to make is that even though you CAN fly a B1900 single- pilot, I don't think I would want to, even though I acknowledge it's not a "super plane" nor is it particularly difficult to fly. All I was trying to get at, is my opinion that no plane is so "super" that it takes two guys to fly it, yet some manufacturers design them or certify them to be flown by two people anyway. One would like to think it was for safety, but it has more to do with liability and money, of course. There has been a lot of talk recently about single-pilot airliners, and how soon automation and safety technology will make it possible, but this is just double-speak for "making it palatable from a litigation standpoint". All aeroplanes more or less are already able to be operated by one pilot, if you are willing to acknowledge the safety problems that are created. And these safety problems don't go away just because the aeroplane is smaller. It's just easier taking the risk of NINE wrongful-death lawsuits than it is taking the risk of ONE HUNDRED lawful-death lawsuits. That's the real difference between a single-pilot and a two-pilot aeroplane.

When I think of the typical B1900 flying IFR, I think of it flying in the dark in dirty weather at weird hours of the day. Anyone who does this all by him or herself deserves some admiration, but I daresay if you offered any one of them a co-pilot, they would probably be glad of the help sometimes!

Also I owe you an apology for suggesting you should go and post on an American forum. That was rude of me. We are all in this together.

[rigpiggy]

Cost of keeping an autopilot functioning or first officer allows longer duty days, more people etc... it's a wash

[Nark]

Meatservo,
All is well, there is no need to apologize.

If you make it to Oshkosh this year, we'll go for a rip in my Stinson. Maybe with 2 airline pilots at the controls we could manage to use the airplane again.

[Meatservo]

Very kind of you to offer. I hear Stinsons are a handful.