Single pilot IFR

[RadicalRadial]

When I was training for my multi-IFR rating, I was under the impression that it would be the only time that I would operate a multi-engine aircraft without a co-pilot. My instructor later informed me that single pilot IFR is probably one of the most challenging jobs in the world. I was suprised that there is single pilot multi-IFR jobs out there. It makes sense now since the plane only requires a crew of one.
My question is, what sort of experience is needed to be hired for single pilot IFR in a twin? What companies operate like that? I assume it would be mainly cargo? I have 226hrs and only need to do my commercial flight test and I'm on my way. I would love to fly single pilot IFR. That would be the ultimate feeling of a rewarding job in my eyes. Thanks!

[photofly]

Check the CARs for the single pilot IFR commercial operations requirements. 723.86.

[cdnpilot77]

I will make it easier for you, SPIFR requirements in a commercial operation


The standard for the operation of an aeroplane with passengers on board in IFR flight without a second-in-command is;

a. the pilot will have a minimum of 1000 hours of flight time, which will include, if the type to be flown is multi-engine, 100 hours on multi-engine aeroplanes,

b. the pilot will have 50 hours of simulated or actual flight in IMC, and a total of 50 hours flight time on the aeroplane type.

The PPC will be in the aeroplane type flown or if applicable in one of the types grouped for PPC renewals and will include the following;

a. knowledge of the auto-pilot operations and limitations,

b. performance of normal and emergency procedures without assistance,

c. passenger briefing with respect to emergency evacuation, and

d. demonstration of the use of the auto-pilot during appropriate phases of flight.

[ahramin]

When I was involved in that kind of flying, I would look for pilots with good command time on any kind of airplane, plus at least 500 hours as a co-pilot on the general airplane type in question (jet or tubroprop).

It is way easier to turn a good co-pilot into a good single pilot IFR driver than into a good two crew captain.

Depends on the aircraft type too. It's way easier to train a low hour guy to safely fly a small turbo-prop or jet single pilot IFR than some clapped out Navajo.

[ahramin]

Single Pilot IFR isn't very common in Part VII passenger carriers, mostly limited to cargo. On the corporate side it pretty standard though.

[RadicalRadial]

Thanks for the replies, I definitely plan to fly single pilot IFR ASAP

[traveller123]

Sure you can start out SPIFR by the corporate way, but good luck to find the job, I bet you have the same chances than winning the jackpot at 649!!!! And I hope that the people who will hire you will check if you have the skills to fly alone, it's easy to kill yourself when you have only 200TT and fly single at the mins without a working AP...

[402_pilot]

Your very unlikely to get a single IFR job with 250 hours. I would look into getting in the right seat of a twin, which can happen at around 500 hours, then build your experience to become a captain on a 2 crew operation. Firstly, its safer and secondly its much better experience in the eyes of a future airline, to have lots of experience on a 2 crew operation, with a structured SOP. Unless of course, you plan to fly single IFR your whole career.

[Axial Flow]

I wouldn't aim for SPIFR right off the bat. You need to work with lots of a-hole captains so that you can appreciate the fact that when you fly single pilot you set the mood for the entire day !

Also if you are newly minted it is good to learn from many different Captains in a two crew environment. I miss flying with other guys because you can learn so much seeing how other people do things. The good and the bad...

I have been at it now for about the last 4000 hrs and I love showing up for work and being responsible for the whole show. I miss being paired up with awesome Captains or Co-Pilots but it almost equals out in the end when you take into account the cockpit Napoleons (flew with a lot of french guys or co-pilots that were hell bent on getting you violated.

As for being harder or challenging....maybe in high volume airspace when another set of eyes would be very helpful. Single Pilot I would say personal SOP's are a must because there is no safety net to catch you besides TAWS...people think I have OCD when they sit up front with me but you just can never be sure enough that the gear is either up or down or that you have put out or taken up the flaps.


Like life it takes all kinds so maybe SPIFR is your thing but I would try out all options you can before deeming one your goal...if you aren't married and don't have kids I would try a little bit of everything first. No matter all the whining and complaining on here about the worst industry in the world (which it is)...it still is the best job to be had I figure.

[Krashman]

Single pilot IFR is getting tougher and tougher for companies to in the 703 world to sell. I spent a few years flying a navajo SPIFR. At the beginning it was all charter work for a number of companies but gradually less and less of those companies own insurance requirements allowed for first off, single pilot operations and required two crew and second, the navajo all together. The Kingair started taking away a lot of the traditionally 'navajo' trips. I had gained great experience but there was no one hired behind me for the 'ho', just moonlighted when required.

Its too bad that kind of work is drying up a bit but I will admit I did find myself in situations SPIFR that I doubt even the most passive of first officers would have let me get into.

[esp803]

A goal to fly single pilot IFR? That concept seems strange to me. I find IFR to be tedious and boring, tolerable only if I have someone to talk to on either side of me. I LOVE single pilot VFR. I understand the attraction to flying alone, and hell it would be pretty cool to walk up to a challenger or citation all to your self, but so so so boring for that period between take-off and landing. To Each their own I suppose. For the record I had a little over 2k hours before my first single pilot IFR gig, and that was mostly flown VFR.... 2 ACTUAL (minimums) Approaches in 700 hours. All the other times I broke out at 1000+ above minimums (in YMA that's something like 4000agl) and don't really count them as approaches. I see single pilot IFR as a method to help me out if absolutely needed, but I try to avoid it like the plague.

E

[notpaying]

Single pilot IFR can and is very dangerous if you're not made for it. Out of experience, SPIFR is all about self preparation, motivation, setting your own minimums and the most important part, not killing yourself. Then again, it's also about where you fly to, how you get there and what machine you're flying there. There is a differnce between flying SPIFR in controlled airspace with radars available and flying SPIFR up north with no radars in somewhat conveyed airports. One mistake can rapidly kill you, mishearing your altimeter setting and not cross checking every single element can bite you in heiny real fast. If you're not confident about SPIFR and not sharp with your IFR skills, you should be sitting in a co-pilot seat and practicing approaches under supervision. My advice, since you've got 225h; avoid SPIFR be it day or night, go for skydiving ops, fire patrols, banner towing, and then hop onto the right seat of a turbine. Your learning curve will be big and safe.

[ahramin]

My SPIFR jobs were definitely the highlight of my career, but that's probably because I'm such an antisocial sonuvabitch. There is something to be said for working with great people.

As for the extreme piloting challenge of SPIFR: Horseshit. Everyone learns IFR single pilot. You're not supposed to have an instrument rating if you can't handle SPIFR. In addition, the skills required to be a safe SPIFR are just as required for 2 crew IFR.

If you don't have what it takes to fly SPIFR, you aren't ready to be paid to fly any kind of IFR.

[photofly]

That being the case, why do you think TC imposes higher flight experience requirements and minimum equipment requirements for passenger-carrying commercial IFR operations with only one pilot?

Why does TC insist you have 1000 hours PIC and a working autopilot, if you're on your own?

It suggests to me that TC thinks it's harder to fly SPIFR than IFR with two pilots, regardless of whether everyone with an IR should be up to the challenge.

[Cat Driver]

It suggests to me that TC thinks it's harder to fly SPIFR than IFR with two pilots,

Are we to believe that TC is the benchmark for deciding what is important and what is less important?

Common sense would dictate that single pilot IFR is more difficult than two or more pilot IFR.

[thatlowtimer]

I wouldn't bring TC into this, if they thought it was that big of a deal they would ban it.

[shimmydampner]

I would love to fly single pilot IFR. That would be the ultimate feeling of a rewarding job in my eyes. Thanks!

I promise you that no matter where your interests in aviation lie, there are far more rewarding flying jobs out there.

[ahramin]

That being the case, why do you think TC imposes higher flight experience requirements and minimum equipment requirements for passenger-carrying commercial IFR operations with only one pilot?

I don't know for sure but I would guess that it is to mitigate the risk of not having a second pilot looking over your shoulder. Don't get me wrong, SPIFR is more difficult in many situations, especially emergencies, but it's certainly not so difficult that it should be looked upon as something that only certain pilots can do.

Think of it this way, the most dangerous thing to an airplane is the pilot. There are many ways to mitigate that danger. In the case of TC they mitigate it for commercial passenger ops by either having 2 pilots or by requiring a certain amount of experience. In the case of the military, they mitigate it with rigorous training and checklists. In my case, I mitigated it with a bit of experience and a lot of training and guidance.

[Dagwood]

Out of experience, SPIFR is all about self preparation, motivation, setting your own minimums

Interesting point. Should I be setting my own minimums higher or lower than what's in the Cap?

[human garbage]

While the goal is admirable, I think you should get a solid background flying IFR first.

I've done my share of SPIFR in the 'Ho. I'm still alive to type this because of the experience I gained from running two crew with some awesome mentors as Captains. Once you have those experiences as a base, only then are you ready to head out solo IMHO.

You have to remember there is a lot of work SPIFR. Unless you are proficient at it, there will be issues keeping up. Tuning, flipping charts, running checklists, filling OFPs, radio/clearances, all while monitoring progress/AP can be tough. You can't fall behind. Its your ass.

Don't forget... As others have stated, most SPIFR is cargo these days. Don't underestimate the toll loading 10,000 lbs. over a shift can take on you! I've been so tired it has taken a real effort before. No bueno.

Once you are competent, I'm sure you will enjoy it. I do. If nothing else the empty seat is a great place to store your stuff...

[RadicalRadial]

I don't think I would want to fly single pilot IFR with the experience I have even if it was sufficient for TC. I have heard quite a few stories of scary situations in single pilot IFR so I've been under the impression that it is high risk from the beginning. Although I do look forward to the day I am able to fly single pilot IFR, I think 1000hrs is a good amount of experience required.

[Skyhunter]

21 years single pilot, before ever flying multi-crew. Some of it pretty complex IFR stuff, some not, and a lot of it without an autopilot. It isn't that big a deal, and for me I prefer single pilot, weather IFR or VFR. Experience, yes it helps, but not near as much as good training, discipline and pilot skills. I flown with some 10k + hour guys I would not want up front single pilot, and some 250 hr guys that I would easily trust with my life. Not saying experience isn't important, just that it isn't everything. There are airplanes that really need two qualified crew to operate to their full potential, but for aircraft made for single pilot, I way prefer it. Don't have to worry about making conversation or deciding things over a committee. And if you can't do it, what happens if your Capt gets incapacitated?

[shimmydampner]

deciding things over a committee

Why would you need to do that? The skipper calls the shots whether it's single pilot or two crew.

[ahramin]

deciding things over a committee

Why would you need to do that? The skipper calls the shots whether it's single pilot or two crew.

Because if you don't, there isn't any point in having the second crew member is there?

[photofly]

And if you can't do it, what happens if your Capt gets incapacitated?

And if you do do it, what happens if you yourself get incapacitated!?