Dash 8 Q 300 Single Pilot?

[fendant]

I ( simple SLF) was recently on a scheduled flight on a Caribbean airline.
When we boarded we saw the Captain in the left hand seat chatting with the FA.

The plane took off with the right hand seat empty for a 30 min hop in perfect VFR flying conditions.

Was this legal by any standard?

[Boingboingdriver]

Dash8?

Sounds dodgy.How many seats were fitted in this aircraft?

Capt STD

[PENKO]

My bets are that you mistoke a female FO for an FA. Or that that weird dude with a high vis jacket was not the garbageman with but actually the FO returning from his walkaround.

[FlyingOfficerKite]

If the right hand seat was empty when you took off - then it was EMPTY - no matter who you might have thought should have been in it!

The DHC8-300 is certified for flight with a minimum of TWO pilots (I flew one for 2 years) as is the case with most modern airliners (jet or turboprop).

Whilst it may be physically possible (?) to fly single crew it is more than 'dodgy'!!!

Hard to believe if it's true - but then again!!!

FOK

[PENKO]

But that's the thing, he only saw the seat empty when he boarded. At least, that's what he writes.

[Boingboingdriver]

if it were really a Dash8 , ask for some of your money back since they only payed the Capt.If they dont, complain to their CAA

[Mad (Flt) Scientist]

Isn't being able to see, as a pax, the copilot seat empty a pretty obvious violation of the "locked cockpit door" rules as well as any limitations re number of pilots?

[boeingbus2002]

How do you know its a Dash 8? Perhaps an Islander instead? Similar to untrained eye. High wing..twin props.
And you would also be able to see the flightdeck as no door!

[PENKO]

FA's don't fit in Islanders

OK, let's be honest. I do not believe for one second that there was no pilot in the right hand seat during the flight. So see my first post, there must be an explanation.

[testpanel]

on a Caribbean airline.

Maybe thatīs it?????????

[PENKO]

Says someone from Spain.

[Boingboingdriver]

hmm not sure it could never happen,few years back jumpseating on Northwest(thanks guys!),the pilots let me read the newspaper handed to them from their handling agent.
~Due to delays,fodidnt show up,captain flew alone (in africa,forgot the country)and got stuck in the toilets during flight..cockpit door had to be forced into

[Hansard]

Was it a DHC-6 Twin Otter with no cockpit door?

[Sam Rutherford]

Shame that Fendant never came back with further info...