Originally Posted by
Luc Lion
The real issues that have a causal relationship with this accident are:
- was the pilot trained and current for flying in IMC at night ?
- why wasn't a commercial pilot at the controls of that plane, if it is confirmed that the actual conditions of the flight match private carriage operation as defined under FAR 91.501(b)(4).
To me, as the flight was organised in the first place, it should have been manned with a CPL (IR) pilot.
He was NOT rated to fly an N reg either IMC or at night. Check the FAA airman database yourself. He held an FAA private without Instrument Rating. Even if there turned out to be UK IR(r) or IMC/Night Rating that did not allow him to fly at night outside the UK.
Single pistons are NOT permitted to carry out commercial air transport at night anyway. So I do not see the logic that
"it should have been manned with a CPL because it was organised in the first place". And
"if it is confirmed that the actual conditions of the flight match private carriage operation" (unlikely) an appropriately rated private pilot would be completely legitimate.