Pilot qualification to operate in either pilot’s seat (EASA)

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Originally Posted by hueyracer

If you are flying different types (which is limited now by authorities, under commercial operations, the number of type ratings on complex helicopters is limited to anything up to 3 types only), the seats need to be changed not on every opc, but on every other opc on that type.

January Type 1 left seat
March Type 2 Left seat
July Type 1 right seat
September Type 2 right seat

For example.


​​​​​​That is IF the pilot is required to operate from each seat, which should only be the case for certain long line operations or while flying with PICUS/Line Training without being an instructor...

Instructors will be qualified to fly Pic from the left seat anyway....

Thank you again hueyracer.

The left-left-right-right is about where we had got to with it. The problem is then making sure that the 6 monthly OPC is done in the pilot's normally occupied seat, because all our OPCs are combined with LPCs.

Although from the reference TeeS has kindly given, it sounds like combining every OPC/LPC wouldn't be possible under EASA without agreeing alternative means of compliance.

Originally Posted by Mustapha Cuppa

Appendix 1 to JAR-OPS 3.968 may be helpful.

Thank you Mustapha Cuppa. Appendix 1 to JAR-OPS 3.968 is mostly aligned with what we have in our regs. I don't see the "once every 12 months" requirement, either in Appendix 1 or any AMC, so I guess that's a new one for EASA?

Originally Posted by hueyracer

You are not by any chance operating out of Romania?!

No, there are no EC155s around here!

Originally Posted by Apate

I think you'll find that offshore operators generally will qualify all pilots to fly from either seat. Well, the good ones do

Which brings us back to the intention behind this requirement (to change seats on alternate checks).

Interpretation 1: it only applies to LTC/TRI/TRE, or captains who need to fly from the left seat for a specific operational reason e.g. long line. In all these cases, the pilot is acting as commander of the flight, but from the left seat.

Interpretation 2: it applies to anyone who finds themselves flying in either seat for whatever reason. This would include a captain who happens to be flying in the left seat, as a copilot, for another captain.

Do we have a consensus on which interpretation is correct under EASA?