sillograph, that is one of the areas that so many operators are having trouble figuring out whether or not they are legal, or whether CASA are going to come knocking seeking an offence!
In the proposed new regs, there is a section called "Definition of flight time as co-pilot for part 61", which implies that only certified 2-crew aircraft can have a co pilot. The difficult thing to try and figure out what in the hell is going on, is the note underneath that says "a co pilot is a pilot on board an aircraft in a piloting capacity other than the pic or a pilot on board the aircraft for the sole purpose of receiving flight training. See the definition of co pilot in part 1 of the dictionary"
So, being diligent, I look up the definition of co pilot in part 1 of the dictionary.
"co pilot, in relation to an aircraft, means a pilot on board the aircraft in a pilot capacity other than:
a) the pilot in command or
b) a pilot who is on board the aircraft for the sole purpose of receiving flight training".
That seems to indicate, to me and my little brain, that pilots of king airs and conquests can still log co pilot time if the client wants them there, without the need for MCC or part 142 or C&T approvals.
BUT, what an FOI will say on Sept 1st is anyones guess at this stage. A date change doesn't mean that all of a sudden this type of arrangement is unsafe!
It is a similar uncertainty with hiring a new, already endorsed pilot on one of the aforementioned fly machines, and conducting ICUS to teach them your SOPs and assess their standards before letting them loose with paying customers!
Mail-man, for the love of god do not quote me, but i was told atpl holders will not have to go through an MCC. However, when you do go fly an airliner (I presume you aren't at this stage) the likelihood is that the company will put you through one anyway.
Apologies if I have created some confusion over the last light thing. As whether or not it is day or night for my flying , it doesn't really bother me that much, and I have probably gotten a little arse about with my understanding of the technical definitions. Being diligent once again, I will embark on another journey for at the very least my own enlightenment.
Bring on September 1st I say, so that it may be once again postponed at the last minute!
But I will not hold my breath because for some strange reason, I am actually worried that this time they could be imposed to save face over the last time and then we all have to deal with the issues it causes.