Right seat

[Crosshair]

Howdy.

If small children can't occupy the right seat in a PA-28 because they can't open the door in an emergency, can the child just sit in the left seat and the pilot fly from the right? Is there any special qualification required for flying on the right?

[morno]

Can't the child just sit in the back??

No special qualification required to fly from the right seat, but without some sort of prior training, it can be quite different and difficult.

morno

[bushy]

Can you reach the fuel selector(or even see it ) from the right seat?

[squawk6969]

Fuel Selector........nahhh its childs play:}:eek:

Its a good point though. However in an emergency, from the left seat you could reach the door handle, or if not, you and the child are no worse off. I would say the kid has a better chance in the RHS with you in the left.

SQ

[Crosshair]

Fuel selector: I figure I'd rig up one of those broomhandle things Chuck Yeager had in the X-1 so he could latch the door with his broken ribs.

[Atlas Shrugged]

Been a while since I flew a PA28 but as I seem to recall, the door handle is EASILY within reach from the left hand seat. Where's the problem?...they're only 3 feet wide :ugh:

[Crosshair]

Atlas:

I agree -- this is just the policy of the place where I rent (no small kids at exits).

[Di_Vosh]

It seems an odd kind of requirement, but it is their aircraft, so...

But as Morno said RHS flying takes a bit of getting used to, and the first time you try it SHOULDN'T be with a child in the LHS. :ouch:

You'd be better off hiring from somewhere else.

DIVOSH!

[QNH1013.2]

Whoever invented a 4 seat aircraft with 1 door should be shot. :rolleyes:

Squawk6969 is on the money, he has 3 doors for 4 people.

[vh_ajm]

I find it odd that the operator would stipulate no kiddies in the RHS because they can't operate the door but will allow you to fly as PIC from the RHS. As mentioned in other forums, the insurer (or operations manual) might not like it much either...

[QNH1013.2]

We went here before... there's no reason why you can't fly from the right in a dual control machine.

[Peter Fanelli]

What are you supposed to do if your three passengers are all kids?

[bushy]

My PA28R had the fuel selector on the left cabin wall, and it was not practical to reach it, or even see it from the right hand seat.
I remember one occasion when a young pilot was doing a checkride, and the inevitable forced landing practise. He changed fuel tanks as part of the procedure, but got the selector in the wrong place.
But he knew exactly what to do when the engine failed to respond to the throttle.
He said "handing over".
True story.

[squawk6969]

Squawk6969 is on the money, he has 3 doors for 4 people.He is just a resource hog:}

But a word of advice......back seat & door for luggage....front for me......have a door spare and no whinging and whinning!:E

SQ

[Dash L8]

from the left seat you could reach the door handle

That's assuming you're standing to be able to open the door for the kidlet!!! :E

Seems to me it's not so much having "Someone" to sit there, just that kids may not be able to reach??? But yeah, i suppose if you've got 3 kids and want to fly with them... you're nuts!!! :}

[bushy]

You CAN open and close the door of a PA28R from the left hand seat. I did it hundreds of times.

[WynSock]

My Kids are not allowed in my jump seat - too dangerous apparently.
Why are kids allowed in your control seat?
Why hasn't some shiny arsed security consultant done a risk assessment of that?