PIC C172 Right Hand Seat

[spriteah]

A simple question. Can I legally be PIC if sitting in the right hand seat of a Cessna 172M?

Thanks in advance to the replies.

Spriteah.

[compressor stall]

Depends what the person in the LHS doing/logging

[VH-XXX]

Yes you can.

The only practical limitation is if the POH says so and given it's a Cessna, has dual controls, yoke, pedals etc, you are good to go.

This question comes up a lot and you're usually hit with a barrage of "my school says this, my CFI said that, blah blah" but if you're talking about your private aircraft then you are talking a non-event. The only limitation you could potentially face would be your piloting skills and your insurance company and only you can answer those questions.

I once owned an aircraft that had dual controls but the POH said Left-Hand solo seat only because the safety glass hammer was located behind the right passenger seat - caught me a little by surprise when I read it.

[smiling monkey]

I don't see why not. Flight instructors do it all the time don't they?

[Lasiorhinus]

Of course you can.

There is nothing in the C172 flight manual that restricts you to flying from one seat or another.

Fly it all day from the right if you wish.

172s are not so bad, but the Piper Cherokee is an aircraft I prefer to fly from the right hand seat where possible. Much easier to get in and out of the door. You have to reach a little further for the fuel control, however.

[swh]

The PiC can be in a back seat. No regulation requires the PIC to have a control seat.

[bentleg]

Can I legally be PIC if sitting in the right hand seat of a Cessna 172M?

Of course, as already said flight instructors do it when teaching.

If you are flying solo why would you do it? - Given the instrument panel is in front the the LH seat.

[Lasiorhinus]

Why would you?

Easier, if you had already been sitting in the right hand seat for one leg, and the other pilot stayed on the ground for the next leg. Easier than changing seats.

Familiarity - you may be more used to flying from the right.

Accidentally - you thought it was a car and just climbed into the right hand side, then didn't feel like swapping.

[MakeItHappenCaptain]

The PiC can be in a back seat. No regulation requires the PIC to have a control seat.


Oh come on!
If you're going to siht stir, at least do it with some conviction!
(Like mentioning the inspectors who used to log time from the pax cabin on burners.:E)

[Jack Ranga]

Or you want to be a helicopter pilot and are getting used to the view?

[mostlytossas]

Hell, why even be in the aircraft? Be PIC from the front bar of the nearest pub.
Just remember to log your time.;)

[Two_dogs]

Lasiorhinus, I once made the mistake of taxiing a Cherokee from the right seat. Much panic at the other end of the parking apron when I realized there are NO brakes fitted to that side. I changed sides smartly and added a few grey hairs at the same time. :eek:

[TwoHundred]

Yes you can! The PIC can sit on either side, no rules regs dictate otherwise for SP ops.

[compressor stall]

You can't be PIC in the right if there's already one in the left. I've heard it asked. :ugh:

[metalman2]

So for logging time , say the PIC is in the left hand seat,,,and another pilot is in the right hand seat,,,,,and the PIC Decides she will be unable to see out of the cockpit for approximately 8-12 minutes,,,,,,does the other pilot start to log time ,,,,or is it just easier to not worry about it,,,,;)
Met

[Lasiorhinus]

Please tell me that wasn't a serious question.... :ugh:

[Keg]

The PiC can be in a back seat. No regulation requires the PIC to have a control seat.
Oh come on!
If you're going to siht stir, at least do it with some conviction!

I log PIC time from the back seat and even the bunk whilst asleep-as long as the flight plan has my name on it of course. :ok:

[AviatoR21]

Well I know of a current Capt who boasts that whilst doing his CPL training he would fire up his Cessna and leave the park brake on then go kick the footy with his passengers and log the time!

[metalman2]

Why so serious? Of course it's not a real question,,,,

[Swept-Wing]

you can. as long as you can prove that you can adequately operate all controls from the right hand seat (as per CAO/CAR)

[Capt Fathom]

Two_dogs

Some of the older Cherokees didn't have toe brakes on the left side either!

[Jack Ranga]

So, I'm facing a double below knee amputation. Diabetes. (eating too much **** on doggos) if I get a long enough stick (to poke the brakes with) can I log command from the right rear seat (I can see the instruments) if I tell the bloke sitting in the left front seat when to flare?

[jas24zzk]

Actually Jack,
you'd go and see RVAC and fly their Warrior that's paraplegic modified.... JIO or LBL...can't recall exactly, but leaning towards JIO.

------------------------------

Its been over ten years since I looked at the reg, but the wording was basically, that the either seat could be considered the command seat provided the PIC could reach all controls neccessary for safe flight, or that the person occupying the other seat was suitably briefed to operate said control on the PIC's command. I.e as someone else mentioned, the fuel selector in a PA-28.

Its a similar thing with me flying the local Tavel-airs available to me. As I like a nice tight harness, being a bit short at one end, I cannot reach the transponder without releasing my harness, so I give the person sitting in the right a briefing on it, and get them to work the doings, under a watchfull eye of course. For the most part, its move it from stdby to alt and back again at the termination, but a flight into CTA .........................

[Jack Ranga]

Bro, ya not helping me :ugh: I'm talking about the back seat. If I had glaucoma in the left eye would I have to sit in the left back seat? But there'd be another problem, I'd only be able to poke the right rudder pedals (no brakes) so I'd have to tell the f@cka when to flare & brake, logable??

[VH-XXX]

Technically you only need one eye to be able to fly an aircraft in some circles.

[Jack Ranga]

Would I have to swap seats if I was blind in one eye depending on direction of turn?

[Checkboard]

Ranga - are you actually having trouble with the concept?

The pilot in command is simply the pilot commanding the flight - not necessarily the one wiggling any of the controls. International aircraft captains find no problem commanding the flight, even when they are resting in the bunk down the back ...

[jas24zzk]

well i did try to put a serious slant on my reply...hopefully that part went home to the person intended.

-----------------

Jack it is certainly logable, but that would more than likely be on your head rather than in your LOGBOOK.

ROFL

Jas

[Ixixly]

Boys and Girls, take a page out of the Indians books...it can ALLLLL be logged, doesn't matter whether you're in the front seat, back seat or if the flight even happened!! Until someone decides to question it... :p

[Jack Ranga]

But what if you are legless?? And blind??

[Volumex]

But what if you are legless?? And blind??
Then I want the phone number of your DAME.

[Ixixly]

Jack Ranga, then you should probably lay off the booze for a little while!

[Jack Ranga]

Ix, takes the phantom pain away. Volumex, he's great, does it over the phone, has to, he lives in India, postage ain't too bad these days (and colour photocopiers)