Question for HR people - PIC or SIC?
 

Have just recently completed my FAA CPL/ME & IR ratings. Whilst am studying for my ATPLs want to build hours and have an opportunity to do so in a FO programme in USA.

Have a choice of two aircraft. Beech 99 which is single pilot registered but is flown with two pilots with both logging PIC on their respective sectors.

The other is the Shorts 330/360, a multi crew rated aircraft and I would only be able to log SIC.

Would any European operators have a preference?

If I were to fly the Beech 99, although it is a single pilot rated aircraft, would the fact that I would have flown it in a multi crew environment be taken into consideration?

Thank you in advance.

Hi Lightheart,

Congrats with your new license!
I would like to reply to your thread (all though I am not an HR person).
I have been in a "SIC program" in the USA, flying piston PA31 Chieftains. Two classmates of mine who were training on the B-99 have landed jobs and are now flying ATR's and
B-1900's for European operators. They logged their hours as SIC only, since the commander is allready assigned by the operator on these revenue flights. I know a guy who logged ALL of his time on the B99 as PIC and got away with it when showing his logbook to the Dutch Aviation Authorities.

Turbine (turbo prop) time on B99 (or similar aircraft) will get your CV noticed and will help you in getting that first job, especially when applying at the smaller turbo-prop operators.
In Europe they are also big on flying "Multi Pilot certified aeroplanes". The JAA now requires a minimum of 500 hours on multi pilot aeroplanes for issuing a full JAA ATPL.

Multi Pilot Aeroplanes start in EU with types such as B1900, Fairchild SA227 metroliner.
However, in the States these types are operated as Single Pilot airplanes (under FAA rules) and do not require a Co-pilot (SIC) on board. Therefore you can not log this time as Multi Pilot Time under JAA rules. So, be careful when "buying hours" in the States.

If you prefer to gain Multi pilot time, try to get on an aeroplane that is also certified for Multi pilot operations (by both FAA and by JAA rules!)
I guess it's fair to say: the bigger (heavier) the aircraft, the better your CV looks and the better chances on interviews.

Hope this will help you,

Regards,

Beertender

Thanks for that.

I know that European operators like multi-crew certified aircraft but what I really want to know is if I worked in a multi-crew environment in a single pilot certified aircraft, whether it would make any difference.

In the US, when looking for a job PIC (or P1) time is very important. How important is that in Europe?

According to your friends' experiences it doesn't have to be. But I've not heard from one operator tell me either way yet. I've sent some emails to some operators without any response. Guess I'll have to start phoning.

You're right about bigger, heavier being better. BA look for people with experience in turbo-props of more than 10 tonnes / minimum of 20 pax.

However, time in this type of aircraft in the US is almost always SIC and I don't want to hurt my chances looking for a job in FAA land either.

Would appreciate to hear from any HR people (or anyone else who could shed any further light on the matter).