Safety Pilots
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Joined: Nov 2001
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From: UK
Not on the CAA write up I saw - it didn't mention the Safety Pilot's medical condition at all just said they had to be:
"... current and qualified to act as Pilot In Command (PIC) on the class/type of aeroplane and carried on board the aeroplane for the purpose of taking over control ..."
"... current and qualified to act as Pilot In Command (PIC) on the class/type of aeroplane and carried on board the aeroplane for the purpose of taking over control ..."
Joined: Jan 2016
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From: Uk
Not on the CAA write up I saw - it didn't mention the Safety Pilot's medical condition at all just said they had to be:
"... current and qualified to act as Pilot In Command (PIC) on the class/type of aeroplane and carried on board the aeroplane for the purpose of taking over control ..."
"... current and qualified to act as Pilot In Command (PIC) on the class/type of aeroplane and carried on board the aeroplane for the purpose of taking over control ..."
Yes, but the same would apply if he had a Safety Pilot with Class I medical, who keeled over. What should he do, bail out?!
Aren't we starting to loose touch with reality now?
Please do ask the people who know...the CAA. I would be interested to know their answer.

Joined: Oct 2004
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From: UK
Please do ask the people who know...the CAA. I would be interested to know their answer.
Having conducted many Medical Flight Tests, if a person has a medical restriction on their licence requiring a second pilot, then they are not qualified to act as a Safety Pilot.
I was on a unit in the RAF where we had a one eyed pilot and the posters wanted to send us another one eyed pilot. The boss dug his heels in as all pilots were dual seat qualified and he envisaged a situation where both eyes at the front could be on the inside!
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Joined: Jun 1999
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From: MAN. UK.
The ruling in the airline world is that two pilots who have a two crew restriction and need to operate with another qualified pilot are not allowed to fly together. Each one's medical restriction conflicts with the others licence so assuming a Class 2 interpretation is the same as that of a Class 1 I would do your best to pass your medical.
Good Luck.
Good Luck.

Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Oop North, UK
It had nothing to do with any rules, it was an illustration of a situation that nearly happened, because medics had not considered the broader picture!
Joined: Jul 2012
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From: Scotland
If nothing untoward ever occurs where the Safety Pilot has to intervene there will never be an issue. If something did happen where the Safety Pilot had to intervene you are in a far better position as a trained pilot than someone who had perhaps done a 'pinch hitter' course knowing just enough to get the aircraft safely back on the ground.
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From: Gone
I was curious and decided to ask the CAA for my own knowledge.
The answer......
Medical Dept were uninterested. She said if the pilot was fit to fly but had a 'safety pilot endorsement' it meant just that. She said that it would be a licensing issue and duly transferred me to the licensing dept.
Licensing dept said.... "The 'safety pilot endorsement' means that the pilot cannot undertake the privileges of PIC solo AND MUST have another licensed pilot with them. IF the other pilot had the same 'safety pilot endorsement' THEY CAN fly together under Class two [2] ONLY". He recommended that insurers were notified.
The answer......
Medical Dept were uninterested. She said if the pilot was fit to fly but had a 'safety pilot endorsement' it meant just that. She said that it would be a licensing issue and duly transferred me to the licensing dept.
Licensing dept said.... "The 'safety pilot endorsement' means that the pilot cannot undertake the privileges of PIC solo AND MUST have another licensed pilot with them. IF the other pilot had the same 'safety pilot endorsement' THEY CAN fly together under Class two [2] ONLY". He recommended that insurers were notified.
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From: Scotland
Now I have a question for Jetblu.
Had the answer been less permissive, more restrictive, would you have posted your findings on here? And, had you done so would you expect the OP to be pleased or pissed that you had?
Had the answer been less permissive, more restrictive, would you have posted your findings on here? And, had you done so would you expect the OP to be pleased or pissed that you had?
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From: Gone
DeltaV
The question raised by the OP was a very good one. None of us knew the definitive answer.
1 "Had the answer been less permissive, more restrictive, would you have posted your findings on here?"
Answer - Yes.
2 "And, had you done so would you expect the OP to be pleased or pissed that you had?"
Answer - I, or anyone, have no way of ever knowing if the OP had ever returned to this board to seek any further clarification.
Someone, for sure, WILL be very interested with the answer.
The question raised by the OP was a very good one. None of us knew the definitive answer.
1 "Had the answer been less permissive, more restrictive, would you have posted your findings on here?"
Answer - Yes.
2 "And, had you done so would you expect the OP to be pleased or pissed that you had?"
Answer - I, or anyone, have no way of ever knowing if the OP had ever returned to this board to seek any further clarification.
Someone, for sure, WILL be very interested with the answer.
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From: Gone
Croqueteer
I don't see much difference between 'safety pilot endorsement' on a PPL and a NPPL. The letter of the law and clear intention is that the pilot CANNOT fly solo, nothing more. He [the CAA] did indicate a Class 1 scenario would be a completely different kettle of fish.
Give them a call for your own peace of mind. He was relatively friendly and concurred that the chances of two private pilots keeling over simultaneously was pretty slim.
I don't see much difference between 'safety pilot endorsement' on a PPL and a NPPL. The letter of the law and clear intention is that the pilot CANNOT fly solo, nothing more. He [the CAA] did indicate a Class 1 scenario would be a completely different kettle of fish.
Give them a call for your own peace of mind. He was relatively friendly and concurred that the chances of two private pilots keeling over simultaneously was pretty slim.





Thanks, Jetblu. My collegue and I are in the same position, but we only have medical declarations and NPPLs. Did the CAA mention that senario?