OPC from the back seat?
 

a quick question - has anyone ever had an OPC / LPC done with the TRE in the rear cabin and both pilots under test sat in the front? Sounds odd to me.:confused:

In the Simulator, its by far the best way. In the aircraft, I think not!

My initial IRT was done in that way. A CAA examiner in the cabin, an IRI/E in the left seat. I found it very unsettling, having two people taking notes.

ST, slightly different as the TRE was being examined in his role as a TRE, not as an operating crew member...

CT, I assume you are not mixing up the OPC with the Line Check? Otherwise, there is no way that the OPC could be conducted in the manner you describe.

Actually, he wasn't.

The arrangement ST mentions used to be used when no one from the CAA was rated on the type.

So why was he taking notes? :confused:

Why should he not take notes? The CAA examiner was testing me and as Helinut says, the company IRI was acting as safety pilot because no-one at the CAA held a valid type rating for the aircraft. I actually got two debriefs, but I passed the IR test, so I had no issue with that.

I seem to recall an IR initial at a certain gentlemen's flying club in which the CAAFU examiner took the jumpseat as he wasn't type rated. The FO shot an ILS and somehow, he couldn't explain it afterwards, the autopilot was engaged. The Capt in the RHS thought it was all going a bit too well and looked around, noticed the engaged light but thought to best to keep shtum (suspecting quite correctly that the examiner wouldn't know where to look for the engaged light). In the debrief the FO was commended by Capt CAAFU for flying the best ILS he'd seen in years and went home none the wiser.

he he!

Could have been me (except the autopilot wasn't coupled up...). :p

I see what you are saying now, but was confused by your statement that your test was done in the same manner that the OP was asking about i.e. that both pilots are under test. Doing a single pilot IRT, your IRE was - as you say - merely acting as a safety pilot and company observer.

Anyway, it would be interesting for more detail from the OP as his scenario is odd to say the least!

I responded rather to the statement that the examiner was sitting in the back.

I hadn't assume that both pilots were under test at the same time; surely a L/R seat swap would be required if that was the case?

I assume he is talking about an MPH type, but it's still not a viable option outside of a simulator.

Wasn't this the setting for the S76 stoof in Ireland many years ago:{

Can do better
For my TRE initial test I was in the front testing a pilot while in the back the CAA deputy chief flying examiner was testing me while he was being tested by the CAA chief examiner. The pressure was on until the pilot started taking the pi-- and I couldn't stop laughing well in fact crying

Not only was this the configuration for my IRT at Aberdeen, but it was also my first ever ILS. The company IRE didn't think it necessary to practice before the test, needless to say I wasn't privy to the debrief between him and the CAA chappy :ooh:

My Indonesian license issue was like this.. Myself in the right seat, CCP in the left and DGCA examiner in the back even though he was rated on the machine in use. Different way of doing things to home anyway.

Depends where you are. There are many reasons why this might be a valid thing to do.

TRE for the authority not rated in type.

Registry for the machine does not match the licence of the examiner.

Owner of the machine doesn't want anyone else but their own pilot as safety pilot.

The machine is military-owned, but a civil type.

Insurance.

And on and on.

I've heard of, been in, or seen each of these scenarios.

Glad it made you happy. In fact under EASA an examiner can no longer test from the back seat unless he has an article 14(4) or 14(6) which at present no one has. Happy Days !

I have been the test candidate of a Initial TRE being checked by the company Chief TRE who himself was being checked by the CAA examiner.

4 people in the aircraft, 3 under test!