Single Pilot IFR, Right First Job?
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Single Pilot IFR, Right First Job?
Having qualfied last year, a couple of months ago I landed a job with a small operator. I have been working (very hard) on the ground so far. Fair enough. 'Soon' I am to start flying, Single Pilot IFR,(not pax) admitedley on a single, fairly short, route, but in addition to some fairly demanding ground duties with long hours, and for a very demanding boss.. .The thing is, I know can fly an aeroplane. But the VFR flying I've done (in some pretty chalanging environments) is one thing. I passed the IR first time. I know they wont let me off on my own unless they are fairly happy. But I'm not sure, deep inside, that one dark, horrible night, that I'll cope,when I'm on my own with noone to back me up/ guide me / hold my hand, and the boss and the rest of the job is obviously another factor.. .Obviously, at this stage in my career, partcually in this job market, I don't want to throw away my first break. But for the sake of my own longetivety etc, I'm wondering if I should.. .Any of you more experienced guys been in a simular situation, and what would you advise?
Join Date: Oct 1998
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Unbelievable how long it is ago....single pilot IFR...nice one, in the night, on a piston twin, autopilot a bit dodgy and does not couple the approach everytime, the headset is messing up, the fuel used is more than calculated because of headwinds, the weather is certainly not as forecasted, and some of the eyebrow lights are not working....entertaining, also for the laundry afterwards.. .. .I don't want to scare you, but it is not an easy job for a newcomer and it is hard to believe that the CAA will grant you a permission for this operational work.. .I recall that there was at some time a minimum required of 1000 hrs in total and some 100 hours on type. And of course higher minima.. .. .Good luck <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="confused.gif" />
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Congrats for landing a job mate ! Nice to get a break once in a while isn't it ?. .I also have done some single IFR work here in the UK (far from being the only one I agree) and on a single as well but I guess I was lucky because it had a PT6 at the front so... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="cool.gif" /> . .Where I would like to comment though is about your ground duties and the demanding flying you have to do. You see, in my company I was also "asked" to be part of the company (being the pilot wasn't enough obviously) which was Ok I guess but on occasions I found it difficult to do so.. .What I mean is that my boss tended to lose sight about the reason why I was primarily there for and found that being "part of the company" could compromise the safety of our operation.. .Once I was asked to fly to Hungary which would take about 5 or 6 hours because we had to do a tech stop on the way. Great trip but then I was meant to jump in a van with my boss and make the delivery of the goods. 3 hours drive, followed by the release of the things we would be carrying (another good 1.5 hour) then and only then I would have been allowed to have a night sleep.. .Unfortunately there was no time for to rest the next day as we had to leave BUD as early as we could (after the 3 hours journey to get back of course, the flight planning, immigration and various bits and bobs,...).. .My answer was,Errr.... Perhaps I will skip the drive and instead go to a nearby hotel so I can:. .- Complete all the paperwork. .- Tidy up my Jepps and get the next ones ready. .- Have a good look at our next 5.5 hours trip to a different destination.. .- Rest and go to bed early. .Well he didn't like it much but that's how we did it and tough if on that day I did not show more commitment to the company. In my books it has been a reasonable and safe way to conduct the flight even if I disappointed the Boss <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="rolleyes.gif" /> .. .There has been more situations along the lines of the one described above and I must say that flying single pilot IFR could be tricky (thanks the plane had an operative A/P and few more toys to play with) but I had greater difficulties dealing with the Human Factor/CRM,etc... side of things.. .In a company which is not an airline or a commercial operator and when you have no one to talk to about some safety issues, life can be a little bit more complicated than necessary.. .Anyway I loved my time buzzing around Europe in MY plane and I don't regret it a second, just it has helped to mature in my trade.. .. .Have fun
niknak
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Good Luck James <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> . .It's hard work, but there's probably no better grounding for what's to come in the future.. .The only problem I can forsee is that if you decide to make career of this type of work, and when you get the situation of having a colleague on the flight deck who is either junior or senior to you. Either way they'll expect to be treated as a member of the "team".. .Personally, (several of my mates have progressed this way onto bigger airlines), I think you're doing the right thing, stick with it until you have the experience to apply for something you really want to do.. .Best of luck.
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You've spent a fortune on rigorous training and the CAA have signed a piece of paper which says you can fly single pilot IFR. Just do all the things you have been taught and don't take risks. I'll just say that again DON'T TAKE RISKS. .. .If you do something somebody doesn't like, all they can do is say "You're fired". Beats flying into a mountain any day.
Well its a big step. You can do it. You should do it. It is one of the more demanding sectors of aviation. The fact that you are somewhat aprehesive is a good sign. I am sure you will be fine.. .. .It won't hurt your career one bit. Every senior pilot I have ever met knows that single pilot light twin IFR charter is hard. . .. .Good luck with it. I nearly did something similar but stuck with instructing in the end. In some ways I would like to have done what you are now considering.. .. .WWW
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Thank you, chaps, for your kind advice. As a matter of fact, since writing the post I've come to the same conculsions myself-it is too good a chance to pass away, and to stick to my guns about whats reasonable when I'm flying-and as was said, being fired beats flying into a mountain.. .AMEX-your situation does sound very like mine, execpt the sector times will only be in the order of 30-45 mins for me. The principles the same, though-so I'll definetly watch it! I'm now in the middle of week off, hopefully to start the OPC in the next couple of weeks or so, and with some decent kip and time to think behind me, I'm feeling a lot happier and chilled than I was.Thanks again. Good luck to all my contempories out there! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="cool.gif" />
