From a legal standpoint there is an icing AD which requires a lot of
equipment that none of the airplanes have (or need). It consists of an ice
detector, trim-in-motion sensor and and automatic autopilot disconnect.
There is also an AMOC (Alternate Method of Compliance) approved by the FAA
which requires satisfactory training at either Reese Howell's school or
Simcom. As a practical matter, if you think that you can get adequate
training localy, you are fooling yourself and are probably not ready for any
turbine airplane.

The issue of training really can't be stressed enough. Airline pilots, who
fly everyday, are required to attend simulator training every six months
(Perhaps it is annual, but you get the point). Virtually all (if not all)
corporate turbine pilots are required, as a condition of their employment,
to attend annual simulator training. This training is the major reason that
corporate (turbine) and airline flying has a fatal accident rate roughly 100
TIMES (10,000%) better than general aviation piston flying.

Ken Martin posted a link to Reese Howell's site www.mu2b.com . I encourage
you to go there an read the "History" and "Overview" articles. Having a
multi rating and some time in piston twins is not going to prepare you to
fly a 1500hp airplane with a 65lb wing loading, you need specific trainiing.

I am making my annual pilgrimage to Simcom on Thursday.

Mike
MU-2


"Nathan Young" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 12 Jan 2004 02:48:43 GMT, "Mike Rapoport"
wrote:


The only places that training is availible are TN and FL. Keep in mind
that
you will HAVE to go once a year whether you have insurance or not. This
may
or may not be a major PITA for you. It is for me since I live in the
West
and the only MU-2 simulators are on the East Coast (Orlando).

Hi Mike,

Your statement makes it sound like the training is mandatory. I am
curious why. Obviously, there are safety reasons to go, but if you
don't have insurance I didn't think the FAA made you.

Is this a type rating thing? Driven by what? Max weight over 12,500?
Turbine engines? Service ceiling?

Inquiring piston drivers want to know...

-Nathan