Michael wrote:

"Mike Rapoport" wrote

I agree. When I have another pilot in the airplane they are a passenger. I
might ask them to set the pressurization since it is on their side but that
is about it. All my flying and all my simulator training has been single
pilot and I don't think that changing for one or two flights a year is
safer. If it is a VFR trip then that is different.


I used to have the same attitude, and for the same reasons. Working
on my ATP changed my views; it may change yours.

I'll be curious to see if it does change Mike's POV.


Offloading tasks is fundamental to managing (rather than simply
handling) workload. Yes, a second pilot in the cockpit is not
absolutely reliable, and yes offloading tasks does not actually allow
you to offload responsibilities for those tasks. On the other hand,
the same is true of the autopilot, only more so. For example, a
second pilot asked to hold heading and altitude may flub the task -
but he's not going to go hard over on the ailerons and not say
anything. An autopilot might. Is that a reason not to use the
autopilot?

I now have an airplane with an autopilot, but I almost never use it. I
flew 6 years of IFR (often in IMC here in the sunny northeast) and I
just feel more comfortable hand flying at all times. I also don't need
to worry about AP failure. I do use it when I need to do an extensive
GPS reprogram, but I can do that without the AP, it just takes longer.


For all that we train for all sorts of system failures, the number one
cause of IFR accidents is still pilot error. The more you have to do,
the more likely you are to make that error. It therefore makes sense
to reduce your workload. Of course there is the flip side - if you
fly at reduced workload all the time, you may lose the ability to
handle an increase in workload. You need to strike a reasonable
balance between training yourself for dealing with the workload
(maneuvers training) and for managing workload (CRM).

I believe more strongly in the flip side. I believe the greatest
likelihood of pilot error is when in a high workload situation, often
caused by an emergency or at least an anomoly in flight. At such times
having a higher level of competency is essential. I see it like a
sprinter who only trains by running long distance. He will have much
more endurance than other sprinters, but they will beat him at the
sprints. I want the capability to sprint at a moments notice and I
believe that hand flying solo at all times keeps my sprinting ability
(ability to handle the occasional high workload situations) at a much
higher level.



The DE who gave me my ATP ride told me up front that if I did not use
him as a cockpit resource, we would have a long debrief. He said he
wouldn't actually flunk me for not using all available resources
(including him) but that the tolenraces on the ATP ride were such that
doing everything yourself made it somewhat unlikely that you would
remain within tolerances at all times - and there would be no slack.

I can see this being either a very good or very bad policy depending on
the context. If you are seeking the ATP in an airplane that requires
two pilots or plan to fly in a two pilot operation, then I think the DE
is right on the money. If you plane to fly exclusively or even
primarily in a single-pilot operation, then I think the DE is way off base.


At the airline level, an ATP/type ride is now handled in two sections
- the maneuvers training (where all sorts of stuff is thrown at you
and you have to demonstrate your ability to fly and deal with it) and
the LOFT (where you have to demonstrate your ability to manage the
cockpit workload). At least this is the description I get from a
former DE in transport category jets and captain for a major airline -
who also says that over 99% of the flying failures occur on the LOFT
portion rather than maneuvers training.

At the airline level this makes tons of sense as they fly only multiple
pilot operations. If that is what you are going to fly, then you should
be able to fly your best using another pilot. However, as I wrote
above, if I let a DE know that I will be flying single-pilot all of the
time and he doesn't test me that way, then he's doing me a real disservice.


Matt