Comments on: Flying right seat

By: BillE

BillE — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 15:45:13 +0000

DO NOT fly right seat without instruction!!! I just landed my 182 last night for the first time from the right seat. I am a near perfect lander from the left seat. But frim the right, the hand-eye coordination with the gas and yoke is totally different. It porpoised so severely that it did $30,000 of damage to the aircraft. Broke the front wheel seal, bent the firewall and airframe, caused sheet metal damage, broke the 2nd nav system, twisted the airframe so the left door no longer opens. It will take 6 weeks to three months or more to fix, maybe longer because Cessna has to manufacture the firewall or pull one off the production line for an aircraft they are trying to build and sell. Oh, and did I mention insurance won’t cover right seat accidents unless you are a current flight instructor? You’ve been warned.

By: Laura Jean

Laura Jean — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 18:16:55 +0000

I just had to add that it’s even more challenging when the other pilot is your spouse. My hubby and I both fly and it’s a challenge to deal with the other opinions sometimes, as well as biting my tongue when I’m in the right seat. But it’s a fun date to do a $100 hamburger with one flying there and the other flying home.

By: Ian Twombly

Ian Twombly — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 12:38:21 +0000

Thanks for keeping us honest David.

–Ian

By: David West

David West — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 11:47:06 +0000

Great advice. As you noted, pilots in the right seat just can’t keep their mouths shut…so I can’t possibly let “immenant” go by without a comment. Just as every pilot should check every available resource, every writer should always make use of spell check. The word you wanted is “imminent”.

By: Eduardo del Valle

Eduardo del Valle — Fri, 28 May 2010 16:15:48 +0000

Thank you very much for this clear and wise advice. It is very helpful!