Right seat problems

Greg B wrote:


This was the first time I had tried to fly from the right seat. Now I know
that if I ever want to try flying right seat again, get someone in the left
seat to help me if needed. I didn't think I would have had that much problem
flying from the right, but I was wrong...


It is a big transition when you experience it for the first time. I think
you need to actually 'train' your right hand to fly and the left to work
the radios/throttle/flaps etc. Your brain is wired to flying on the left.

There is another visual anomaly that comes into play as well and can be
more or less pronounced depending upon you are right or left eye dominant.
The 'picture' will look wrong especially on landing and even taxiing.

Given enough time you will transfer the skills to opposite sides of your
body. I think it took ma about 15 hours to become proficient flying from
the right. Nowadays I actually fly more hours right than left and feel
totally comfortable either side (not all aircraft!).

This is probably a naïve question, but: Is the PIC normally in the
left seat in all aircraft, everywhere? Or does the captain's seat
vary from one side to the other depending on the region of the world,
or the manufacturer of the aircraft?

--
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"Mxsmanic" wrote in message
...
This is probably a naïve question, but: Is the PIC normally in the
left seat in all aircraft, everywhere? Or does the captain's seat
vary from one side to the other depending on the region of the world,
or the manufacturer of the aircraft?

It's normal to PIC from the left seat but there isn't any regulation stating
so. Initial pilot training, the CFI is PIC in the right seat. I remember
asking in Singapore which seat people normally fly from and they did left
seat also, although driving there is RHD.

They wouldn't let me drive a car (right hand drive) in Singapore.

Greg B writes:

It's normal to PIC from the left seat but there isn't any regulation stating
so. Initial pilot training, the CFI is PIC in the right seat. I remember
asking in Singapore which seat people normally fly from and they did left
seat also, although driving there is RHD.

From what I understand, the PIC has to have "dual controls" if he is
in the right seat. Does that just mean yoke and rudder, or what? I
gather there aren't any restrictions on instruments, although I guess
most aircraft (?) have an extra artificial horizon and altimeter on
the right side (?).

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

In article ,
kontiki wrote:

It is a big transition when you experience it for the first time. I think
you need to actually 'train' your right hand to fly and the left to work
the radios/throttle/flaps etc. Your brain is wired to flying on the left.

I've flown from the right (with my wife on the left) several times but had
never taken off or landed from there. On a lark, at the end of getting
checked out with a CFI in the Skyhawk my wife usually flies I swapped seats
with him and did one takeoff/landing from the right. I didn't have any
problem with the throttle on the left since I've been flying a Champ but
the sight picture really messed me up. Even taxiing was strange and the
takeoff roll felt barely in control. I could safely land from the right
if my wife was incapacitated but I wouldn't do it on purpose until I've had
a few more hours with a CFI. I had a DE tell me it only takes 5 or 6 hours
for the strangeness to go away and after that you can swap back and forth
with little effort. One of these days I'll follow up with that training
since it'd be a nice way for my wife and I to share PIC duties without
trading seats.

--
Scott Post