An aspiring pilot hanging out with other pilots will, from time to time, find him or herself riding shotgun with another, similarly afflicted individual. This is as it should be, since misery loves company. Since the person in the left seat for these flights often has more hours and experience than us, well often defer in-flight decisions or 288
Off The End
An aspiring pilot hanging out with other pilots will, from time to time, find him or herself riding shotgun with another, similarly afflicted individual. This is as it should be, since misery loves company. Since the person in the left seat for these flights often has more hours and experience than us, well often defer in-flight decisions or fail to speak up when we notice something amiss. Thats the wrong reaction. My first learning experience as a right-seater came shortly after earning my private. Suddenly, I was a senior member of the local Civil Air Patrol (CAP) composite squadron and there was a for-real search-and-rescue mission on.
Key Takeaways:
- Pilots riding in the "right seat" (co-pilot/passenger) often defer to the more experienced "left-seater" (pilot in command), leading them to not speak up about potential issues.
- The author shares personal anecdotes where their failure to speak up from the right seat resulted in minor incidents, such as rolling off a runway or overshooting a wet grass strip.
- It is crucial for anyone in the right seat to vocalize concerns and offer a second opinion, regardless of experience level, to enhance flight safety.
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