Passenger view from the back seat of a GA airplane [Shutterstock]
Key Takeaways:
It is legal for a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) to carry a passenger on a dual instructional flight because the CFI acts as the Pilot In Command (PIC), overriding student pilot certificate restrictions.
Carrying an observer in the back seat offers practical learning benefits for student pilots, such as understanding weight and balance effects and improving communication skills by explaining maneuvers to a novice.
While passengers must not be a distraction and flights may need adjustment for their comfort, their presence can also build student confidence and potentially spark an interest in aviation among non-pilots.
Are you in pilot training? Do you think it would help you learn faster if you flew in the back seat of the aircraft and observed another learner taking training?
For some people, observation can be a very effective tool. But there are rules you need to respect.
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Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.
![Passenger view from the back seat of a GA airplane [Shutterstock]](https://www.flyingmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/httpswww.flyingmag.comsitesflyingmag.comfilesimport2015sitesallfiles_images201505tip-back-seat-thumb-1.jpg)
