Right Seat Tips

General aviation is just as prone to pithy sayings as any other worthwhile endeavor. When it comes to managing risk and defining the top three riskiest things weve seen, they include taking off with air in the fuel tanks, a private pilot with a #2 Phillips screwdriver and two pilots trying to fly the same airplane at the same time. While statistics and common sense bear out the fact two pilots up front enhances safety, there remain numerous instances when this has not proven true. Not surprisingly, after accidents with two pilots onboard, the actions of the PIC get the most scrutiny when fault is being assigned.

Key Takeaways:

• Despite the theoretical safety benefit of two pilots, the non-flying (right-seat) pilot in general aviation often fails to prevent accidents due to undefined roles, poor communication, and lack of active engagement.
• Effective communication is paramount; the right-seat pilot must proactively discuss and explicitly define their role and responsibilities with the PIC before and throughout the flight.
• Right-seat pilots should maintain discipline by preparing as if they were the PIC (e.g., weather, aircraft parameters) and stay actively engaged in monitoring flight progress and cross-checking the PIC's actions.
• In critical situations, the right-seat pilot must be assertive and intervene, even if it means overriding the PIC, to prevent an accident when safety is compromised.

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