Professional Pilot Development Program Being Introduced With Some Part 135 Operators

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently amended regulations to create a Second-In-Command (SIC) Professional Development Program (SIC PDP). The program has only been approved with a few operators so far and is intended to provide low time pilots with realistic professional pilot experience.

The FAA states that a “comprehensive SIC PDP can provide opportunities for beneficial operational experience in a multi pilot environment that may not otherwise exist. The FAA also believes that an SIC PDP can provide a strong foundational experience for a developing professional pilot.”

The FAA also says that the SIC PDP program can provided increased safety with two pilot operations vs one.

The new program will allow pilots employed at approved 135 operators to log second in command time during operations that do not normally require a first officer. Flight time accrued under the new program can be used to meet some of the experience requirements for an airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate or to meet some of the experience requirements for part 135 operations.

The new program is outlined in Advisory Circular (AC) 135-43 and lists the following requirements for the operator:

• Have an FAA approved second-in-command program.
• The operator must have manuals and operating procedures that include two-pilot operations.
• The operator must have a data collection and analysis process to determine the effectiveness of the pilot development program.
• To log the flight time the operation must be in a multi-engine airplane or single-engine turbine airplane that does not require a second pilot.
• The pilot-in-command and the assigned second-in-command under this program must comply with the flight time, duty period, and rest requirements of part 135.
• Aircraft used must have an independent set of controls for a second pilot, independent flight instrumentation for a second pilot, oxygen equipment for a second pilot when applicable, and communication equipment for a second pilot.
• To serve as a pilot-in-command with an assigned second-in-command under an SIC PDP program the captain must have been fully qualified as a captain for the operator for at least the previous 6 calendar-months and must complete the air carrier’s training program related to their approved SIC PDP program.

Requirements for a pilot to serve as a second-in-command under an approved SIC PDP include:

• The pilot must meet the same certification, qualification, training, testing, and checking requirements as required by part 135 for a required SIC.
• Must hold at least a Commercial Pilot Certificate with an airplane category and appropriate class rating and an instrument rating.
• Must hold at least a second-class medical certificate.
• Must complete the operator’s approved initial and recurrent second-in-command training.