Opportunity to Fly a King Air - Looking for Advice
Posted by Fly_Higher_@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 27 comments
I'll bit a little vague, so I don't dox myself, but I've recently been given the opportunity/possibility to fly a King Air starting later this year.
I'm looking for any advice on how I can stay ahead of the curve when transitioning to a multi engine turbine aircraft from mainly single-engine piston.
- I'm a CFII (CMEL and CSEL) with Complex and HP endorsements.
- About 600~ hours total time.
- About 60~ hours of multi-time (Seminole).
- Most recent experience has been in single-engine Cirrus.
Also any red flags I should be looking out for when possibility taking this opportunity? I believe it will be under Part 91.
Bowzy228@reddit
I don’t think you can log SIC time on a king air under part 91 operations.
n312rb@reddit
If this is in eastern Iowa, run far, far away
Chojangunner@reddit
I’m nowhere near Iowa and I’m not op, but now I’m curious why 😂
n312rb@reddit
A 91 operator who thinks they are 135
SecureAsk8297@reddit
I went from an Seminole to a CRJ, and I'm not smart.
bottomfeeder52@reddit
question for those with more know how: if all these king air jobs are single pilot what is the process of getting the pic job? just 1500 total time and apply? or does everyone who flies king airs have to start in an unloggable position
Mr-Plop@reddit
I say it depends. Ideally you want to apply to a 135 ops with a PDP that let's them have SICs, both insurance companies, brokers and passengers love this. For part 91 kinda, you start bench warning until the owner let's you seat in the bag boy seat. There's no minimum hour required but again, insurance goes bananas for anyone under 1,200 - 1,500. Now the real issue starts when you eventually move on to 135/121 and get an audit. If you're gonna be a flap operator, go for something with dual crew required or PDP
StudentPerfect@reddit
I was in a situation similar to this. Hired by a company to fly a King Air at around 650 hours. Rode right seat for 6 months with the current PIC’s. Couldn’t log time in the log book but kept track of every hour I was in the airplane learning as insurance companies do take that time into account. It is not nearly as valuable as PIC but it does help. Went to CAE for full initial, insurance then approved me to fly PIC with another one of our PIC’s in the right seat. Did that for around 6 months until 900TT and 250 in type when insurance approved me single pilot. With some persuasive people (to talk to insurance) in management and PIC’s willing to go along with the plan it can be done
x4457@reddit
It is almost certainly unloggable.
Great experience to see it, but you will be a passenger.
Fly_Higher_@reddit (OP)
Ah - That’s what I was afraid of. I’m supposed to meet with the owner again later this week to discuss the details about the operation.
Theoretically, if I were sitting right seat, and the PIC was an MEI with all the proper certificates and ratings, would I be correct saying I could log PIC dual received time?
x4457@reddit
Sure, but anybody who sees 300 hours of King Air dual received is going to immediately call bullshit. That time isn’t worth much.
Additional_Bug_2823@reddit
You can log time where you are manipulating the controls or where the aircraft requires two pilots. If the aircraft is over 12,500 lbs gross weight then you need a type rating /second in command rating. Buildings turbine time is valuable if you want to step up to an airline job so good luck to you on the KingAir
Outrageous_Drama5241@reddit
There are operations out there that fly king airs with 2 pilots required and both can log time. They need Ops Specs that say that the operation requires two pilots though. I’ve seen the same with Cessna Caravans as well.
x4457@reddit
See the OP's text - part 91.
Outrageous_Drama5241@reddit
I missed that - my mistake. If it is under Part 91 then yeah pretty positive it’s not loggable.
Additional_Bug_2823@reddit
I've done all of this, eventually flying a Falcon 900 and a G4.
The thing is ..... the KingAir is totally different to a Seminole --- thins happen more quickly. So far you have zero experience. so you will be a seat warmer for a while. But you don't mention which model KingAir you will be on. You have more systems to learn about, but the KngAirs are stable and easy to fly. You should seize the opportunity and keep moving up.
Fly_Higher_@reddit (OP)
Thanks for the advice! Yeah, I figured there’s gonna be a pretty steep learning curve going to a much bigger/faster plane. The Cirrus I currently fly while instructing isn’t slow by any means, but I can imagine going from an 80kt approach speed to 100+ knots will be pretty drastic, not to mention just the overall increase in performance and a whole lot more buttons, switches, and levers.
I’m supposed to talk with the owner later this week to discuss the details. Probably should’ve asked him the exact model beforehand haha.
Odd_Entrepreneur4386@reddit
With any new aircraft start by configuring at 5 miles from the FAF. As you get more comfortable with the plane configure at 3. This will slow things down and keep you ahead of the plane as you settle into it.
The King Air is a very forgiving aircraft. A little quicker than what you’re in so take another look at speed limits in airspace.
retiredaaer@reddit
With regard to flying any multiengine aircraft, NEVER go below Vmc (aka Blue line in piston powered aircraft). Doing so is a sure way to an early grave.
derpitroxxxx@reddit
Red line is Vmc, blue line is best SE rate of climb speed, Vyse
Various-Blood-3902@reddit
Red line is Vne
350RDriver@reddit
Two redlines in multis. Vmc and Vne.
Various-Blood-3902@reddit
Well of course Theres two redlines. There’s two engines /s
ltcterry@reddit
You will be able to log the time you are the sole manipulator of the controls. That’s it.
Whirlwind_AK@reddit
Which series King Air?
Sunsplitcloud@reddit
You can only log flight time that you were sole manipulator of the controls so if you’re not doing the takeoff, flying and landing, you’re just a passenger getting paid for your time.
If the captain is a CFI and logs your flights as training, then you can get training as PIC. But my bet is you’re running the radios and all the ‘fun stuff’ so you won’t be able to log much if anything.
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
I'll bit a little vague, so I don't dox myself, but I've recently been given the opportunity/possibility to fly a King Air starting later this year.
I'm looking for any advice on how I can stay ahead of the curve when transitioning to a multi engine turbine aircraft from mainly single-engine piston.
Also any red flags I should be looking out for when possibility taking this opportunity? I believe it will be under Part 91.
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