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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!seismo!hao!hplabs!sri-unix!Lars.Ericson@CMU-CS-A
From: Lars.Ericson%CMU-CS-A@sri-unix.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.aviation
Subject: Re: Regulations Query - (nf)
Message-ID: <2143@sri-arpa.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 14-Jun-83 16:26:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: sri-arpa.2143
Posted: Tue Jun 14 16:26:00 1983
Date-Received: Thu, 16-Jun-83 19:25:43 EDT
Lines: 26

A safety pilot must be qualified to act as pilot in command of the
aircraft.  Student pilots cannot act as PIC when carrying passengers, so
they cannot serve as safety pilots.  To serve as safety pilot you have
to be at least a private pilot.  You must be a multiengine pilot to
serve as safety pilot in a twin.  You must have a high performance
endorsement to serve as safety pilot in a complex or high performance
airplane.

The notion that a safety pilot does nothing but look for traffic is
incorrect.  If the pilot under the hood should become disoriented or
momentarily incapacitated (e.g., he's busy throwing up due to vertigo)
the safety pilot must be able to take control of the aircraft.
Simiarly, if the pilot under the hood should lose control during an
approach, when the aircraft is low and slow, the safety pilot has to be
competent enough to rescue the situation.  I was riding as a passenger
once when two pilots were practicing IFR approaches at night.  We came
very close to an MAC (mid-air collision) with a Mitsubishi due to a
screwup with ATC.  The safety pilot had to take the controls and quickly
institute collision avoidance procedures.

People who are not qualified to act as PIC have no business serving as
safety pilots.

-- Dave Touretzky

PS:  Please add Touretzky@CMUA to the aviation mailing list.