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7 Answers

Pilots without an Instructor Rating allowing persons to manipulate the dual controls

Asked by: 3904 views FAA Regulations

In this COVID rich environment, I have been watching quite a few YouTube videos of Pilots whom are sitting in the normal control seat of an aircraft (aeroplanes and helicopters) and whom I would suspect do not hold an Instructor Rating, allowing their "passengers" to manipulate the dual controls and "fly" the aircraft.

Is there anyway this is legally allowed under FAA regulations?

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7 Answers



  1. Mark Kolber on Aug 27, 2020

    There is not one word in the FAA regulations which prohibit it.

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  2. John D Collins on Aug 27, 2020

    And if the passenger is a rated pilot for the aircraft, even if not current, doesn’t hold a medical, does not have an endorsement needed to fly the aircraft while acting as PIC such as High Performance, Complex, or tail wheel, they may log PIC for the time they are the sole manipulator of the controls.

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  3. Gary Moore on Aug 27, 2020

    Also remember – regs don’t ‘allow’ things – they only prohibit things….

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  4. AV8R on Sep 01, 2020

    Nothing says you can not do it.

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  5. iKopter on Sep 02, 2020

    Hi Gary…thanks for your response

    Surely the regs prohibit a person whom does not hold any certification to fly an aircraft?

    There would be the exception of some one flying with an Instructor.

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  6. Mackey on Sep 05, 2020

    Listen

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  7. John Scarry on Sep 10, 2020

    Gary is mistaken about the regs. There are lots of FARs that explicitly prohibit things. For example,
    §91.15 Dropping objects.
    No pilot in command of a civil aircraft may allow any object to be dropped from that aircraft in flight that creates a hazard to persons or property. However, this section does not prohibit the dropping of any object if reasonable precautions are taken to avoid injury or damage to persons or property.

    and

    §91.13 Careless or reckless operation.
    (a) Aircraft operations for the purpose of air navigation. No person may operate an aircraft in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another.

    On the other hand, the regs very specifically say who is allowed to fly aircraft and what training is required for various weather conditions and aircraft types. In that case, the implication is that if you do not meet the requirements for the aircraft and flight, you are prohibited from flying.

    That being said, if it is not specifically mentioned in the regulations, advisory circulars, or Opinions of the Chief Counsel then you may assume that it is permitted. Allowing someone else to manipulate the controls is not specifically prohibited by any FAR or legal opinion that I am aware of. So it is up to the Pilot in Command (the FAA term for the person who has responsibility for the flight) to determine if letting someone else take the controls is safe. If something bad happens while the other person is controlling the airplane the FAA may decide that the pilot has violated the FAR (mentioned above) against careless or reckless operation.

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