Jawed From United States of America, joined Sep 2006, 482 posts, RR: 0 Posted (11 months 5 days 15 hours ago) and read 4928 times:
How difficult would it be for a single pilot (in other words, without a co-pilot) to fully operate a Gulfstream V in all phases of flight, such as takeoff, cruise, and landing? Would the workload be overwhelming, or would this be a fairly manageable job for an experienced pilot?
Mir From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 19813 posts, RR: 56 Reply 1, posted (11 months 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 4890 times:
As long as everything was working properly, weather was good, etc., it shouldn't be too difficult. But throw complications into the mix and things could get overwhelming pretty quickly.
And flying single-pilot wouldn't be legal, of course, since two pilots are required for that aircraft.
-Mir
7 billion, one nation, imagination...it's a beautiful day
26point2 From United States of America, joined Mar 2010, 688 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (11 months 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 4715 times:
The G V is very automated and workload relatively light. One guy could easily fly it around the pattern. Nice to have 2 guys when things start to break but how often does this happen, really?
The big advantage to having 2 guys comes when operating to/from busy terminal airspace. The non-flying pilot is actually much busier than the flying pilot in this environment....radios, checklists, understanding last-minute ATC changes. All very important to mind while the other guy has the fairly simple task of flying the plane.
Also, the G V is designed to fly 6000nm. One pilot doing this?
CitationJet From United States of America, joined Mar 2003, 2250 posts, RR: 3 Reply 3, posted (11 months 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 4705 times:
Quoting Mir (Reply 1): As long as everything was working properly, weather was good, etc., it shouldn't be too difficult. But throw complications into the mix and things could get overwhelming pretty quickly.
Agreed. Now throw in a systems malfunction or minimum IFR conditions at the arrival airport at the end of a 10 hour trans Atlantic flight......
That looks to be a mistake. Further down the page mentions a flight crew of two. Additionally, according to the type certificate data sheet, which can be found here http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/docs/a12ea.pdf , on page 29 it mentions a minimum crew of 2 (pilot & copilot).
26point2 From United States of America, joined Mar 2010, 688 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (11 months 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 4465 times:
The G V and all other jets of this variety cannot be flown single-pilot despite what a website or uninformed person might say. The type certificate requires 2 pilots.
Some variants of the CE 500 and most VLJs are jets that can be flown single pilot, but this is an entirely different animal.
n92r03 From United States of America, joined Jan 2010, 252 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (11 months 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 4396 times:
Not get too far off topic, but would someone in the know please tell what is the largest private jet than can be operated by a single pilot? IIRC it is a Cessna CJ1? Thanks-
Mir From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 19813 posts, RR: 56 Reply 8, posted (11 months 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 4375 times:
Quoting n92r03 (Reply 7): Not get too far off topic, but would someone in the know please tell what is the largest private jet than can be operated by a single pilot? IIRC it is a Cessna CJ1? Thanks-
The CJs are all single-pilot aircraft, so the biggest is the CJ4. The Phenom 300 is about the same size as the CJ4, and is approved for single-pilot as well.
I can say that even in a CJ, things can get very busy very quickly if conditions are right. Short legs (less than 20nm), for instance, are killers, even for two pilots.
-Mir
7 billion, one nation, imagination...it's a beautiful day
zeke From Hong Kong, joined Dec 2006, 7770 posts, RR: 73 Reply 9, posted (11 months 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 4262 times:
Quoting n92r03 (Reply 7): Not get too far off topic, but would someone in the know please tell what is the largest private jet than can be operated by a single pilot? IIRC it is a Cessna CJ1? Thanks-
There are a few Sukhoi Su-27 Flankers and English Electric Lightning about, both are around 20t aircraft.
We are addicted to our thoughts. We cannot change anything if we cannot change our thinking – Santosh Kalwar
Starlionblue From Hong Kong, joined Feb 2004, 15904 posts, RR: 66 Reply 10, posted (11 months 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 4255 times:
Quoting zeke (Reply 9): Quoting n92r03 (Reply 7):
Not get too far off topic, but would someone in the know please tell what is the largest private jet than can be operated by a single pilot? IIRC it is a Cessna CJ1? Thanks-
There are a few Sukhoi Su-27 Flankers and English Electric Lightning about, both are around 20t aircraft.
Heh. The F-111 is 37+ tonnes and is a one-pilot aircraft. But I don't think there are any privately operated ones.
For that matter, the F-14 is 33+ tonnes and is a one-pilot aircraft.
"There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots." - from Citadel by John Ringo
CitationJet From United States of America, joined Mar 2003, 2250 posts, RR: 3 Reply 12, posted (11 months 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 4250 times:
Cessna has an exemption to allow some Citation 550s and 560s to fly single pilot operations. Not many people do that, because of the additional FAA requirements, and the insurance costs.
The single pilot exemption for the Citation 550 and 560 is FAA Exemption 4050. I cannot find the FAA's version, but here is a link to the Austrailian CAA that defines the FAA's exemption. http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2009L01175
IAHFLYR From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 4740 posts, RR: 25 Reply 16, posted (11 months 2 days ago) and read 3717 times:
Somewhat off the G-V topic, but the NASA G2 Shuttle Training Aircraft were flown single pilot as one side of the flight deck was the G-2 flight deck while the other side was for the Space Shuttle. I forget which side was which, but I'm thinking the left seat was the Shuttle.
Any views shared are strictly my own and do not a represent those of any former employer.
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