How is this possible? Shouldn't there have been a co-pilot?

Nope they fly them solo all the time. No need for a second pilot unless... the pilot dies.

This one's good to. The wifes face says it all.

Wow that was intense...thanks for posting.

Wow that was something else. Cant even imagine being thrust into such a life or death scenario in the blink of an eye. The weight of the world was on that mans shoulders and he handled it marvelously.

Fortunately the aircraft was equipped with ca cabin security system...

https://www.bing.com/videos/se...252FzvOP5nEnAlUhxxFw

I once rode in the right seat of a King Air when flying commercially on a regional airline. The normal equipment was faulty so they hired a local pilot and plane to fly. We were a seat short so I volunteered to sit in the right seat. I probably had 40 hours in a 150 at the time.

We were VFR all the way and I wore a headset. We flew from an international airport to a Unicom airport. The pilot sorta chuckled when I said, “Can I take it for a while?”

Cool story, thanks.

I've got about 30 hrs in single engine.

The first few times my wife & I flew together when we were dating, she'd ask "can you fly this?" 737s mostly.

Probably, but it likely wouldn't be fun nor smooth

quote:

Originally posted by darthfuster:

How is this possible? Shouldn't there have been a co-pilot?

Not required for a King Air 200.

I'm pretty sure that the 350 is the only King Air that requires two pilots.

V-Tail is correct. Many companies do utilize a SIC for safety, helps with insurance costs too. The air ambulance company I flew for required 2 pilots for all their King Air flights C90, BE200, all of them. In a 24/7 environment, it definitely makes it safer. At least this fellow was a pilot and had some sense of what to do.

quote:

Originally posted by coloradohunter44:

V-Tail is correct. Many companies do utilize a SIC for safety, helps with insurance costs too. The air ambulance company I flew for required 2 pilots for all their King Air flights C90, BE200, all of them. In a 24/7 environment, it definitely makes it safer. At least this fellow was a pilot and had some sense of what to do.

Two different issues. I was speaking in terms of the aircraft certification. The 350 requires two pilots, all other models (90, 100, 200, and 300) are certified for single pilot.

What Mr. Hunter refers to are things like insurance requirements, company operating procedures, etc., which are not regulatory.

We're both correct.

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:
I've got about 30 hrs in single engine.

The first few times my wife & I flew together when we were dating, she'd ask "can you fly this?" 737s mostly.

Probably, but it likely wouldn't be fun nor smooth

Was lucky enough to get to play in a 727 full motion sim when I was working on my instrument rating back in the day. Jets are a whole different animal!

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

Originally posted by coloradohunter44:

V-Tail is correct. Many companies do utilize a SIC for safety, helps with insurance costs too. The air ambulance company I flew for required 2 pilots for all their King Air flights C90, BE200, all of them. In a 24/7 environment, it definitely makes it safer. At least this fellow was a pilot and had some sense of what to do.

Two different issues. I was speaking in terms of the aircraft certification. The 350 requires two pilots, all other models (90, 100, 200, and 300) are certified for single pilot.

What Mr. Hunter refers to are things like insurance requirements, company operating procedures, etc., which are not regulatory.

We're both correct.

If the airplane is operated under Part 135 (charter) under IFR, then a SIC is required unless the operator has a waiver to operate with an autopilot in lieu of a SIC. In that case, it's regulatory and a second in command is mandatory.

The King Air is a gentleman's airplane and an easy airplane to fly. It's still a step up in a big way if someone hasn't flown a multi engine airplane, and the BE-20 is bigger than the light twins that most people first start out on, and has more power. Speeds aren't that much higher, when landing, and other than systems the pilot wouldn't be too familiar with (pressurization, etc), and possibly the landing gear, it's a straightforward airplane. Of all the King Air family, it's probably the easiest to transition to.

It's a walter mitty moment for most private pilots, to be called on in flight to take over.

While it may seem intimidating, it's a task that most private pilots could do, whether a King Air 90, or a 737.

Wow that was IN-Tense!

that was excellent - good show

and he went on to train and fly the same airplane....very nice

Nerves of steel...wicked intense!!!

I wouldn't say nerves of steel, but he held it together admirably. There is, understandably, quite a bit of quivering in his voice, especially near the end.

I flew a friends Dad's Mooney for a 1/2 an hour, that was all I needed to decide that being a pilot was not for me. I would much rather fly with someone who knows what they're doing.