commercial training question

farmerbrown

Well-Known Member
I am going to start doing training for my commercial and I ran accross something suggesting I do it from the right seat. That way moving right on to the CFI training won't be as difficult.

Is this commonly done?
 
Since the checkride is usually done (don't know of any cases not) in the left seat, you should probably be very comfortable over there. I had my commercial students do a few flights from the right seat to get a feel for it if they were doing well from the left seat. Talk to your CFI and when both of you are comfy with progress, then it probably wouldn't hurt to try a flight or three from the right seat. My thought is to keep the majority of the training to the left seat though. For one you are already used to it and that should help get the overall time for the commercial certificate down. Then once you have a solid foundation of the maneuvers and pass the commercial, you can focus on transitioning to the right seat which has proved to be harder for some than others. After you feel comfy in the right seat, simply bring all the skills from the commercial together and you are ready for your CFI checkride.
 
Right or Left?

From what I have seen, the examiner will allow you to sit either side. If you are going to hit the ground running with your CFI immediatly following your checkride, it might not be a bad idea. Good Luck!
 
I think (from my experience) that the transition is not too difficult, hence no need to try to pre-empt it. After you get your Commercial, go out (even on your own for that matter) and try the right seat. After a few uncoordinated and sloppy steep turns and chandelle, you should have no problem.

Landing for the very first time from the right seat is only a problem if you are using the airplane's nose as a primary reference, which you shouldnt be. Look down the runway, put the white stripes between your legs... its all the same :):)
 
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