Sitting in the Right Seat

[sdfcvoh]

I'm going to start practicing flying from the right seat tomorrow. I've been visualizing it for the last couple of days, and although I think I'd end up left of center on landing, I see myself landing too far right?! Is that nutz?

Am I getting too far ahead of myself? The whole reason for this post was to try to get any suggestions I can. I think it is important to practice right seat ahead of time.

thanks...

[jrh]

The biggest problem most people have when transitioning to the right seat is they tend to land with the nose cocked to the right, rather than aligned straight ahead with the runway. I'm not sure why this is...I think it might have something to do with mentally trying to line up the center of the cowling with the centerline on the runway and the parallax error that occurs when sitting to the right side of the plane.

Most people get comfortable in the right seat after 3-5 hours. I'd recommend doing it with an instructor, or at least another qualified pilot in the left seat while you practice.

[v1valarob]

Unless the Seminole is different from other small GA aircraft. Put that center line between your legs.

-Rob

[moxiepilot]

Originally Posted by jrh

The biggest problem most people have when transitioning to the right seat is they tend to land with the nose cocked to the right, rather than aligned straight ahead with the runway. I'm not sure why this is...I think it might have something to do with mentally trying to line up the center of the cowling with the centerline on the runway and the parallax error that occurs when sitting to the right side of the plane.

Most people get comfortable in the right seat after 3-5 hours. I'd recommend doing it with an instructor, or at least another qualified pilot in the left seat while you practice.

it doesn't take too long to transition, but I'd do a few landings with someone.

[sdfcvoh]

Thanks! I will make sure there's a pilot in the left seat just in case I wig.
Thanks for the pointers!

[dc3flyer]

Yep, you will land crooked, and a lot worse than you did pre-solo when working on your PPL. Make sure someone is with you!!!

I had to 'pretend' there was a crosswind from the right, to make myself land right... I was straight but thought I was crooked. It will come after a few landings.

[MidlifeFlyer]

Originally Posted by sdfcvoh

I'm going to start practicing flying from the right seat tomorrow. I've been visualizing it for the last couple of days, and although I think I'd end up left of center on landing, I see myself landing too far right?! Is that nutz?

Nope. You're right. People learning to land from the left seat tend to land left of centerline and when later learning ro land from the right, land right of centerline.

Whether you do or not will depend on how you normally line yourself up. If you line up by trying to line up the =airplane=, the transition will be a little more difficult than if you line up by trying to line =yourself= up.

The technique I use with students works just as well from the right seat:

How Come I Always Land Left of Centerline with the Airplane Crooked?

[sdfcvoh]

... more great stuff. thanks!

[majorityof1]

Hey,
I just went through the transition from left to right. My first flight up was frustrating, like trying to write with your left hand if you are right handed, you can do it all, it is just akward (side loading galore). The second flight I was safe, could do the different types of landings, my nose would just scoot to the right when I was about 10 feet off the ground, I needed a little more left rudder. My third flight it all came together, and I was much more comfortable. I would say you will be as proficient from the right seat as from the left after 30 landings or so.

[wrxpilot]

Originally Posted by jrh

The biggest problem most people have when transitioning to the right seat is they tend to land with the nose cocked to the right, rather than aligned straight ahead with the runway.

That really is true... When I first started flying right seat I would swear I was landing with perfect alignment - and then airplane would dart off to the right. Doesn't take long to get it though, particularly when you know what to look out for.

[exleardriver]

i had a summer business to pay for my commercial after my instrument rating. i owned a c-150 and removed the left seat to make myself practice. i was flying down to the gulf coast and bringing up flash-frozen shrimp to sell at the river market..four 50-lb boxes at a time so i needed the extra space. i don't recall how long it took to get comfortable, but after a whole summer it was an afterthought. i have so many thousand in either seat that i adjust without thinking. i do recall sliding into the center a little at first to get more comfortable with the transition.

[bap327]

As anything else it takes time. We all went throught the same uneasiness but you'll pick it up. Stick with it and have fun!

[ScoutFlyer]

I am working on the right seat transition now as well with CFI training. It didn't take me very long to work out the visual differences, I think I had the alignment figured out by the end of the first flight or so. My problem has been controlling the yoke with my right arm. It feels very unnatural in the flare. I would definately suggest taking someone else along for the first few hours as already suggested.