Talon Air MAF?

[dcramer16]

Just had an interview with Talon Air out of Midland. The owner wants to fly with me tomorrow and see how I do. Right now the owner is the one doing the flying because he needs another pilot, and his mechanic is flying SIC. All my flying has been in a 172 so far doing pipeline patrol so I have a few questions obviously.

First, has anyone on here flown for this operation? I imagine the equipment is in good condition since the owner is the one flying in it. He seems like a cool laid back guy so I don't see any problems there either.

My other question has to do with logging the time. The plane is a Queen Air, and the owner said it is a two pilot aircraft. So if he's sitting Left Seat am I only getting SIC time? Is SIC time good? How bad is that, I don't even know what SIC time is except what the acronym stands for!

This is a 135 operation, so do I need to go up with an FAA examiner for a 135 checkride? What does that entail?

I'm sure I'll think of more questions along the way. I just want to be very informed before I make this decision. I am making 35K a year where I am now, but it is only time in a 172 so I want to move on, but only want to move up, not down.

[FlyTrue]

I am not familiar with the operation but I can answer a few of your questions. The regulations state that for you to be able to log SIC time the aircraft must require two pilots. The only way to log SIC time in a Queen Air is if the FSDO that oversees the operation has granted a Letter of Authorization (LOA) to permit this. The Queen Air does not require two pilots as certified so logging SIC time in the aircraft is not legal unless the operation holds such an LOA. Even if the operator holds such an LOA, logging the time is still sticky because future employers may not view the time as valid even if presented with the LOA. Second, you will have to train under the company training manual and take an oral / checkride for any FAR 135 crew member position. The oral will consist of questions regarding the companies operations manual, the aircraft to be flown, part 61, 91, 135 of the regulations, all of the above is fair game. The checkride has to be flown to the standards of you current pilot certificate (Commercial I assume) and will be basically a commercial multiengine instrument checkride. If you want to know the exact requierments I suggest you become familiar with 135.293 and 135.297. 135.299 is for PIC qualification only.