Two capts in commuter operation balk when asked to fly as copilot.

Attributes
ACN	120955
Time
Date	198908
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : smf
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	ground : preflight other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 4500 flight time type : 385
ASRS Report	120955
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	121467
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

The first officer had not completed his training, so a replacement was sent out. The replacement was a captain, and he refused to fly as first officer because he had no training in such a position on this aircraft, light transport X. I was asked if I would fly as first officer. I stated as per far part 91.3(a) I did not feel the situation was safe and stated I would not fly as first officer because I was not trained. The chief pilot stated 'I guess we will have to find another first officer.' about 10 mins later, the chief pilot called back and stated 'the president is very upset and said you will be suspended if you do not fly as first officer.' for fear of losing my job I flew as first officer during a 3-DAY trip. I have sent a copy of the incident report to mr C, FAA FSDO, in fat. Also, I have filed a grievance with airline pilots association. A clarification is required of part 135 of the FARS for a transport category aircraft (part 25) training requirements in both right and left seat. This situation is in my view a major safety problem, because if an emergency does occur, the pilot, never having had training in the right seat before, could be 'overwhelmed and lost' in the unfamiliar position. Perhaps a change in or clarification of the FARS would help prevent a potential hazardous situation in the future.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TWO CAPTS IN COMMUTER OPERATION BALK WHEN ASKED TO FLY AS COPLT.

Narrative: THE F/O HAD NOT COMPLETED HIS TRAINING, SO A REPLACEMENT WAS SENT OUT. THE REPLACEMENT WAS A CAPT, AND HE REFUSED TO FLY AS F/O BECAUSE HE HAD NO TRAINING IN SUCH A POSITION ON THIS ACFT, LTT X. I WAS ASKED IF I WOULD FLY AS F/O. I STATED AS PER FAR PART 91.3(A) I DID NOT FEEL THE SITUATION WAS SAFE AND STATED I WOULD NOT FLY AS F/O BECAUSE I WAS NOT TRAINED. THE CHIEF PLT STATED 'I GUESS WE WILL HAVE TO FIND ANOTHER F/O.' ABOUT 10 MINS LATER, THE CHIEF PLT CALLED BACK AND STATED 'THE PRESIDENT IS VERY UPSET AND SAID YOU WILL BE SUSPENDED IF YOU DO NOT FLY AS F/O.' FOR FEAR OF LOSING MY JOB I FLEW AS F/O DURING A 3-DAY TRIP. I HAVE SENT A COPY OF THE INCIDENT REPORT TO MR C, FAA FSDO, IN FAT. ALSO, I HAVE FILED A GRIEVANCE WITH AIRLINE PLTS ASSOCIATION. A CLARIFICATION IS REQUIRED OF PART 135 OF THE FARS FOR A TRANSPORT CATEGORY ACFT (PART 25) TRAINING REQUIREMENTS IN BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT SEAT. THIS SITUATION IS IN MY VIEW A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM, BECAUSE IF AN EMER DOES OCCUR, THE PLT, NEVER HAVING HAD TRAINING IN THE RIGHT SEAT BEFORE, COULD BE 'OVERWHELMED AND LOST' IN THE UNFAMILIAR POSITION. PERHAPS A CHANGE IN OR CLARIFICATION OF THE FARS WOULD HELP PREVENT A POTENTIAL HAZARDOUS SITUATION IN THE FUTURE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.