Citabria Solo Rear Seat?

rpmathis

rpmathis

New member
I am checked out in the rear seat by a CFI and it's noted in my logbook. Weight and Balance is in the Normal Category with me in the rear seat solo whether full fuel or empty. But my Citabria is placarded "Occupy Front Seat When Flying Solo." So I guess this means it would be illegal to solo in the rear seat?

I have read the "PIC from Rear Seat" Thread. I have flow PIC from the rear seat but each of my front seat passenegers were pilots. (None were checked out in a Citatbria and one without medical.) I have never flown PIC rear seat with a nonpilot passenger.

I have not been pleased with my flying from the rear seat and want more rear seat practice. You wouldn't think it would make much difference but when you haven't had much rear seat time it does. Has anyone out there rear seat soloed legal or not?
 
Here is what the regs say;

Sec. 91.9 — Civil aircraft flight manual, marking, and placard requirements.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this section, no person may operate a civil aircraft without complying with the operating limitations specified in the approved Airplane or Rotorcraft Flight Manual, markings, and placards, or as otherwise prescribed by the certificating authority of the country of registry.

That being said, we all have to make our own decisions regarding the compliance with the rules.

I would not feel comfortable soloing from the rear seat because I don't want to pay for the results of an incident which the insurance company decides to pass on, I can't reach the mixture control(I have to lean aggressively to avoid fouled plugs) and I can't reach the GPS and radio.

I fly several times/week from the rear seat as I give instruction in my 7ECA and still would not be comfortable soloing from there.

I am not a lawyer, but I give free advice on the internet. It is worth almost what you pay for it.

Ron
 
Robert, I agree with Ron. If anything happens with no one in the front seat, you are in deep doo doo.

If I remember correctly, the placard says "solo from front seat". It says nothing about a qualified pilot being required to occupy the front seat and you flying from the rear.

That said, you said you were not comfortable flying from the rear. Good reason to keep a qualified pilot in front while you get experience.

I need rear seat time also to get use to the position for when I get my Nieuport built.

Dale
 
The reason for no rear seat solo may be that there is no way to reach the fuel shut off valve from the rear.
BB
 
FYI-

Every 7 series aircraft since the original 7AC has been placarded "Front Seat Solo Only" due to CG considerations in the early aircraft, this had nothing to due with control placement since the 7AC had the mag switch, fuel shutoff and carb heat on the LH sidewall equally accessible from either seat, and the trim was on the overhead above the front seat occupants LH shoulder. Front seat solo was a HUGE advance forward which forced Piper to develop the PA-11 Cub Special which allowed solo from either seat due to a wider CG in contrast to the J-3 which was soloed from the rear seat only.

Tom-
 
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