Is there any reason a pilot would not be unable to fly a Cessna 206 from the righthand seat solo?
The reason I ask is I am commercial helicopter pilot and mechanic (aircraft engineer in the southern hemisphere), I lost my right hand a few years back and the feds have agreed in principle to granting a limited medical to fly fix wing for which I have a PPL.
The plan is to purchase a 206, install instruments in the righthand panel and fly from the righthand seat with a prosthetic arm and control everything else with my lefthand.
I would like to install left door STC or buy a P model.
The other thing I'm unsure about is, do most 206 have toe brakes on the righthand pedals?
The plan is in it's infant stage so any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Doug

Hell. You can fly from the back seat if you can reach that far.

Got a couple CFI buddys who always fly right seat. With pax or solo.

Gump

There is no reason why you couldn't fly solo from the right seat. The brakes work on the right side as well. The right door is a PIA to install and rather pricey, especially the Whip Air one. Nice once it is in, had one. It is somewhat delicate though.

There was a very odd pilot for MAF that ran the 206 from Nairobi to Lokichogio Kenya. He would only fly from the right seat and insisted the left seat remain un-occupied as it was…"God's seat." He didn't last long, had a bit of a problem with his Class II Mental Certificate. Didn't have any physical issues flying from the right seat, loaded.

The 206 is a great aircraft, it does have heavy controls on roll, more truck like than a 185/180. I would think an aircraft with a stick may be easier with a prosthetic. Lots of RAF pilots ended up a hand short in WWII and continued to fly. There was a very famous group leader Sir Douglas Robert Steuart Bader, that had no legs that was so impressive they made a movie about him, Reach for the Sky.

Every time i take up one of my nieces or nephews or girlfriend i fly right seat so they feel like a "pilot" i have full control from the right side.

1973 182p has brakes on both sides

I know that for a while cessna had a 206 with 2 front doors from the factory, a friend of mine has one. I think its a 1967 or 68 model???

Kudos to you for flying with a handicap such as yours. As a kid i flew a ton with a man who had no legs, in his cessna 177 cardinal. He really pushed me to get my license, he was and still is a phenomenal pilot.

Mike

I severed my left hand in a sawmilling accident many years ago, hanging by a few bits and pieces, they sewed it back together but I have basically no feeling and a claw with a bit of grip between thumb and index finger. Tried flying right seat in my Maule and was useless so adapted as best I could in the left seat, the flare can get interesting sometimes. Can't help with info on the 206, but by the sound of it you'll find a way, I work as a small engine mechanic so big respect goes out to you mate. I grew up just down the road in Kempsey and now live up around Lismore maybe we'll meet up one day, fly to Grafton often. Where there's a will there's a way. Best of luck.

I always fly from right in 182.
If you need any help from a CFI or with Feds showing competency, I would be glad to help. Free.

No problem flying from the right seat in a 206. You may want to rearrange some things on the panel. The ignition switch and boost pump switches are all far left, and I'd want those accessable to right seat. Easy to accomplish, not sure about certification.

Cessna 205 or P206 have full size right door. Wip door is nice, but somewhat narrower than Left door.

MTV

A few Skydiving operations I know take the U (cargo door) 206, seal up the cargo doors, install a flip up door at the left pilot position, move the pilot to the right and remove the yoke from the left. The idea is that the skydivers can climb out on the wheel and hang from the strut. STC or field approval? I dont know. I see the key dangling next to the open door.

reminds me of the first jump run I flew at Coolidge in 1973.. The last jumper out the door of the 182 reached over and took the key with him.
Guess he had not heard of shock cooling....

When I was regularly instructing, I got so comfortable in the right seat that I often flew everything solo from the right. The only airplane I regularly flew which was less than comfortable from the right was a Cherokee 6, because it's a bit wider than even the larger Cessnas, so that the guages are a little harder to see. So even if you don't mod the airplane by moving the panel, I doubt you'd have any trouble.

If you can find a P206 (Super Skylane), that has the doors on both sides in lieu of the double doors in the back; so does a 205. Not sure I'd want to spend the $$$ to have a door installed in a normal U206--lots of other more important stuff to spend $22,000 on--but that's just me.

I have to say that I always find it pretty admirable when a person doesn't know the meaning of the word "handicap". Good on ya!

Cary

flightlogic, reminds me of my days flying skydivers back in the late sixties in the Denver area. We always carried a spare key in the glove box of our 3 180's. I had that happen one time also and had the key stashed, fun times.
Ron

Firstly thanks to all that have commented, your advice is invaluable, Flightlogic I really appreciate the offer it reconfirms why I decided to stay in the industry even after my accident. As we say in our neck of the woods it's a passion not a job.
Your feedback raises a couple of thoughts.
How much heavier are the flight control load in the 206 than say a 172, I've flown a 172 so that would help make a comparison?
Are there any major disadvantages with the older P model than say a latter G or H model, I've read somewhere that they had a smallier tail but I could be wrong?
In your guys opinion, if you were operating a wheeled 206 from the righthand seat is the right door a must have?
Can the big cargo door be fitted to a P Model?

Thanking you all again in advance.

Doug

P206C or later. I Dont remember the last year of the P models. 206s have heavy controls. You can take a U206 and add a small rt side door up front from Wipaire but not add a Large Cargo door to the back of a P206

206 is A lot heavier on the controls than a 172 .Not unmanageable by any means just heavier. I have a 66' p206 with a jump door on the right hand side . Engine is an io550 and it is very nose heavy , again not unmanageable just nose heavy.Should be no big deal to get an openable door wherever you want one with a field approval.206 is an awesome airplane and really easy to fly .

On a long pipeline run in the same general direction with a strong left crosswind, it is much safer and more effective to change to the right seat. At 200' it is dangerous and ineffective to look over the entire cowl to see the right of way and any obstructions ahead. Sliding over to the right of the line and alternating scan from well back on the right of way to forward across the entire cowl is also dangerous and ineffective. By moving to the right seat, we have a good view of the right of way and any obstructions in the same scan and have no cowl to look over. For the same reason, we want to be in the left seat with a strong right crosswind. Helicopters are wonderful, but they cannot compete with airplanes on dollar a mile work. Citabrias are fine.

There is a substantial difference in pitch forces between a 172 and 206. In fact, many people choose to trim into the flare, for instance, because of that force. Whether that would cause you any problem with the prosthesis, hard to say--only way to know would be to try it. But generally speaking, a 206 is a pretty easy airplane to fly; it's just not a 172.

Considering how many airplanes are out there with only one door on the right, so that the pilot gets in first and then the right side passenger, I don't think the reverse of that in a normal 206 should be all that big a deal--you'd just get in first, then the left seat passenger. For me, I could never justify $22,000 for a door.

Cary

Is Coff's Harbor near Adelaide? Lived in South Australia in the late 90's. Great people!
And lots of wide open spaces. I like that.
All of the big bore Continental Cessnas are nose heavy. Just reach over with the left hand and trim it.

Hey Flightlogic. Coff's Harbour is on the East Coast half way between Brisbane and Sydney. Great spot to live.
She's a big country with a lot of nothing in the middle, which is even more reason to have an aircraft.