Terry the last thing I want to do here is get ito a pi.sing match over flying simple training aircraft, but I'm puzzeled at your comments about teaching a licensed pilot to fly a tail wheel airplane and the need for a type rating on one.
How many hours would this type rating require, assuming you are not doing it on something like a B17?
And please, please ,please explain to me why an instructors endorsement would be needed??
What would be wrong with someone who is a good teacher with lots of tailwheel time doing the check outs as long as the pilot being taught has a pilot license?
Chuck E.
Hey Chuck, no worries ... I enjoy a healthy discussion and see no requirement for a ... how did you say it ... pi.sing match (that?s how simple folk settle issues when they don?t know how to debate!)
First, understand where I'm coming from ... in Alaska there are a disproportionate number of taildraggers and the accident statistics reflect poorly on taildragger pilots. Again, there are relatively few qualified tailwheel instructors out there, and I believe there needs to be more rigor in the tailwheel instruction that goes on. Tailwheel planes are more difficult to fly and there needs to be training specific to those differences.
Compare the tailwheel training to the SES (or float) rating ? almost the same concept, the FAR?s don?t require a specific number of hours, and there is no written exam, but the SES requires a checkride after the instructor feels the student is indeed ready for safe flight in a float plane. The difference is, the tailwheel training, and proof that the pilot will be safe and proficient, ends with the instructor.
With the SES rating, one more check is in order to verify the competency of the pilot, and the FFA (or its designee) gets one last chance to ride with the them ? the pilot understands that they have to demonstrate their competence to someone other than the instructor.
Unfortunately, there are instructors out there who will sign a tailwheel student off after 1-3 hours of touch and go?s in the pattern. Others will hold out for 18-20 hours of training. I believe that if the tailwheel training were subjected to the same rigor as the float rating we?d end up with fewer accidents and safer pilots (and safer passengers). I hate to say it, but the accident statistics support my case, at least in Alaska.
Terry
