Can a sport pilot instructor...

None of it matters anyway until you kill somebody. ;)

I hope to have the grace to go at the same time then. ;-> Actually, as soon as the FAA takes notice of you for anything, suddenly they’re combing your ass hair for fleas.
 
I hope to have the grace to go at the same time then. ;-> Actually, as soon as the FAA takes notice of you for anything, suddenly they’re combing your ass hair for fleas.
Kill somebody, land on the White House lawn, make a ridiculous YouTube video, **** off your neighbor . . .
 
FSDO got back to me:

Hello Mr. Frederick,

Thank you for your question. Regardless of the ratings the tailwheel student holds, A Sport Pilot instructor can only give the endorsement in a Light Sport airplane, but it’s valid for any tailwheel airplane that the holder is authorized to fly.

See AC 61-65H - Certification: Pilots and Flight and Ground:

A.71 To act as pilot in command in a tailwheel airplane: § 61.31(i). This endorsement may
be given in a sport pilot aircraft by a sport pilot instructor, or in an airplane by a flight
instructor with a rating other than a sport pilot rating.


I certify that [First name, MI, Last name], [grade of pilot certificate], [certificate number],
has received the required training of § 61.31(i) in a [make and model] of tailwheel
airplane. I have determined that [he or she] is proficient in the operation of a tailwheel
airplane.


Please call if you have any further questions.


Sincerely,

[redacted]


FAASTeam Program Manager (Temp) – Operations
Grand Rapids, FSDO
3196 Kraft Ave. SE, STE 103
Grand Rapids, MI 49512
 
FSDO got back to me:

Hello Mr. Frederick,

Thank you for your question. Regardless of the ratings the tailwheel student holds, A Sport Pilot instructor can only give the endorsement in a Light Sport airplane, but it’s valid for any tailwheel airplane that the holder is authorized to fly.

See AC 61-65H - Certification: Pilots and Flight and Ground:

A.71 To act as pilot in command in a tailwheel airplane: § 61.31(i). This endorsement may
be given in a sport pilot aircraft by a sport pilot instructor, or in an airplane by a flight
instructor with a rating other than a sport pilot rating.


I certify that [First name, MI, Last name], [grade of pilot certificate], [certificate number],
has received the required training of § 61.31(i) in a [make and model] of tailwheel
airplane. I have determined that [he or she] is proficient in the operation of a tailwheel
airplane.


Please call if you have any further questions.


Sincerely,

[redacted]


FAASTeam Program Manager (Temp) – Operations
Grand Rapids, FSDO
3196 Kraft Ave. SE, STE 103
Grand Rapids, MI 49512
... followed by dead silence from those who insisted it could not be so.
 
FSDO got back to me:

Hello Mr. Frederick,

Thank you for your question. Regardless of the ratings the tailwheel student holds, A Sport Pilot instructor can only give the endorsement in a Light Sport airplane, but it’s valid for any tailwheel airplane that the holder is authorized to fly.

See AC 61-65H - Certification: Pilots and Flight and Ground:

A.71 To act as pilot in command in a tailwheel airplane: § 61.31(i). This endorsement may
be given in a sport pilot aircraft by a sport pilot instructor, or in an airplane by a flight
instructor with a rating other than a sport pilot rating.


I certify that [First name, MI, Last name], [grade of pilot certificate], [certificate number],
has received the required training of § 61.31(i) in a [make and model] of tailwheel
airplane. I have determined that [he or she] is proficient in the operation of a tailwheel
airplane.


Please call if you have any further questions.


Sincerely,

[redacted]


FAASTeam Program Manager (Temp) – Operations
Grand Rapids, FSDO
3196 Kraft Ave. SE, STE 103
Grand Rapids, MI 49512


This makes sense, you sure it came from the FAA? ;)
 
And not a lot of noise from those of us who said yes, but didn’t site 61.65H.
Actually, we’re just too nice to rub people’s noses in it when they’re wrong.

and/or we know that the only reason a FSDO interpretation is better than anyone else’s is that it means they probably won’t issue a violation for it.
 
Actually, we’re just too nice to rub people’s noses in it when they’re wrong.

and/or we know that the only reason a FSDO interpretation is better than anyone else’s is that it means they probably won’t issue a violation for it.

Well, the CC has also said they aren't going to answer most questions they get asked, and will defer to the FSDO.
 
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