61.31(d)2 Endorsement

[Ken White]

I'm going to start working with a commercial helicopter pilot to add a PPL ASEL rating. I have a pretty good handle on the flight time requirements we will have to meet which is basically everything in 61.109 that says "in a single-engine airplane". My question is on the requirements for giving the 61.31(d)2 endorsement to allow them to act as PIC i.e. solo.

61.31(d)2 reads:
"Have received training required by this part that is appropriate to the pilot certification level, aircraft category, class, and type rating (if a class or type rating is required) for the aircraft to be flown, and have received an endorsement for solo flight in that aircraft from an authorized instructor."

When it says "have received training required by this part" would that mean I need to complete everything listed in the dual training under 61.109 before issuing this endorsement or would it be referring to the items under 61.107 or something else completely?

Thanks in advance, this is the first time I've worked with a pilot to add a category to their ticket.

 

[dustoff17]

Subject to the onslaught of comments,

I did this very thing. So having been through this before from the student side, I can tell you this:
Your student requires ONLY 3 hours of dual instruction and 10 hours of solo time that includes the items under 61.109(5). The two of you need to sit down and manage the training hours so it is beneficial to both. You can overlap many of the requirements and check off all of those that do not specify "in category". If he/she demonstrates proficiency and you're comfortable with signing them off, he/she can knock this out and be signed off for his check ride in as little as 13 (up to 16 depending on how you interpret) total hours in an airplane!

61.31(d2) doesn't really kick in (pending your endorsement) because he/she has already met the "Have received training required by this part". Because they already hold a Commercial rating, this exceeds the "that is appropriate to the pilot certification level" requirement. [IMHO]

 

[Ken White]

Subject to the onslaught of comments,

I did this very thing. So having been through this before from the student side, I can tell you this:
Your student requires ONLY 3 hours of dual instruction and 10 hours of solo time that includes the items under 61.109(5). The two of you need to sit down and manage the training hours so it is beneficial to both. You can overlap many of the requirements and check off all of those that do not specify "in category". If he/she demonstrates proficiency and you're comfortable with signing them off, he/she can knock this out and be signed off for his check ride in as little as 13 (up to 16 depending on how you interpret) total hours in an airplane!

61.31(d2) doesn't really kick in (pending your endorsement) because he/she has already met the "Have received training required by this part". Because they already hold a Commercial rating, this exceeds the "that is appropriate to the pilot certification level" requirement. [IMHO]

 

[Ken White]

Thanks for the reply dustoff, in this case the pilot hasn't flown since they left the Army in 2010 and has no fixed wing experience so I'm expecting to spend quite a bit of dual with them. It still seems like there should be some required training before giving the 61.31 endorsement but maybe you're right.

 

[dustoff17]

I agree with you. The initial SEL training I received was to get me to a solo endorsement. YOU have to feel comfortable with that endorsement. My comment was more for the overview of the program....too many Army pilots are under the impression that they have to start from zero to get a ASEL.

P.S. 7 years is a long time but manageable for both of you. I left the Army in 2010 too, so I understand. Let me know how that goes!!