High Altitude Endorsement

[Plane Trouble]

Guys this may have been covered already but I have search and found little... What qualifications does someone have to have to give a high altitude endorsement? Access to an aircraft, appropriately typed and an CFI/MEI?

Thanks,
PT

 

[mshunter]

Guys this may have been covered already but I have search and found little... What qualifications does someone have to have to give a high altitude endorsement? Access to an aircraft, appropriately typed and an CFI/MEI?

Thanks,
PT

And to add to it, do you need one to sit right seat?

 

[adk]

no person may act as pilot in command of a pressurized aircraft (an aircraft that has a service ceiling or maximum operating altitude, whichever is lower, above 25,000 feet MSL), unless that person has received and logged ground training from an authorized instructor and obtained an endorsement in the person's logbook or training record from an authorized instructor who certifies the person has satisfactorily accomplished the ground training.

(2) Except as provided in paragraph (g)(3) of this section, no person may act as pilot in command of a pressurized aircraft unless that person has received and logged training from an authorized instructor in a pressurized aircraft, or in a flight simulator or flight training device that is representative of a pressurized aircraft, and obtained an endorsement in the person's logbook or training record from an authorized instructor who found the person proficient in the operation of a pressurized aircraft. The flight training must include at least the following subjects:

(i) Normal cruise flight operations while operating above 25,000 feet MSL;

(ii) Proper emergency procedures for simulated rapid decompression without actually depressurizing the aircraft; and

(iii) Emergency descent procedures.

You don't need it to sit right seat, just like you don't need any other endorsements to sit right seat.

To give it, you have to have one of your own, cover the ground knowledge, and take the student to FL250 either in a plane or a sim.

 

[The Gardener]

nevermind

 

[moxiepilot]

To give it, you have to have one of your own, cover the ground knowledge, and take the student to FL250 either in a plane or a sim.

You do not need to take a student to 25k in a sim or in a plane. You are required to cover the information.

 

[Mike H]

You do not need to take a student to 25k in a sim or in a plane. You are required to cover the information.

Just so nobody gets the wrong idea- at least some dual instruction must be logged either in a pressurized aircraft or in a sim, you just aren't required to go to 25000 ft for it.

 

[adk]

You do not need to take a student to 25k in a sim or in a plane. You are required to cover the information.

I'm going to have to disagree with you on this one.

61.1 Defines "Flight Training" as training, other than ground training, received from an authorized instructor in flight in an aircraft.


As mentioned above, 61.63 states that

The flight training must include at least the following subjects:

(i) Normal cruise flight operations while operating above 25,000 feet MSL

So if the required flight training, defined as training from an authorized instructor in flight in an aircraft, is required to cover operations above 25,000 feet MSL, I don't see how you can do that without flying an airplane above 25,000 feet.

 

[msmspilot]

I'm going to have to disagree with you on this one.

61.1 Defines "Flight Training" as training, other than ground training, received from an authorized instructor in flight in an aircraft.


As mentioned above, 61.63 states that



So if the required flight training, defined as training from an authorized instructor in flight in an aircraft, is required to cover operations above 25,000 feet MSL, I don't see how you can do that without flying an airplane above 25,000 feet.

I wasn't sure about this, since I don't have my endorsement yet, but according to AC 61-107A, Section 111:

e. Climb to High Altitude and Normal Cruise Operations While Operating Above 25,000 feet MSL.
The transition from low to high altitude should be performed repeatedly to assure familiarity with appropriate procedures. Specific oxygen requirements should be met when climbing above 12,500 feet and pressurization should be adjusted with altitude. When passing through FL 180, the altimeter should be set to 29.92" Hg and left untouched until descending below that altitude. Reporting points should be complied with, as should appropriate altitude selection for direction of flight. Throughout the entire climb and cruise above 25,000 feet, emphasis should be given to monitoring cabin pressurization.

This definitely seems to imply that you are correct.

http://www.faa.gov/pilots/training/airman_education/media/ac 61-107a.pdf

 

[imatworkallday]

So this makes me wonder, can altitude chamber training satisfy the requirements for the endorsement? Academics are typically a few hours long and the altitude chamber "flight" typically goes to FL250 with a simulated rapid decompression thrown in as well.

 

[Cessnaflyer]

So this makes me wonder, can altitude chamber training satisfy the requirements for the endorsement? Academics are typically a few hours long and the altitude chamber "flight" typically goes to FL250 with a simulated rapid decompression thrown in as well.

It only counts for the physiology portion of it. When I did it here at Fairchild AFB they only gave us one part of the endorsement. Then at work I went up in our 340 and did the dives and the rest of the stuff.

 

[wrxpilot]

It only counts for the physiology portion of it. When I did it here at Fairchild AFB they only gave us one part of the endorsement. Then at work I went up in our 340 and did the dives and the rest of the stuff.

That's the way I did it too. High altitude chamber, and did the aircraft portion in a king air.