Interesting. Come think of it, the FAA's legal authority of regulating
airspace over US came from the FAA authorization act from the Congress,
which is based on the interstate commerce clause in the U.S.
Constitution.

Therefore, it's entirely possible that FAA simply lacks legal authority
to regulate surface movement of an aircraft if there's no intention of
flight, and it does not interfere with any other flight activities
(i.e. movement area at a controlled airport).

Another trick question: the airport is below VFR with 1/4 mile
visibility. Can a non-instrument rated pilot taxi across the runway
from his hangar to the FBO at the other side of the airport? :-)



T o d d P a t t i s t wrote:
Mark Hansen wrote:

Did your instructor give you a solo endorsement?

It's not required.

I'm not sure if the FAA recognizes ground-only operations as a separate
type of solo.

It's not solo, since he's not acting as PIC, solo or
otherwise. No license is required for taxiing without the
intent to commit aviation. It may not be covered by
insurance, however, which is probably why it's not commonly
done.

§ 61.3 Requirement for certificates, ratings, and
authorizations.
(a) Pilot certificate. A person may not act as pilot in
command or in any other capacity as a required pilot flight
crewmember of a civil aircraft of U.S. registry, unless that
person-
(1) Has a valid pilot certificate ....

§ 1.1 "Pilot in command" means the pilot responsible for
the operation and safety of an aircraft during flight time.

"Flight time" means the time from the moment the aircraft
first moves under its own power for the purpose of flight
until the moment it comes to rest at the next point of
landing. ("Block-to-block" time.)


--
Do not spin this aircraft. If the aircraft does enter a spin it will return to earth without further attention on the part of the aeronaut.

(first handbook issued with the Curtis-Wright flyer)