First of all:

"Fixed wing" is not in the FAA regulatory framework lanuguage.

Categories of Aircraft include:

Airplanes
Rotocraft
Gliders
Lighter than Air

Class of aircraft include (For Category Airplanes):

Single engine land
Single engine sea
Multi-engine land
Multi-engine sea

Where the problem came in is the salesperson's use of the term"fixed wing."
The knowledge tests for private and commercial are Category specific but not
class specific. Typically one takes a knowledge test for Private pilot for
airplanes. Pursues and receives training for practical test and passes all
three exams (written, oral and practical). Then wants to pursue gliders.
Separate category, therefore different written exam. Different training
requirements, even though both are "fixed wing". Another oral and
practical exam. There is no US FAA category of "fixed wing." Gliders are
not airplanes and airplanes are not gliders; even if they have engine
failure ;-) both are aircraft, in regulatory language.

It is easier to add on class(es) of airplanes. You can't really "add-on" a
new category, you must meet all the requirements as if you are starting from
zero (with some exceptions IIRC). Hope that helps. BTW, these kind of
distinctions are great subjects on any PPL oral exam.

Regards,

Watson


"BT" wrote in message
...
Jim... I am sure what the Sporty's Agent meant to say.. is that passing
the Private Pilot DVD Course will provide an endorsement for the Private
Pilot Airplane Single Engine Land written exam.

There are glider specific questions that are not covered in the "Airplane"
course.
You would need one of the instructors to provide the endorsement to take
the Private Pilot Glider Exam.
Any instructor could provide the endorsement, not just a glider
instructor.

BT
CFI-Glider

"Jim Logajan" wrote in message
.. .
Simple question (for everyone but me!):

Is the CFI endorsement to take a private pilot test for a specific
category
(e.g. airplane, rotorcraft, glider) or a category and class (e.g.
airplane,
single engine land) or some other classsification (e.g. fixed-wing), or
not
category or class specific?

I ask because I thought I would take some winter down time to work on
passing the knowledge test needed to earn a private pilot, glider
certificate. I do not hold any previous certificates (other than student
pilot.)

I was training at a glider club this summer and ground training was not
something they normally did - the local community college offers ground
school courses a couple times a year - but the next class doesn't start
till spring. I asked what other options they knew about and they thought
courses offered by King and Sporty's might be a possibility. That sounded
plausible but their DVD courses looked airplane-centric, so I contacted
Sporty's. I asked them if I passed their Private Pilot DVD course and got
an endorsement from them, would that endorsement allow me to take the
knowledge test for a private pilot, glider rating? Their answer was:

"The Private Pilot on line course endorsement is for the private pilot
fixed wing test.

Glider information is not covered in the course and the endorsement will
not include glider."

The "fixed wing" part kinda threw me - and now I'm even more confused. I
had no idea the tests had yet another classification - one in which
gliders
aren't fixed wing aircraft! Geez - I hope there aren't any questions on
the
FAA knowledge tests about the FAA knowledge tests - at this point I'd
flunk! :-)