91.205 compass requirement

On Tuesday, April 19, 2016 at 12:10:43 AM UTC-7, wrote:

How does 91.205 apply to self-launching gliders? Or to touring motor gliders?

They are registered as gliders?
Jim

My motor glider is registered as a glider, Jim. But 91.205 does not use the word 'glider' it refers to 'Powered civil aircraft with standard category U.S. airworthiness certificates'. I have a self launcher, so would argue that although my glider is an aircraft, and is powered, the power is incidental to the flight, so its not a 'powered aircraft' as the FAA would define it. See also the FAA definition of a glider at the start of the FARs. I'm just guessing at the FAA's view here. But a touring motor glider might well be considered a 'powered aircraft' by the FAA, I'd guess, since its designed to cruise under power for a significant part of any flight.

Originally Posted by

On Tuesday, April 19, 2016 at 12:10:43 AM UTC-7, wrote:

How does 91.205 apply to self-launching gliders? Or to touring motor gliders?

They are registered as gliders?
Jim

My motor glider is registered as a glider, Jim. But 91.205 does not use the word 'glider' it refers to 'Powered civil aircraft with standard category U.S. airworthiness certificates'. I have a self launcher, so would argue that although my glider is an aircraft, and is powered, the power is incidental to the flight, so its not a 'powered aircraft' as the FAA would define it. See also the FAA definition of a glider at the start of the FARs. I'm just guessing at the FAA's view here. But a touring motor glider might well be considered a 'powered aircraft' by the FAA, I'd guess, since its designed to cruise under power for a significant part of any flight.

Powered civil aircraft is a different category from gliders. All forms of motor gliders are just gliders that can self launch, tour or sustain themselves. 91.205 is not relevant to gliders, but the POH minimum equipment list is what the FAA will look at for standard category gliders with regards to compass fitment.

It could be argued that any system using a magnetic field sensor meets the definition of a magnetic compass with the proviso that it needs to be swung to match the local field disturbance from any metalwork in the vicinity. Maybe not gps systems? What you don't want to see is any reference to a liquid or "whiskey" compass.

On Tuesday, April 19, 2016 at 4:05:18 PM UTC-7, wrote:
On Tuesday, April 19, 2016 at 12:10:43 AM UTC-7, wrote:

How does 91.205 apply to self-launching gliders? Or to touring motor gliders?

They are registered as gliders?
Jim

My motor glider is registered as a glider, Jim. But 91.205 does not use the word 'glider' it refers to 'Powered civil aircraft with standard category U.S. airworthiness certificates'. I have a self launcher, so would argue that although my glider is an aircraft, and is powered, the power is incidental to the flight, so its not a 'powered aircraft' as the FAA would define it. See also the FAA definition of a glider at the start of the FARs. I'm just guessing at the FAA's view here. But a touring motor glider might well be considered a 'powered aircraft' by the FAA, I'd guess, since its designed to cruise under power for a significant part of any flight.

Why does this question keep coming up on r.a.s.. A motorglider of any type is a *glider*. There is no mystery here.

Is it certificated as Standard or Experimental?
Standard is outlined in 91.205, not experimental.

BillT