On Sat, 22 Apr 2006 03:23:32 GMT, Jose
wrote:

snip

The tailwheel rule 61.31(i) refers to "additional training", but does
require an "endorsement". I know there are recommended wordings for
endorsements, but are there =required= wordings for them, specifically
for this one? The endorsement must "find the person proficient in the
operation of a tailwheel airplane". It could be argued that simply
letting the student solo in a tailwheel airplane, and endorsing the
student pilot's logbook for solo flight, constitutes a finding of
proficiency; it could be counter argued that the level of proficiency is
not =necessarily= up to private pilot standards.

It could be (though it is admittedly unlikely) that despite all the
tailwheel training, the instructor does not believe the student is PP
proficient in a tailwheel, but is PP proficient in everything else, and
would pass a checkride in a nosewheel airplane but flunk a tailwheel
checkride. So, he signs the student off in a 152 and the student gets
his PP license. He has the training, but not the proficiency, in a
tailwheel airplane. (Yes, it would be a dumb CFI; you don't know any?)

This would support the interpretation that SP solo endorsements are
=not= sufficient as PP tailwheel endorsements.

been awhile since i've paged through my logbook. heck i'm surprised i
could find it.

i received most of my primary flight instruction in a conventional
gear aircraft. my old "ok to solo" entries sure appear to be dated to
expire in 90 days-and make no specific mention of "tailwheel". IMHO,
in my case, this would not meet the requirements of the FAR for a
"one time" endorsement.

BTW, i took my ppsel 'ride in a complex/high performance aircraft.
without getting into a big discussion of whether or not i was "legal"
to take the ride, my next flight/entry in my log after the ride & temp
issuance was my complex/high performance "one time" endorsement.

it was about 3 weeks later that i took the time to get my "one time"
tailwheel airplane signoff.

my impression at the time was that without these endorsements,
regardless of my "tailwheel" training and complex/high performance
checkride, i couldn't act as PIC of either.

YMMV

TC