High Alt. Endorsement

[citabriapilot]

I'm confused on the wording in the FAR's regarding the endorsement. To my understanding you have to have ground training and an endorsement to act as PIC of ANY pressurized aircraft, and FLIGHT training in emergency descents, etc. if the pressurized aircraft can go higher then 25,000.

Basically I am looking at flying a Cessna 421 with a friend, but wasn't sure if I could log it since it is pressurized. Thanks!

 

[midlifeflyer]

I'm confused on the wording in the FAR's regarding the endorsement. To my understanding you have to have ground training and an endorsement to act as PIC of ANY pressurized aircraft, and FLIGHT training in emergency descents, etc. if the pressurized aircraft can go higher then 25,000.

No. The regulation says that you need the training and endorsement to act as PIC in

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a pressurized aircraft (an aircraft that has a service ceiling or maximum operating altitude, whichever is lower, above 25,000 feet MSL),
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The parenthesis indicates that the language inside the parentheses is a definition. In other words for the purpose of a regulation, a "pressurized aircraft" =is= "an aircraft that has a service ceiling or maximum operating altitude, whichever is lower, above 25,000 feet MSL". No endorsement is required to fly a pressurized aircraft with a service ceiling or max operating altitude below 25,000 (which is why so many airplane are certified that way)

Basically I am looking at flying a Cessna 421 with a friend, but wasn't sure if I could log it since it is pressurized.

Besides, it wouldn't matter anyway. Unlike being responsible for a flight, endorsements are =never= required in order to write numbers in the PIC column for the time a pilot is "the sole manipulator of the controls of an aircraft for which the pilot is rated."