Multi-Engine Checkride Question

[mocaman]

I was talking with an instructor today (MEI), and I asked him the question..."If I do my multi training here at this FBO, how am I able to fly the airplane to the city were the examiner is located by myself?" He responded that he could sign my logbook for "solo" flight in the airplane to the airport were the examiner is located to take the checkride. The airports are about 100 miles apart. This seems kinda strange to me. I tried to find something in the FARS, but no luck. Does anyone know what this guy is talking about? Or is he messed up? Thanks!

 

[SPilot]

He will give you an endorsement for "Acting as PIC in aircraft for which you are not rated". You allready have your PPL or CPL, so all you need is an endorsement to fly something that you are not rated for. Notice however that your instructor legally speaking will assume some responsibility for your actions during that flight, as you are operating the airplane "on his license". Just like when you flew your first solo flights...your instructor is putting his licenses at risk by signing you off.

The FAR section you should be looking at is 61.31 (d)-(3).

You'll have to look in Advisory Circular 61.65E to find the wording for this particular endorsement.

Nasty link, check out and download PDF file from: Link
Page: 42
Index number: 62.

This is the most beautiful endorsement ever. If appropriately rated, an instructor with questionable sanity may give you endorsement to fly the most obnoxious airplanes out there.

 

[UndauntedFlyer]

What Spilot says here is correct regarding the endorsement, a non rated pilot can solo a twin. However, I have never seen this done because the insurance company will certainly never allow a non rated pilot to fly that twin and still be covered.

 

[nosehair]

your instructor legally speaking will assume some responsibility for your actions during that flight, as you are operating the airplane "on his license". Just like when you flew your first solo flights...your instructor is putting his licenses at risk by signing you off.

Nothing personal, SPilot, your mis-information is common in the industry.
I try to squash it when I see it.

An instructor is NOT RESPONSIBLE for any actions of a Pilot-in-Command of any aircraft on any solo flight. Just can't happen. How can he be deemed PIC if someone else is responsible?

What the instructor is responsible for is to insure that the pilot he is endorseing is fully trained to act as PIC. That is where his resposibility lies.
The endorsement implies that. The instructor has found that person to be fully qualified to act and be the PIC.

Very rarely do instructors get in truoble with the FAA because of a student's actions, and when thay do, the FAA has determind that a lack of training existed.

Oh, Wait! Is that what you meant by "putting his license at risk"; that the instructor would be puting it on the line if he did the usual minimum training that we have become accustomed too?

Oh, I see.

 

[SPilot]

I try to squash it when I see it.

I see what you're saying, and you're right. The instructor is only responsible for what he signed for on the endorsement -- that he have given the training.

By "putting his licenses at risk" I mean that if a student pilot mess up something, and then says "I didnt know!" when the FAA inspector question him about why, who do you think the FAA will question next?

The endorsement states that the student have been found proficient to do the solo operation. And yes, with the usual minimum training with students and flight chiefs who expect solo in 10-15 hours, it is a chance play to let a student pilot with such lack of experience fly an airplane, because something different or new is likely to occur during those first flights -- which the student doesnt have experience with.

All I'm saying is that the instructor who gives the endorsement does assume some risk of investigation into his standards of training and so on. It is in any case very unpleasant to have a student mess up after you've certified that he wasnt suppose to make such mistakes.