A-7

Appendix 7: Aircraft, Equipment, and Operational Requirements & Limitations

Aircraft Requirements & Limitations

14 CFR part 61, section 61.45 prescribes the required aircraft and equipment for a practical test. The regulation states the minimum aircraft registration and airworthiness requirements as well as the minimum equipment requirements, to include the minimum required controls.

Multiengine practical tests require normal engine shutdowns and restarts in the air, to include propeller feathering and unfeathering. The Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) must not prohibit these procedures, but low power settings for cooling periods prior to the actual shutdown in accordance with the AFM are acceptable and encouraged. For a type rating in an airplane not certificated with inflight unfeathering capability, a simulated powerplant failure is acceptable.

If the multiengine airplane used for the practical test does not publish a V_MC, then the “Limited to Centerline Thrust” limitation will be added to the certificate issued from this check, unless the applicant has previously demonstrated competence in a multiengine airplane with a published V_MC.

If the aircraft presented for the practical test has inoperative instruments or equipment, it must be addressed in accordance with 14 CFR part 91, section 91.213. If the aircraft can be operated in accordance with 14 CFR part 91, section 91.213, then it must be determined if the inoperative instruments or equipment are required to complete the practical test.

Equipment Requirements & Limitations

The equipment examination should be administered before the flight portion of the practical test, but it must be closely coordinated and related to the flight portion.

The aircraft must meet the requirements as outlined in 14 CFR part 61, section 61.45.

To assist in management of the aircraft during the practical test, the applicant is expected to demonstrate automation management skills by utilizing installed, available, or airborne equipment such as autopilot, avionics and systems displays, and/or a flight management system (FMS). The evaluator is expected to test the applicant’s knowledge of the systems that are available or installed and operative during both the ground and flight portions of the practical test.

If the practical test is conducted in an aircraft, the applicant is required by 14 CFR part 61, section 61.45 (d) (2) to provide an appropriate view limiting device acceptable to the evaluator. The applicant and the evaluator should establish a procedure as to when and how this device should be donned and removed, and brief this procedure before the flight. The device must be used during all testing that requires flight “solely by reference to instruments.” This device must prevent the applicant from having visual reference outside the aircraft, but it must not restrict the evaluator’s ability to see and avoid other traffic.

Operational Requirements, Limitations, & Task Information

V. Performance and Ground Reference Maneuvers

Task B. Ground Reference Maneuvers

As noted in the skill elements, the evaluator must choose at least one maneuver for the applicant to demonstrate:

•Rectangular course

•S-Turns

•Turns around a point

VII. Slow Flight and Stalls

Task A. Maneuvering During Slow Flight

Evaluation criteria for this Task should recognize that environmental factors (e.g., turbulence) may result in a momentary activation of stall warning indicators such as the stall horn. If the applicant recognizes the stall warning indication and promptly makes an appropriate correction, a momentary activation does not constitute unsatisfactory performance on this Task. As with other Tasks, unsatisfactory performance would arise from an applicant’s continual deviation from the standard, lack of correction, and/or lack of recognition.

Task B. Power-Off Stalls

Evaluation criteria for a recovery from an approach to stall should not mandate a predetermined value for altitude loss and should not mandate maintaining altitude during recovery. Proper evaluation criteria should consider the multitude of external and internal variables that affect the recovery altitude.

Task C. Power-On Stalls

In some high-performance airplanes, the power setting may have to be reduced below the ACS guidelines power setting to prevent excessively high pitch attitudes greater than 30° nose up. Evaluation criteria for a recovery from an approach to stall should not mandate a predetermined value for altitude loss and should not mandate maintaining altitude during recovery. Proper evaluation criteria should consider the multitude of external and internal variables that affect the recovery altitude.

IX. Emergency Operations

Task E. Engine Failure During Takeoff Before V_MC(Simulated) (AMEL, AMES)

Engine failure (simulated) during takeoff should be accomplished prior to reaching 50 percent of the calculated V_MC.

X. Multiengine Operations

Task B. V_MC Demonstration (AMEL, AMES)

Airplanes with normally aspirated engines will lose power as altitude increases because of the reduced density of the air entering the induction system of the engine. This loss of power will result in a V_MC lower than the stall speed at higher altitudes. Therefore, recovery should be made at the first indication of loss of directional control, stall warning, or buffet. Do not perform this maneuver by increasing the pitch attitude to a high angle with both engines operating and then reducing power on the critical engine. This technique is hazardous and may result in loss of airplane control.

Task C. Engine Failure During Flight (by Reference to Instruments) (AMEL, AMES)

This Task is not required if an instrument-rated applicant has previously demonstrated instrument proficiency in a multiengine airplane, or if the applicant does not hold an Instrument Airplane Rating. If an applicant holds both a single- and multiengine rating on a pilot certificate, but has not demonstrated instrument proficiency in a multiengine aircraft, that airman’s certificate must bear a limitation indicating that multiengine flight is permitted in visual flight rules (VFR) conditions only.

Task D. Instrument Approach and Landing with an Inoperative Engine (Simulated) (by Reference to Instruments) (AMEL, AMES)