Originally Posted by
Cubdriver
Question for Noy, or an expert on FAA admin law.
I was challenged recently for giving my students a short spin awareness module including some real spins without wearing parachutes. They were all willing participants after I brought out a big stick (kidding), and all expressed satisfaction in learning about it. However, there are die hard believers that parachutes are required and parachute-less non-CFI spin training is not covered under AC 61-67C (Paragraph 301)(b), or FAR 91.307 (d).
Is there an FAA Chief Counsel statement out there on this? I am tired of the same haggard challenge every time. The FARs themselves are not good enough for this group.
I had to demonstrate a spin during my CFI checkride. Upon my demo the FAA examiner did 3 spins and really stressed the importance of teaching people how to enter and recover from spins. He said the general aviation community is afraid of them and of course there is nothing scary about a spin. The only scary thing about spins is once you inadvertently get into one in the infamous overshot base to final turn. He is also an accident investigator so it wasn't a surprise to hear it coming from him. I actually raised the concern about having parachutes. He said he was "pretty sure" that teaching spins does not require parachutes. Of course I will have to look more into this and I'd imagine I would have to check with FBO management prior to demonstrating spins to my students. Either way I had never gained an exponential amount of confidence in my 270 hours of flying upon being able to successfully enter and recover a spin. IMO it is an integral and a much valuable aspect of flight training.