Complex required for commercial ride?
 

So can some one show me where the regs say I have to provide a complex aircraft for the checkride?

61.45 (b)(1)(i)

this states that the aircraft has to have equipment for each Area of Operation on practical test.

So what area of operation reqires a complex aircraft?

I suppose if the PTS said you had to have a complex aircraft I would believe it, but I dont read them to say that specifically.

Just a technical point, but curious. I am training for the CFI, and was asking myself if I had to have a complex for the CFI ride and cant find any material stating yes or no.

Obviously everyone likes to say "yes its required" but why? and where?

Ill try to post the applicable PTS section

Ok, so forget the commercial checkride, the current PTS states it clearly.

But what about the CFI ASEL inital? Where does it say it needs to be complex?

The FAA states clearly in the most current commercial PTS the requirment for a complex aircraft.

The FAA does not state clearly in the current CFI PTS.

http://www.faa.gov/training_testing/...-S-8081-6C.pdf

On page 20 of the pdf (page 10 of the booklet):

3. be capable of performing all appropriate TASKs for the flight instructor
rating sought and have no operating limitations, which prohibit the
performance of those TASKs. A complex landplane is one having a
retractable landing gear, flaps, and controllable propeller. A complex
seaplane is one having flaps, floats, and a controllable propeller.
Airplanes that are equipped with a full authority digital engine control
(FADEC) system are considered to have a controllable propeller.

In my ASA CFI PTS however, it reads:

"...which prohibit the performance of those TASKs. A complex airplane must be furnished for the performance of takeoff and landing maneuvers, and appropriate emergency procedures. A complex landplane is one having..."

The FAA website has change 4, while my ASA book has change 1. I think it may be worth a call to FSDO.

after some more research, it sounds like some other folks have had similar questions regarding the re-wording. From some other sources who have had contact with a fsdo, it sounds like it was just a goverment typo, and they still intend for you to provide a complex for the CFI.

thanks

How nice it must be if you're "the government". You get to sweep your typos under a rug. For us everyday folks, typos can have serious consequences.

Yeah, it was an error in the last revision. This is a response to an email to AFS 630 - the Airman Testing Standards Branch of the FAA - asking about it:

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Your e mail message concerning the CFI PTS has been referred to this office for reply.

You are correct in your assumption that the requirement for a complex airplane was left out during the last change. I would like to clarify that the omission was inadvertent and will be corrected during the next revision, which will occur shortly. In the mean time, I must emphasize that it is still FAA policy that a complex airplane is required for the CFI Airplane practical test.
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