Commercial Pilot
 

-at least 250hrs total time
-as much as 50hrs of Sim time can count toward the 250tt
-one long cross country of at least 300mi landing at three points and one leg 250 miles staight line distance. Must be done solo and VFR.
-one day dual X/C of 2hrs or greater and more than 100miles one way
-one night dual X/C of 2hrs or greater and more than 100miles one way
-5hrs night VFR 10takeoffs and landings.
-10hrs complex airplane time
-100hrs PIC time
-manevuers
Lazy eight
Steep turns (55degrees bank)
Steep spirals
Eights on pylon
Power off 180 accuracy apps
Chandelles

OK, I'll admit it up front. I'm too damned lazy to go look it up. Or to even Google it. Here's my question. Does the check ride have to be done in the complex airplane? I've HEARD that the majority of the check can be done in your basic C-152/PA-28. The applicant must then demo their ability in the complex to the examiner by doing some takeoff/landings. I have two kids that are both close to their commercial checks and am just curious.

Well, I did my single engine add on in a TB-9. However, the Multi was done first in a PA44 and that demonstrated I knew how to fly a complex aircraft. Also, on my CFI checkride, I had a mecahnical issue that made me decide to end the flight early. I grabbed a normal 172 after parking the gutless, preflighted, and did a power off 180 to finish up.

As for your original question, I don't know. I've never heard of anybody doing it in anything other than a complex, and personally I'd rather do everything in one aircraft. Using different types on a checkride means twice as much work on systems, and twice as many places to screw something up.

I don't know that the regs requires you to actually do the checkride in a complex aircraft... You just need to have 10 hrs of training prior to the checkride in a complex as part of the the required aeronautic experience.

I understand that PART of the checkride can be done in a simple aircraft. I recall this coming up in the past. I think that the pattern work requires the complex. You'd have to check with the DPE first. But really, by the time you pre-flight, start, & taxi two airplanes it's probably easier just to use the RG for the whole thing.

55 degrees bank?
 

ERJ135,
Isn't it 50 degrees bank required for commercial steep turns, not 55 degrees? 45 for private, 50 for commercial. Has that changed since I was a CFI?

Daytonaflyer,

You are correct, it IS 50 degrees for commercial (with one steep turn going right into a steep turn in the opposite direction, completed as one single maneuver).

FlyerJosh,

If you look in the commercial PTS, it tells you that the checkride must be done in a complex aircraft unless it's a single-engine add-on.

The entire checkride does NOT need to be done in a complex. You CAN do the bulk of the checkride in a plain vanilla 152 or 172, and do the pattern work in a complex. However, it's dependent on finding an examiner who will split the test up between two airplanes. Some examiners may not be willing to do it. As rickair7777 pointed out though, why not just do the whole ride in the complex? Besides, if you split it up between two airplanes, you need to know all the systems and V-speeds on both airplanes. Not a big deal, just more studying to do.

Cool. Thanks. It's been a LONG time since I have signed off a student or looked at the PTS... I just keep doing the refresher course so that if I ever want to teach again I don't have to take another checkride...

Ohhh boy I was supposed to post this in the Knowledge section. HA HA can't believe I did that:o Thanks for the correction. My CFI always told me 55degrees so that what I have been doing and teaching. I'll have to change that. Hey, HSLD can you help me out moving this post. Any suggestions?