I had to split mine up. I used a Turbo 210 can you imagine doing commercial maneuvers in that thing!

I initially assumed he already had a CMEL and was adding on the SE, in which case he could do it in the 172 as long as the DPE was willing (and they usually are).

Nope, unfortunately I do not have any other ratings other than my PPL. We're 141, and I'm about to finish the COMM SEL training, then moving on to MEL training, taking the ride for our COMM/Instrument/Multi rating after that. Our school switched COMM SEL training to C172's to lower the cost when the FAA got rid of the reg requiring the training to be in a complex aircraft.

And just a side note: I'm going in for the oral tomorrow. Hitting the books hard tonight.

They did!? Where have I been?

Last summer I think, maybe even less time ago. Schools have been selling their Cessna 172RGs and other little retracts like hot potatoes. It was always a silly rule in my opinion having a separate aircraft just to show someone can swing a gear handle.

Wow!! Is that just a 141 thing.. or 61 also? Same for the CFI ride or no?

I'm not too sure if it's just 141 or 61 too, but we're still doing our 141 CFI final checks in the Arrow. But there's only a few lessons in it though, maybe 5 or 6.

This was approved? Where does it say this? I cant find it anywhere in the regs. Still says under 141 and 61 that you are required to have the (ii) Ten hours of training in an airplane that has a retractable landing gear, flaps, and a controllable pitch propeller, or is turbine-powered.

I know last year I was reading the proposal to get rid of this requirement and substitute it for 10hrs of Advanced instrument training, but I haven't heard anything of it actually changing. I work for a large 141 school which will do ANYTHING to get rid of our RG, but we are still using it.

Ok so after reading your post a little more, are you actually taking a SE Commercial check ride and receiving a certificate? or is your school going to be giving you a Multi commercial license, with a SE add on after you complete more training? If this is the case, then you never have to use a complex aircraft since it would be an add on, but this isn't a new rule.