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9 Answers

Do motorglider flights count towards commercial certificate minimums?

Asked by: 4010 views ,
Commercial Pilot

I currently have a private glider certificate, and I'm looking at getting my commercial glider certificate. The minimum number of flights is 100. Can I use a motorglider to get these (assuming I have a self-launch endorsement), and is it as simple as taking off and landing until I get to 100?
If I pass my commercial check ride in a standard glider, can I act as a commercial pilot in the motorglider as well?

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9 Answers



  1. Kris Kortokrax on Oct 02, 2017

    Look at 61.129(f). It requires more than just 100 flights.

    But, yes, a motor glider (or self launch) is a glider and the flights would count.
    And yes, if you have the endorsement, you may act as PIC in a motor glider.

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  2. KDS on Oct 02, 2017

    Yes and yes.

    The motorglider is certificated as a glider, so when FAR Part 61 speaks of “glider flights”, that is without restriction to the launch method.

    You can take your test in any kind of glider with any kind of launch method. Following the test, you can act as PIC in any glider for which you have a launch endorsement.

    You didn’t ask this, but I’ll toss it in anyway. Before you take money as a commercial pilot, you need to have a good understanding of all the rules. Drug testing is one example.

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  3. Kris Kortokrax on Oct 02, 2017

    A good understanding of the rules would seem to indicate that according to 91.147, sightseeing rides subject to drug testing are only airplane & helicopter rides. The rule doesn’t apply to gliders.

    Also, one would guess that he would not be doing Part 135 flights in a glider. I can’t think of any scenario where a commercial glider pilot would be subject to drug testing.

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  4. KDS on Oct 02, 2017

    I thought the same thing too until I went through an excruciating experience involving just such a glider operation. Reading 14 CFR 91.147 alone would lead a person to that conclusion. However, Part 119 included commercial glider flights for a portion of the regulation even though they weren’t included as tour operators.

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  5. Kris Kortokrax on Oct 02, 2017

    I’m a member of the “Seeing is believing” club. You’ll have to point out your reference to me.

    The word “glider” does not appear anywhere in Part 119.

    Further, this legal interpretation states that sightseeing rides in gliders need not comply with 91.147 and do not need a Part 119 certificate.

    http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/agc/pol_adjudication/agc200/interpretations/data/interps/2013/fields-aea-200%20-%20(2013)%20legal%20interpretation.pdf

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  6. KDS on Oct 02, 2017

    I’m also a card carrying member of that club and the inspector who went over it with me in detail did show it to me. However, as you’ll recall, I wrote “an excruciating experience”. It was every bit of that. My brain hurt by the time we got through. The logic is not easy to follow. If it were, I’d thumb through the regulations and list it out for you in detail. But, it’s not and I don’t intend to do that. So, I’ll just leave you with this. Believe whatever you like. I don’t care. If you’re really concerned, write to the FAA for a legal interpretation. Who knows; maybe the inspector who went over it step by step with me was wrong and just fooled me and you can be the one who gets everyone on the same sheet of music.

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  7. Kris Kortokrax on Oct 03, 2017

    Why would I need to write for a legal interpretation, when one already exists?

    The inspector you dealt with was wrong.

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  8. KDS on Oct 04, 2017

    I can certainly understand your logic and belief. Years ago, I held the same belief. However, after having an inspector go through Part 119 of the regulations with me in painful detail, I came to a different view.

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  9. Kris Kortokrax on Oct 13, 2017

    Your “excruciating experience” is lamentable. However, according to 14 CFR 120.1, the only pilots bound by the drug testing requirements are “All air carriers and operators certificated under part 119 of this chapter authorized to conduct operations under part 121 or part 135 of this chapter,” and “all operators as defined in 14 CFR 91.147.”

    There are no glider operations conducted under Part 121 or Part 135. Further, glider operations are not required to operate under 91.147. This is substantiated by the last statement in the legal interpretation issued in February, 2013: “Accordingly, an air tour conducted for compensation or hire in a glider may be conducted under the part 91 operating rules. It need not comply with the § 91.147 commercial air tour rules or the part 136 air tour rules. The operator need not hold a part 119 certificate.”

    These are facts and are indisputable.

    The inspector you dealt with was acting outside the scope of his duties. Nowhere in the job description for a field inspector is there a statement either enabling him or directing him to interpret regulations. At no time in his career did he receive training concerning the issuance of legal interpretations. It is also most likely that the inspector you dealt with possesses no law degree. His opinion is worthless. The issuance of legal interpretations is the sole responsibility of the Office of Legal Counsel.

    If you choose to believe him and act accordingly, that is your privilege, however, his opinion is not binding on anyone in the pilot population.

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