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Aircraft make and model

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FAA Regulations

Hello, If a student pilot was released solo in a cessna 172S. After some time wanted to fly in a cessna 172 S NAV III (G1000). Can the student be released after been given the proper training and not to be considered as a first solo? Or will this has to be considered as a first solo and has to go through the pre-solo exam. I was just wondering if the both are considered to be the same make and model. Thank you.  

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1 Answers

  1. Best Answer


    Mark Kolber on Sep 25, 2013

    If you recall the orphaned Part 61 FAQ that came out after the extensive 1997 revision to Part 61, it stated that, with respect to aircraft such as the 172, “make and model” refer to “Cessna 172” and not the model “series” such as 172N, 172P, etc. However, the FAQ went on to caution instructors that there may be significant series differences, an instructor should limit the solo endorsement. So, for example, an instructor might limit a 172 endorsement to the carburetor 172P series and require separate endorsement for the fuel-injected 172R or S model.

    In your case, you probably don’t even really have a different “series.” While there is a separate series designation with separate Type Certificate Data Sheet entries for 172A-S, there is no separate series designation for the NAV III. Seems to me they are both 172S in make, model and series.

    But the FAQ caution still applies. Flight operations using a G1000 is so significantly different from operations in round-gauge aircraft that I personally would use a separate pre-solo test applicable to the difference.

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