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Adding a Category to my license… can I use time from another Category?

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FAA Regulations

I thought I had posted this question earlier, but it appears it didn't get posted.  My situation and question is as follows:  I have a Private in gliders only.  I want to add Airplane (SEL) to my Private cert.  61.63 b.1 says this: 

(b) Additional aircraft category rating. A person who applies to add a category rating to a pilot certificate:

(1) Must complete the training and have the applicable aeronautical experience.

So, my question is, do I need to complete the entire 40 hours of ASEL, or can some of my glider time count toward the total?  I am aware of the time requirements for night, X/C, and simulated instrument which of course are a must, but can I use any of the glider time to fill in the gaps?

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1 Answers



  1. Mark Kolber on May 09, 2016

    Yes, some of your glider time will count, but you and your CFI will need to review your logbook carefully. This is all more complicated than it should be but…

    If you look at any set of requirements for a certificate or rating, including the private ASEL in 61.109, you will see three types of flight time. One simply gives a total flight time. That can be met in any aircraft; the other two are limitations on that – flight time and tasks that are specific to category or class.

    So, in 61.109, you have flight time that must include certain activities specifically “in a single engine airplane.” Those must, perhaps obviously, be accomplished “in a single engine airplane.”

    Then you have instruction “in the areas of operation” applicable to the certificate. There is somewhat of an overlap, but not completely among the various category and class ratings. To the extent that the single engine airplane list contains a duplication of areas of operation accomplished for the glider rating (assuming proper logging), you can count even the glider instruction toward the overall training hours. Tasks with no overlap must, again, be accomplished in a single engine airplane.

    Any of the leftover time after you have accomplished the hours and tasks that require the single engine airplane is a “general” flight time requirement that can be met in any aircraft.

    If you think that was complicated, read the 2012 O’Mara Chief Counsel interpretation that essentially says the same thing: http://1.usa.gov/1XgS4ZA

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