Required Equipment - McVinnie Aviation

Aircraft and Equipment Required for the Practical Test

Sport

The applicant for a Sport Pilot Certificate is required by 14 CFR section 61.45, to provide an airworthy, certificated aircraft for use during the practical test. This section further requires that the aircraft must:

1. be of U.S., foreign or military registry of the same category, class, and type, if applicable, for the certificate and/or rating for which the applicant is applying;

2. have fully functioning dual controls, except as provided for in 14 CFR section 61.45(c) and (e); and (f); and

3. be capable of performing all AREAS OF OPERATION appropriate to the rating sought and have no operating limitations, which prohibit its use in any of the AREAS OF OPERATION, required for the practical test

4. have an altitude and an airspeed indication system, as appropriate, for all tasks that require demonstration of skill within an altitude/airspeed tolerance.

The aircraft utilized for sport pilot and sport pilot flight instructor practical tests and proficiency checks must be a light-sport aircraft as defined in 14 CFR part 1.

Private/Recreational

The private pilot airplane applicant is required by 14 CFR section 61.45, to provide an airworthy, certificated aircraft for use during the practical test. This section further requires that the aircraft must:

1. be of U.S., foreign or military registry of the same category, class, and type, if applicable, for the certificate and/or rating for which the applicant is applying;

2. have fully functioning dual controls, except as provided for in 14 CFR section 61.45(c) and (e); and

3. be capable of performing all AREAS OF OPERATION appropriate to the rating sought and have no operating limitations, which prohibit its use in any of the AREAS OF OPERATION, required for the practical test.

Commercial

The commercial pilot airplane applicant is required by 14 CFR section 61.45, to provide an airworthy, certificated airplane for use during the practical test. This section further requires that the aircraft must:

1. be of U.S., foreign or military registry of the same category, class, and type, if applicable, for the certificate and/or rating for which the applicant is applying;

2. have fully functioning dual controls, except as provided for in 14 CFR section 61.45(c) and (e);

3. be capable of performing all AREAS OF OPERATION appropriate to the rating sought and have no operating limitations which prohibit its use in any of the AREAS OF OPERATION required for the practical test; and

4. be a complex airplane furnished by the applicant, unless the applicant currently holds a commercial pilot certificate with a single-engine or multiengine class rating as appropriate, for the performance of takeoffs, landings, and appropriate emergency procedures. A complex landplane is one having retractable landing gear, flaps, and controllable propeller or turbine powered.

Instrument/ATP

The instrument rating applicant is required by 14 CFR part 61 to provide an airworthy, certificated aircraft for use during the practical test. Its operating limitations must not prohibit the TASKs required on the practical test. Flight instruments are those required for controlling the aircraft without outside references. The required radio equipment is that which is necessary for communications with ATC, and for the performance of two of the following non-precision approaches: VOR, NDB, GPS, LOC, LDA, SDF, or RNAV and one precision approach: ILS, LPV, GLS, or MLS. GPS equipment must be instrument certified and contain the current database. Note: LPV, RNAV/VNAV, and LNAV+V approaches may be substituted for non-precision approaches if the MDA/DA is above 300 HAT'. An LPV approach can be used to demonstrate a precision approach if the DA is equal to or less than 300' HAT.

Modern technology has introduced into aviation a new method of displaying flight instruments, such as Electronic Flight Instrument Systems, Integrated Flight Deck displays, and others. For the purpose of the practical test standards, any flight instrument display that utilizes LCD or picture tube like displays will be referred to as "Electronic Flight Instrument Display." Aircraft equipped with this technology may or may not have separate backup flight instruments installed. The abnormal or emergency procedure for loss of the electronic flight instrument display appropriate to the aircraft will be evaluated in the Loss of Primary Instruments TASK. The loss of the primary electronic flight instrument display must be tailored to failures that would normally be encountered in the aircraft. If the aircraft is capable, total failure of the electronic flight instrument display, or a supporting component, with access only to the standby flight instruments or backup display shall be evaluated.

The applicant is required to provide an appropriate view limiting device that is acceptable to the examiner. This device shall be used during all testing that requires testing "solely by reference to instruments." This device must prevent the applicant from having visual reference outside the aircraft, but not prevent the examiner from having visual reference outside the aircraft. A procedure should be established between the applicant and the examiner as to when and how this device should be donned and removed and this procedure briefed before the flight.

The applicant is expected to utilize an autopilot and/or flight management system (FMS), if properly installed, during the instrument practical test to assist in the management of the aircraft. The examiner is expected to test the applicant's knowledge of the systems that are installed and operative during the oral and flight portions of the practical test. The applicant will be required to demonstrate the use of the autopilot and/or FMS during one of the non-precision approaches.
If the practical test is conducted in the aircraft, and the aircraft has an operable and properly installed GPS, the applicant must demonstrate GPS approach proficiency when asked. If the applicant has contracted for training in an approved course that includes GPS training in the system that is installed in the airplane/simulator/FTD and the airplane/simulator/FTD used for the checking/testing has the same system properly installed and operable, the applicant must demonstrate GPS approach proficiency.

To obtain an instrument rating with multiengine privileges, an applicant must demonstrate competency in a multiengine airplane not limited to center thrust. The multiengine airplane that is used to obtain unlimited multiengine privileges must have a published VMC speed established by the manufacturer, and produce an asymmetrical thrust configuration with the loss of one or more engines. If an instrument flight test is conducted in a multiengine airplane limited to center thrust, a limitation shall be placed on the applicant's certificate: INSTRUMENT RATING, AIRPLANE MULTIENGINE, LIMITED TO CENTER THRUST.