AVweb responds ...

Our understanding is that any time a GPS system is used for vertical navigation (and only some are so approved), you must somehow input a barametric pressure reading; and an IFR-approved GPS unit will give a RAIM warning if the system accuracy is too low to use for an approach. The only pilots who could conceivably be at risk would be those either illegally using a VFR GPS as their sole IFR navigation system, or using an IFR GPS but ignoring the warning flags. And my portable VFR GPS still shows an accuracy reading of less than 25 feet, so perhaps they didn't degrade it after all. Nonetheless, if they did suddenly degrade it, we GPS users had better be prepared with an alternate navigation system.

AVweb responds ...

We said that passing an initial CFI checkride does not automatically count as a BFR (under 61.56 d) because the candidate is issued an "instructor's certificate" and not a "pilot certificate" as per 61.5. FAR 61.56 (d) says that anyone passing a checkride that results in a new pilot certificate or new rating can use the checkride as a BFR (which, of course is really called a "flight review"). I'm paraphrasing wildly here....

So, most DEPs would say, "I've also evaluated your pilot skills on this flight instructor's checkride, so I'm making a separate endorsement for BFR ...

Point: Get the separate endorsement.

The question arose from many readers: "Doesn't the rating that's added to the flight instructor's certificate(e.g., "airplane ...") count as a new rating and therefore satisfy 61.56 (d)?"

Answer according to my local FSDO and verified by the Airman Certification Branch, AFS-600, Regulatory Support Division at Oklahoma City, OK: "No." The rating is to the flight instructor certificate and not to the pilot certificate and therefore does not satisfy 61.56 (d).

This the FAA’s response from OKC: "The examiner conducting the CFI test would have to evaluate pilot performance which is not part of the CFI test to count as the BFR. If they do this it would then be a good idea to also enter it in the logbook."

So, get the separate BFR endorsement after an initial CFI checkride.

We took your question about the tailwheel BFR to the local FSDO, who shot it up to the FAA Headquarters, who just came out with this official stance:

Question: The situation is a flight instructor has asked the question whether he can give a flight review in a tailwheel airplane and yet he has not previously met the additional training requirements for operating a tailwheel airplane [i.e., § 61.31(i)].

Answer: Ref. § 61.1(b)(2); § 61.56(c)(1); No, a flight instructor cannot give a flight review in a tailwheel airplane unless he has complied with § 61.31(i). Per § 61.56(c)(1), it states, in pertinent part, ". . . by an authorized instructor . . . ." Per § 61.1(b)(2)(ii), it states, in pertinent part, ". . . in accordance with the privileges and limitations of his or her flight instructor certificate . . . ." The flight instructor would not be considered an "authorized instructor" for giving a flight review in a tailwheel airplane.

Correction

In Monday's story, "And Sometimes, Dreams Come True," we stated that Delta State University was located in Jackson, Miss. It is, in fact, in Cleveland, Miss., and for that mistake we apologize to all DSU Fighting Okra.