FAA: Complex No Longer Required For Commercial/CFI Practical

Last week the FAA released a notice regarding changes in policy regarding testing applicants for a commercial pilot or flight instructor certificate. The notice states that it is no longer required for applicants for a "commercial pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine rating to provide a complex or turbine-powered airplane for the associated practical test and no longer requires applicants for a flight instructor certificate with an airplane single-engine rating to provide a complex airplane for the practical test."

However, under Part 61, 61.31(e), a pilot will still be required to receive flight training and an endorsement from an authorized instructor certifying his or her proficiency in a complex airplane. The notice goes on to say, "The FAA finds that no longer requiring an applicant to provide a complex airplane for the initial commercial pilot with an airplane single-engine rating practical test or a flight instructor with an airplane single-engine rating practical test will not result in a decreased level of safety."

The FAA says it has determined that removing these ACS/PTS requirements will reduce costs for those pursuing a commercial pilot or flight instructor certificate "by allowing applicants to utilize less-expensive airplanes on the practical test that are not complex or turbine-powered."

Read the notice here.