Discovery Flights

[Tenacious T]

Most schools will do a discovery flight, usually a 10-15 min flight with an instructor to see if it interests them. The person taking the flight is not a student pilot yet so it's not instruction, but it's not really a tour either. What FAR is this done under?

 

Just curious.

[apiaguy]

it is flight instruction... part 91

the TSA has merely given a pass on the requirements for flight schools giving flight instruction when done as "discovery flights"

you don't need a student pilot medical certificate until you solo.

 

"TSA has stated through correspondence with AOPA that introductory, discovery or demonstration flights are exempt from the requirements of the TSA rule. However, AOPA suggests that you not log the flight time in a logbook until the CFI can verify citizenship"

Edited December 29, 2010 by apiaguy

[iChris]

Most schools will do a discovery flight, usually a 10-15 min flight with an instructor to see if it interests them. The person taking the flight is not a student pilot yet so it's not instruction, but it's not really a tour either. What FAR is this done under?

 

Just curious.

 

apiaguy is correct, 91. That's the way it is.. Here's the rules:

14 CFR 91.1 Applicability.

 

(a) Except as provided in paragraphs and [c] of this section and §§91.701 and 91.703, this part prescribes rules governing the operation of aircraft (other than moored balloons, kites, unmanned rockets, and unmanned free balloons, which are governed by part 101 of this chapter, and ultralight vehicles operated in accordance with part 103 of this chapter) within the United States, including the waters within 3 nautical miles of the U.S. coast.

 

14 CFR 119.1 Applicability.

 

(Commercial operations such as student instruction are provided via part 91).

 

(e) Except for operations when common carriage is not involved conducted with airplanes having a passenger-seat configuration of 20 seats or more, excluding any required crewmember seat, or a payload capacity of 6,000 pounds or more, this part does not apply to—

 

(1) Student instruction;

 

 

Note the definitions from FAA and TSA:

 

14 CFR 61.1 (FAA)

 

b. For the purpose of this part:

 

(6) Flight training means that training, other than ground training, received from an authorized instructor in flight in an aircraft.

 

49 CFR 1552.1 (TSA)

 

b. Definitions. As used in this part:

 

Flight training means instruction received from a flight school in an aircraft or aircraft simulator. Flight training does not include recurrent training, ground training, a demonstration flight for marketing purposes, or any military training provided by the Department of Defense, the U.S. Coast Guard, or an entity under contract with the Department of Defense or U.S. Coast Guard.

Edited December 30, 2010 by iChris

[Tenacious T]

apiaguy is correct, 91. That's the way it is.. Here's the rules:

14 CFR 91.1 Applicability.

 

(a) Except as provided in paragraphs and [c] of this section and §§91.701 and 91.703, this part prescribes rules governing the operation of aircraft (other than moored balloons, kites, unmanned rockets, and unmanned free balloons, which are governed by part 101 of this chapter, and ultralight vehicles operated in accordance with part 103 of this chapter) within the United States, including the waters within 3 nautical miles of the U.S. coast.

 

14 CFR 119.1 Applicability.

 

(Commercial operations such as student instruction are provided via part 91).

 

(e) Except for operations when common carriage is not involved conducted with airplanes having a passenger-seat configuration of 20 seats or more, excluding any required crewmember seat, or a payload capacity of 6,000 pounds or more, this part does not apply to—

 

(1) Student instruction;

 

 

Note the definitions from FAA and TSA:

 

14 CFR 61.1 (FAA)

 

b. For the purpose of this part:

 

(6) Flight training means that training, other than ground training, received from an authorized instructor in flight in an aircraft.

 

49 CFR 1552.1 (TSA)

 

b. Definitions. As used in this part:

 

Flight training means instruction received from a flight school in an aircraft or aircraft simulator. Flight training does not include recurrent training, ground training, a demonstration flight for marketing purposes, or any military training provided by the Department of Defense, the U.S. Coast Guard, or an entity under contract with the Department of Defense or U.S. Coast Guard.

 

Thought I had it now I'm confused. The FAA definition would imply a demo flight is flight training. The TSA definition says that a demo flight is not flight training. So what is it then?

[IFLY]

It is flight training but the TSA will not force you to jump through all the hoops for a 1st demo flight.

 

Jerry

[iChris]

It is flight training but the TSA will not force you to jump through all the hoops for a 1st demo flight.

 

Jerry

 

That is correct. The TSA has additional rules regarding flight training; in this case, you need not comply with because of their definition of flight training.

 

Not to be confusing, this TSA rule is a side issue to your question. TSA’s definition allows you to avoid their reporting requirement in the case of demo flights.

 

49 CFR 1552.3 Flight training.

 

[c.] Category 3—Flight training on aircraft 12,500 pounds or less. A flight school may not provide flight training in the operation of any aircraft having a maximum certificated takeoff weight of 12,500 pounds or less to a candidate unless—

 

(1) The flight school has first notified TSA that the candidate has requested such flight training.

 

(2) The candidate has submitted to TSA, in a form and manner acceptable to TSA:

 

(i) The information required under paragraph (a)(2) of this section; and

 

(ii) Any other information required by TSA.

Edited December 30, 2010 by iChris

[Tenacious T]

Thanks guys, I like to know why it's ok to do something not just assume it's ok because everyone else is doing it.

 

Happy New Year