Dear Readers,
The Certified Flight Instructor (CFI)
plays a critical role in ensuring every pilot being
instructed and evaluated by them is ultimately safe and
safety conscious. As CFIs, our assessment of a pilot’s
proficiency status comprehends a wide spectrum
including: flight preparation, aeronautical knowledge,
recency of experience, regulatory awareness and
compliance, system management, stick and rudder skill,
aeronautical decision-making and mental attitude. In
General Aviation, the CFI commonly represents the
measuring stick by which most pilots compare their
piloting capability to the ideal. This is a tremendous
responsibility that CFIs should not take lightly.
Having said those high sounding words,
does that mean every CFI knows everything all the time?
No, and they are not expected to. However, they must be
firmly grounded in all skills and knowledge requirements
of the PTS as well as be familiar with how to find
information on any topic within their professional
domain.
In this article I would like to
address one specific aspect of a CFI’s range of
safety-evaluation responsibilities – Regulatory
Compliance. Specifically, we are going to investigate
why performing spin training in a normal category
single-engine certified aircraft is an unsafe practice.
Additionally, we’ll highlight some of the reasoning
behind established regulations related to "stall spin"
awareness.
Hangar Talk:
Aside from aircraft certification
requirements that normal
category single-engine aircraft
be fully recoverable within a
one-turn spin, what really is the
risk of doing spins in them?
Pilots well versed in AC 61-67C, or
have recently read the placards posted in plain view in
their normal or utility category aircraft, may wonder
why this topic is coming up.
COCKPIT PLACARDS
Normal Category:
"No acrobatic maneuvers, including
spins, approved."
Utility
Category Not Meeting Acrobatic Certification:
“Spins Prohibited”
(Note: Not all utility category aircraft are
spins-approved)
So what’s the issue? If the posted
placards and published maneuvering limitations of the
normal category aircraft say don’t do spins, then don’t
do them right? Right. That is 100% correct. You’ve
passed this short regulatory compliance exam. Simply
put; don’t intentionally spin airplanes that aren’t
approved for spins. If you passed the test then you can
stop reading here. If you didn't pass then please keep
reading and keep in mind that this article is intended
to inform as well as offer food for thought in relation
to your actions and teachings related to both stall and
spin training.
Statistics on "STALL Spin"
Knowledge and Recovery
Over the years there have been many
diligent efforts made to ascertain the average
instructor's knowledge level related to "stall spin"
dynamics, regulations and recoveries
... more if you want it ...
