Tail Dragger sign off

[nwopilot]

Hello all,

Can someone explain to me what a tail wheel sign off is? (How do I get one?)

If I want to acquire such a sign off, do I need to go to an FTU to acquire one? If I know someone who owns a tail dragger and the owner has a CPL (with no Flight Instructors rating), can he provide tail wheel instruction?

I am having trouble locating the information in the CARS.

Thanks!

[cgzro]

No such rating in canada. So if you buy one you can legally fly it with zero tail wheel time.

Fortunately though insurance companies regulate it buy insisting on so many hours in type.

Also they are not all the same so just because you can land one type does not translate to other types.

[Jonathan Goldsmith]

An endorsement is required under FAR Section 61.31 in the United States unless one had previously flown a tail wheel aircraft. There is no endorsement required in Canada. A checkout may be required by the aircraft insurance policy, and can normally be performed by the owner.

[PilotDAR]

Regulatory, the foregoing is correct.

Practically, a tricycle pilot needs proficient tailwheel training. Some FTU's might provide it, though it seems to be becoming a lost art.

Flying tailwheel aircraft well is very satisfying, and will certainly make you a better pilot all around, and will ready you in small ways for flying floats and skis.

On the other hand, I have seen some low time tricycle pilots check themselves out on tailwheel, 'cause they did not require the rating. I was not pretty, and I have watched two aircraft written off in the hands of unskilled pilots (one of whom was an instructor). Get competent training - it's worth it...

[Taiser]

Buddy of mine just got his Stinson taken off floats this summer and we've been flying it a lot from a grass field. Its the first plane I've been flying with a TW. A hair tricky, but not that bad. It's a real forgiving airplane, but the landings do keep you on your toes! Very happy I'm getting the chance to do this and I'd recommend it to anyone!

[Shiny Side Up]

Also they are not all the same so just because you can land one type does not translate to other types.

Much like motorcycles though, having some time puts you far and ahead if you're converting type than no time. Don't matter what you ride as long as you ride.

[cgzro]

Buddy of mine just got his Stinson taken off floats this summer and we've been flying it a lot from a grass field. Its the first plane I've been flying with a TW. A hair tricky, but not that bad. It's a real forgiving airplane, but the landings do keep you on your toes! Very happy I'm getting the chance to do this and I'd recommend it to anyone!

It is great fun, but be careful, tail wheel on grass is trivial, even with a strong crosswind. Its the narrow pavement with crosswind that bites people.

[AirFrame]

FWIW, my insurance company required that I have a type signoff by a qualified instructor before they would insure me in the RV-6. I had a qualified instructor (CPL owner of same model/type) give me dual for 5 hours, and then sign my logbook with words to the effect that he had instructed me in all aspects of operation of this type/model and had cleared me to fly solo. The insurance company was happy with that.

As there is no CAR requirement for a type check on an RV-6, this was just an insurance requirement. If your tailwheel signoff requirement is for the same reason, I suspect a similar process would satisfy them.

[edit]removed my meager advice to start on a grass strip because someone already said it[/edit]

Also: There are some great articles on taildragger flying on the Colonel's website. In particular:

http://www.pittspecials.com/articles/Tailwheel.htm
http://www.pittspecials.com/articles/Wheel_landings.htm
http://www.pittspecials.com/articles/AdverseYaw.htm
http://www.pittspecials.com/articles/Type.htm

[Lotro]

Can you fly/rent an N-Reg taildragger in the States with a Canadian PPL (i.e. no TD endorsement) and time on type?

[photofly]

You can't be PIC of any N reg aircraft anywhere, unless you hold an FAA airman certificate.

I would imagine once you have one of those, you need a tail wheel endorsement from an FAA-certificated CFI as per 14 CFR 61.31.

[Big Pistons Forever]

You can't be PIC of any N reg aircraft anywhere, unless you hold an FAA airman certificate.

I would imagine once you have one of those, you need a tail wheel endorsement from an FAA-certificated CFI as per 14 CFR 61.31.

You can fly an N Reg airplane in Canadian airspace with a Canadian pilots license. You just can't fly it in American airspace with a Canadian license.

[photofly]

You can fly an N Reg airplane in Canadian airspace with a Canadian pilots license.

How/where is it documented that that is permitted... not arguing, just curious.

EDIT: I see on the interwebs that a Canadian licence holder can fly any foreign-registered aircraft in Canadian airspace... is that true? Is there regulatory evidence of that?

[Big Pistons Forever]

You can fly an N Reg airplane in Canadian airspace with a Canadian pilots license.

How/where is it documented that that is permitted... not arguing, just curious.

EDIT: I see on the interwebs that a Canadian licence holder can fly any foreign-registered aircraft in Canadian airspace... is that true? Is there regulatory evidence of that?

CAR 401.04 No person shall act as a flight crew member or exercise the privileges of a flight crew licence in Canada in an aircraft registered in a contracting state other than Canada, unless the person holds, and can produce while so acting or while exercising such privileges,
(a) a flight crew permit or licence issued under this Subpart; or

[photofly]

The obvious place to look! Thanks.

[AirFrame]

The caveat on that might be that the insurance may not cover a foreign pilot flying it in foreign airspace. No insurance means you can't fly it even if you have a Canadian license and the owner's permission...

[ahramin]

I have never seen an insurance clause that excluded foreign licenced pilots.

[fleet16b]

I have been flying Tailwheel aircraft for 30 yrs and have not once had an insurance company even ask me if the aircraft is Tailwheel or Nosewheel.
Has anyone been asked this specifically by their Insurance Companies ?

[Taiser]

When I filled out the form for my insurance quote, they asked me the configuration of the plane I was insuring, that was it, but since I didn't ask for "in motion" coverage it never went past that...

[ahramin]

I was asked for a picture of my airplane before getting a quote, presumably they figured it out from there. Every insurance pilot details form I've ever filled out asked for tailwheel time and I've done tailwheel training for new owners at the behest of their insurance companies. It is something that factors into your rate.

[cgzro]

My insurance company just asks for time in type. I guess they use accident stats to determine beyond how many hours on type their risk is acceptable. If i remember correctly for the Pitts they wanted 60 hours tail dragger and 20hours on type for full hull insurance. They also factor in recent time on type, ie last 90 days.