Have not posted for a while as I am in the "snowpocalyse" of Alaska! We have more snow here in Cordova than I have seen in 20 years! Its crazy!

Just found out today that my commercial rating is no longer valid as they are saying my Hydraulic wheel skis are not complex. Spoke to several DPE's here in AK and all have said they have done rides in a 180 with hydraulic skis. So now the crazy part...if you enter the airplane type in the "Itard" system (I am not saying the correct word here, someone help) you don't have to list the plane as you can bypass the plane type?? That also came straight from the FSDO. They have been giving out Commercial ratings for 30 plus years in 180's up here with Hydraulic skis.

I just received this letter of "error" for my Commercial rating along with my private back and my commercial written test results. The letter says I need to take the entire test over including the oral. Really? WTF???!!! I passed it with flying fucking colors! Would you fight this? Would you just be quiet and do everything again? I call complete BS on this one. I need some advice.

What would they do if I had obtained a job the day after my rating was obtained? Now 160 days later they inform me that its not valid.

Additionally, 3 weeks prior to the check ride my DPE called and spoke to the FEDS to make certain it was ok and they said for certain it would be ok. I had to include photos of the plane and system, etc. (as if they had never seen hydraulic skis before). Funny how know one claims to remember that conversation in OKC with my DPE.

Bent over a barrel. Curious what you would do?

AKT

Fighting it would be much more expensive and take a much longer time than just rescheduling and taking the entire checkride, including oral, in an approved complex airplane. Further, fighting it would likely end in you losing. So take the easy, quick way, IMHO.

BTW, you might get farther if you recognized that the commercial is a certificate, not a rating.

Cary

Request a "reconsideration" with attached correspondence and photos, AK FSDO comments, etc. Maybe they will reconsider? Good luck for a resolution!

I have a feeling you've butted up against a computer glitch. If you're in Cordova, get to the Regional Flight Standards office in Anchorage (the ANC FSDO wouldn't be my first choice) and talk to them about this. Here is the requirement:

(ii) 10 hours of training in an airplane that has a retractable landing gear, flaps, and a controllable pitch propeller, or is turbine-powered, or for an applicant seeking a single-engine seaplane rating, 10 hours of training in a seaplane that has flaps and a controllable pitch propeller;

Clearly, the Cessna 180 with hydraulically actuated wheel-skis meets this test, since it has a retractable landing gear. In fact, here are some of the required placards from the 180 Type Certificate:
Applicable to skiplane with retractable skis: (On instrument panel)
(S/N 18052285 through 18052620) “Do not extend or retract skis at speeds over 140 mph.”
“Do not extend or retract skis while in motion on the ground.”
(S/N 18052621 and up) “Do not extend or retract skis at speeds over 125 knots.”
“Do not extend or retract skis while in motion on the ground.”

I'd get with the Regional Flight standards folks in AK and see if they can work it out for you. They see these with some regularity, though I did put one fellow through a commercial checkride in my 170 on skis (CS prop, flaps and retractable l/g) and the FSDO in FAI argued that we couldnt do so. A quick review of THEIR regulations got that taken care of.

Use a LOT of diplomacy, approach the Regional Flight Standards office with this, and ask them to please explain what Oklahoma City is saying, and why. I'd bet this can get sorted out. DO NOT go in there raising hell and threatening congressional action, by the way.

Good luck.

MTV

They are still trying to burn you from your episode ....that sucks pretty bad .Having to re- test things that you worked super hard on to complete AND ALREDY PASSED is BullShit!!!! Somebody messed up I bet . Like MTV said ,,, those are retractable skiis. Good luck ,,, I'm pissed for you!lame , lame lame lame lame!

Arghhhhhh! That sux bro! Total BS.

That said, I'm with MTV, try to be diplomatic and find an advocate at your closest FSDO either in AK or CA.

Until then...have fun skiing your ass off!