So in order to obtain a comercial rating you need a complex aircraft.

Did my Instrument in a 172 RG. Have my time requirements. That plane no longer exsists around here however.

My question is this:

You can obtain a commercial rating with amphib floats, but what about hydraulic skis?

Just FYI...... AFI (http://www.flyafi.com/) at Fullerton, CA (KFUL), has a 172RG that they use only for Commercial/Complex ratings. Great people to work with.

MAYBE if you have hydraulics and a CS where your can say you have "retracted" your gear, however you are not raising your gear as much and lowering skis over them, that's a question for your examiner for sure, seems like that is stretching for sure

I did my initial comm in a straight float, to be a complex float plane you have to have a CS prop and FLAPS.

Land is CS and retracts, ether way I would like to know the official answer to this one

The official answer is that if the airplane is equipped with a controllable propeller, flaps and a retractable landing gear it is a complex airplane by definition. An aircraft equipped with retractable wheel skis qualifies.

MTV

I do have CP / retractable ski's, etc.

Funny how know one (not even the CFI's) know that answer. Curious where you found it. Can you copy the FAR here please.

Passed my written. Ski's going on in a month or so.

Thanks MTV

MTV is correct

"FAA Order 8710.3E defines a complex airplane for the airplane single-engine land or airplane multiengine land rating as one that has a retractable landing gear, flaps, and controllable propeller. A complex airplane for the airplane single-engine sea or airplane multiengine sea rating is one having flaps, floats, and a controllable propeller. A controllable propeller may be controlled manually by the pilot or automatically controlled by a full authority digital engine control (FADEC) system."


Also, let me do some checking with my FAA examiner buddy. I believe as long as you have met the complex time requirements, the checkride does not have be to given in a complex aircraft.

I would think you can train for your commercial rating in anything, but you have to take the checkride in a complex aircraft.

Just got off the phone with my friend, he said there was a proposed change to allow the commercial checkride to be given in a fixed gear aircraft but it has not been approved yet. He also said you should check with your local examiner about the skiis. Sorry, I tried.

If your examiner argues about the skis, tell him or her to call FAA legal. That will be a short conversation. The FSDO should also be able to provide this, but some of them aren't totally up to speed on the regs.

The Commercial with no folding wheels is now in place with select 141 programs, but not yet approved for use outside 141.

MTV

Thanks Gang!

Lowlevel- Yes you can train in anything. Chandelles, lazy eights, steep turns, etc. Fairly simple and straight forward.

Just curious about the skis. Seems like we have an answer. Thats great! 58 mentions the 172rg in Fullerton...thats a long way from Tahoe and would much rather use my own plane. When the skis go on it will be done.

Thanks!

Kevin