CLARIFICATION: For those of you who attended the last EAA Chapter 32 meeting at Old Country Buffet you heard that handsome guest speaker talk about tailwheel airplanes. He mentioned that now a days the FAA (Friendly Aviation Advisor) requires those wanting to receive flight instruction in a tailwheel aircraft need to enlist the services of a “authorized” flight instructor. Several years ago the FAA realized that the mature, mutli-houred, real airplane flying, tailwheel pilot, was becoming a rare thing. Rarer yet was the flight instructor who had this experience. So to close a few little loop holes in the aviation net the FAA came out with the term “authorized” flight instructor.
A Certified Flight Instructor is now ”authorized” to:
...give training and a sign off for operating a complex aircraft.
...give training and a sign off for operating high-performance airplanes.
...give training and a sign off for operating pressurized aircraft capable of operating at high altitudes.
...give training required for tailwheel airplanes.

IF,
The Certified Flight Instructor has experience in these areas before the established date as stated in the apropriate section of FAR 61.31. It makes sense that have a “experienced” flight instructor next to you to remind you to put the landing gear down in case you should forget. Remember, there are those who have landed gear up and there are those who are going to do it. Previously, a Flight Instructor could ride with an appropriately rated pilot and give him a Biannual Flight Review and not be rated or have time in the airplane. Now the FAA has place some requirements on the Flight
Instructor to make sure he/she has experience and thus ”authorized” to be there. Along with the “authorization” in flying tailwheel airplanes comes the reality of having experience in that type of plane. Here is where the insurance companies step in and say we must have a certain amount of hours in the type of tailwheel airplane for insurance purposes. Occasionally the minimum time is five hours in type of aircraft. In most cases they want 10 hours. The more advanced your certificate, Private, Commercial, ATP (Airline Transport Rating) the lower the insurance rates. EAA has two great programs in place that will also help you with the insurance. Technical Counselors and Flight Advisors can help you get reduced rates on your homebuilt project. The Flight Advisor program can get you coverage on the first flight. I hope this clears up any confusion that may have been created during the presentation. A Certified Flight Instructor with a tailwheel sign off is now “authorized” to flight instruct in a single engine tailwheel aircraft. All that may be lacking is the minimum time in that type of airplane to be covered by the all important insurance policy. Remember that a tailwheel airplane is not done flying until it is tied down at the ramp. Until next time, “Keep thy airspeed up, less the earth come from below and smite thee”-
William Kershner

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