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AC61-65E
8710.1 (word)
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12/18/2008

WE MOVED!  Well, we did it! Madeleine and I moved from McAllen to San Antonio this fall. We are now lucky enough to live on Twin Oaks airport in San Antonio. I still work in McAllen and plan to continue to do so. I now fly my Long-EZ down to McAllen to work instead of flying from there to everywhere else for practical tests. In short, I am flying less and enjoying it more. I have altered some of my pricing as a result of my reduced travel costs. I have done my best to eradicate my 956 area code phone number from the website. New number is 210-315-7771 as well as 210-861-7355.

07/01/2008

IACRA Update

IACRA is still not perfect, but what is?  While we have continued to have problems with IACRA, there have been improvements. There has been a changing of the guard at the top of the system and the new guy, Oliver Jackson, seems to be very responsive to our needs and complaints. It is still possible to put wrong information into the system so instructors need to be very careful to verify every item on the application prior to signing. Some examples are:

bullet Wrong or incomplete student pilot certificate number. The correct number should include the prefix, ZZ, FF or the like. DO NOT include the - (dash) in between the prefix and the number. If you do, the number will be missing one digit.
bullet Incorrect pilot certificate number. Yes as crazy as it sounds, IACRA does not cross reference pilot certificate numbers.
bullet Incorrect certificate issue dates. The correct date is the date on the most recently issued pilot certificate.
bullet Lack of physical address in the case where a PO box is the permanent mailing address. There is a place for this in IACRA and it must be filled in if a PO box is used as the permanent address on the front of the application.
bullet Application not signed by recommending instructor.

I  still strongly suggest (as in require) all instructors who are sending me applicants via IACRA to also complete a paper 8710.1 application. This does not have to be pretty. My suggestion is that it seems to be helpful to fill out a draft paper copy prior to putting all the information into IACRA. So why not just have the recommending instructor sign this draft copy and make sure that it and the written test results are available on the day of the test. That way if IACRA lets us down, we still have a way start and complete the test.

IACRA

IACRA is now the requested method of application! IACRA stands for: Integrated Airman Certification and/or Rating Application. It is an online system where the instructor, the student, and the examiner are all signed in on the IACRA website. The entire application process is done on line. The system is not perfect but has been improving. The best way to get acquainted with this new system is to go to the IACRA website, register and look around for information. The helpdesk phone support is very responsive, so if you have any problems, by all means call.

When you enroll, you will receive an FTN number and will be required to create a user ID and Password. Please make sure to write these down in a secure place, perhaps your logbook.

Once everyone is enrolled and it is time to schedule a test, the applicant goes on line and fills out the online 8710 application. As always it is appropriate for the recommending instructor to assist with this process. When the application is complete, the instructor will then log on and review and sign the application. On the day of the practical test the examiner will log on and review the application, then the applicant will log on and digitally sign the application and the test can begin. After the test, the examiner will log on again and enter the practical test results and print the appropriate certificate or other notice. The certificate and test information is then transmitted instantly to FAA Airman Records in OK City.

Like any online or software system, it takes a little practice, but I find that once everyone has a little experience, the system works pretty well. Please use this system for all practical test applications unless there is a specific issue, such as being locked out of the system for some reason.

bullet IACRA Login Website (Internet Explorer only)
bullet New ATP Practical Test Standards (08/01/2006)
bullet TSA Foreign Pilot Identification site (Students)
bullet TSA Foreign Pilot Identification Site (Flight Instructors and Schools)  
bullet Current Instrument PTS
bullet Advanced Avionics instrument testing
 

 10/01/2004

bullet A new Instrument PTS is in use as of October 1, 2004. Changes include:

• The reference section has been updated to current FAA publications in use.

• An abbreviation section has been added.

• The "plan of action" is more thoroughly explained to include the reference to use of scenarios.

• Practical tests perquisite requirements have been updated to current rules.

• The use of GPS for navigation and approaches has been clarified and the requirement for a GPS   approach has been added.

• Approach terminology has been updated to include Precision Approach (PA), Approach with Vertical Guidance (APV), and Nonprecision Approach (NPA). The requirements for their use have been clarified.

• Testing in modern aircraft with electronic flight instrument displays has been addressed.

• The use of autopilot and flight management during testing has been addressed.

• The requirement for the use of a view-limiting device has been clarified.

• The need for testing in Single-Pilot Resource Management has been addressed and clarified.

• Reference to the metric system has been eliminated.

• The body of the PTS has been updated to include electronic flight instrument displays, flight management systems, GPS, and autopilot usage.

• The need for testing basic instrument flight maneuvers throughout the practical test instead of being treated as separate TASKs has been addressed in AREA OF OPERATION IV.

Make sure you are prepared to test under the current Instrument PTS (FAA-S-8081-4D )

 

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Advanced avionics and instrument flight testing

For those of you who have asked how to we are going to test partial panel procedures in the Avidyne PFD equipped Sirrus aircraft, here is the official guidance. I find it to be a little complex and self contradictory, however I think if we study it carefully we will come up up with a testing profile. My observation upon first reading is that the applicant for an instrument checkride in one of these advanced aircraft will have to have a very complete knowledge of the avionics systems, including emergency operations. Once I have fully analyzed this document I will give you some more information on how we will test the partial panel approach.

            SR20/SR22 Instrument Checkride Procedures

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Last modified: 12/17/08