Where to find aircraft class info?

You must work for the government if you think that you need a document to
determine whether an airplane is single or multi, land or sea.

Mike
MU-2


"Ace Pilot" wrote in message
m...
If you want to know what category an aircraft is certified in, you
look on the aircraft's air worthiness certificate. What document do
you go to to determine what class (single engine, multi-engine, land,
sea) an aircraft is certified in?

Thanks,
Ace

You use the POH and any supplemental type certificates. Float planes in
particular are prone to change class from time to time as the floats come on
or off, so the only way to tell what class the aircraft is currently is
often to just go out and look at it. This makes the statistics kind of
fuzzy. The FAA might have some idea of how many airplanes it has issued an
STC for floats, but it has no idea without a survey of how many of those
planes are actually equipped with floats. Amphibians are a little easier,
but even here the FAA's position has been that if you are flying your
amphibian on land only, then its class for regulatory purposes is single
engine land. There are probably some Republic Seabees out there that are
flown regularly but have not seen water in years.

"Mike Rapoport" wrote
You must work for the government if you think that you need a document to
determine whether an airplane is single or multi, land or sea.

Really? I think I'm ready for my government job. Since you're not,
please tell me whether a Seahawker (or Glass Goose) is land or sea.
Be advised, the gear retracts into sponsons, and with the gear
retracted it operates off water. However, with the gear extended it
operates from land.

Or how about a C-185 on amphib floats?

Michael

Ron,

Thanks for the info. Where do you find the aircraft type certificate
(that's not the same thing as the aircraft airworthiness certificate,
right)? The FAA web site has a page listing "type certificate data
sheets." Is this the same thing? I looked at a couple of these but
couldn't find any "class" information.

When you say that type ratings for amphibs may be restricted if the
pilot doesn't demonstrate both capabilities, can you explain how this
restriction is put into effect? Is it written into the aircraft flight
manual as an operating restriction, or is the type certificate
document actually different than without the restriction? Or is it
something else?

Thanks again,
Ace

"Ron Natalie" wrote in message om...
"Michael" wrote in message om...
"Mike Rapoport" wrote
You must work for the government if you think that you need a document to
determine whether an airplane is single or multi, land or sea.

Really? I think I'm ready for my government job. Since you're not,
please tell me whether a Seahawker (or Glass Goose) is land or sea.
Be advised, the gear retracts into sponsons, and with the gear
retracted it operates off water. However, with the gear extended it
operates from land.

As far as certification goes, an amphib is an amphib.

Or how about a C-185 on amphib floats?

It is a "convertible." The 185 has differing operating limitations depending on whehter
it is in land, sea, or amphib configuration.

The airplane type certificiates are divided into: land, sea, convertible, amphib, and flying boat.

A pilot needs either a land or sea class rating depending on whether operating on land or sea.
Type ratings for amphibs may be restricted to one or the other if the pilot doesn't demonstrate
both capabilities.

"Ace Pilot" wrote in message om...
Ron,

Thanks for the info. Where do you find the aircraft type certificate
(that's not the same thing as the aircraft airworthiness certificate,
right)? The FAA web site has a page listing "type certificate data
sheets." Is this the same thing? I looked at a couple of these but
couldn't find any "class" information.

Every TCDS has a code at the top. Something like
4 PCLM Normal, 2PCLM Utility
which means that it is a 4 place, closed, land, monoplane in the normal
category and a 2 place (etc..) in the Utility category.

When you say that type ratings for amphibs may be restricted if the
pilot doesn't demonstrate both capabilities, can you explain how this
restriction is put into effect?

It's printed on your pilot certificate. Don't confuse Type Rating with Type
Certificate.