A private pilot with an airplane single-engine land rating may act as PIC of an airplane towing a glider if within the preceding 24 months, this pilot has made

A private pilot with an airplane single-engine land rating may act as PIC of an airplane towing a glider if within the preceding 24 months, this pilot has made

• A. three flights as PIC of a glider towed by an aircraft
• B. one flight in the last year
• C. no flight required
• D. ten flights as PIC of gliders towed by an aircraft

Answer: (A)

Towing a glider requires recent hands‑on experience in the tow process. To act as PIC of the airplane towing a glider, you must have, within the preceding 24 months, completed at least three flights as the PIC of a glider that is being towed by another aircraft. This currency requirement ensures you’re current with the dynamics of tow operations—keeping proper towline management, release procedures, appropriate airspeeds and patterns, and effective coordination with the tow pilot. So, three tows as PIC of a glider being towed within the last 24 months is the minimum that satisfies the rule. One flight in the last year isn’t enough to establish currency, no flight wouldn’t meet the requirement, and ten flights exceed the minimum without changing the regulation.

Towing a glider requires recent hands‑on experience in the tow process. To act as PIC of the airplane towing a glider, you must have, within the preceding 24 months, completed at least three flights as the PIC of a glider that is being towed by another aircraft. This currency requirement ensures you’re current with the dynamics of tow operations—keeping proper towline management, release procedures, appropriate airspeeds and patterns, and effective coordination with the tow pilot.

So, three tows as PIC of a glider being towed within the last 24 months is the minimum that satisfies the rule. One flight in the last year isn’t enough to establish currency, no flight wouldn’t meet the requirement, and ten flights exceed the minimum without changing the regulation.