Navigating Pilot Qualifications

[jimmydeanno]

I have a few potential members who would like to become CAP pilots.  Since we don't seem to have a "handy dandy guide" to make this easy, I was hoping I could ask a few questions (not being a pilot myself).  They are pilots already and fly military aircraft (various types).  They're still relatively new pilots, all with under 500 hrs PIC.

With their hours only, they have the potential to be:

CAP Pilot
CAP Cadet Orientation Pilots (200 PIC)
JROTC/ROTC Orientation Pilots (300 PIC)

I got that down.  It's the ES ones that I'm having a bit of a time with.

Looking at the SQTR for Transport Mission Pilot, the "PIC Requirement" at the bottom has three different hour requirements.  100, 175, 200. 

Looking at the SQTR for SAR/DR Pilot, the pre-requisite is PIC 175, but the "Qualified" section at the bottom requires 200 PIC.

So, is it like this?

If you have under 100 hours, you can be a "CAP Pilot," use the plane (at your own expense) to get to 100 hours.  At 100 hours, you can be signed off for TMP (assuming you meet the other quals), at 175 you can begin training for SAR/DR and at 200 you can be qualified as a SAR/DR?

If so, what's with the three different PIC levels on the TMP SQTR?

Or is it something different?

[Al Sayre]

If you have under 100 hours, you can be a "CAP Pilot," use the plane (at your own expense) to get to 100 hours.  At 100 hours, you can be signed off for TMP (assuming you meet the other quals), at 175 you can begin training for SAR/DR and at 200 you can be qualified as a SAR/DR?

Sounds like you've got it right, but don't forget the XC requirement for TMP's  without looking, I think it's 50 Hrs.  Nowdays, a lot of people take 75 just to get their private, and while they may have PIC, they don't have the XC time.

If so, what's with the three different PIC levels on the TMP SQTR?

It's just a carryover/place keeper from OpsQuals so you can see when you are getting close to the next step in the progression.

[jimmydeanno]

I think it's 50 Hrs.

Yes, it does say 50.

It's good to know that I'm at least on the right track.  Under normal circumstances I would have had them talk to one of the squadron's pilots.  However, we don't have any - they'd be the first.  So, I figured I'd give them some preliminary information, give them a bit to chew on, expectations, requirements, etc before enlisting the assistance of other units.

I appreciate it, Al.  Thanks.

[JeffDG]

The 175 and 200 for MP are in two different sections.  The 175 is in the "Familiarization and Prep" section, so it's needed to become a MP trainee.  The 200 is required to be a fully qualified MP.

Don't forget that for TMP, the hours are PIC.  Even though a lot of PPs take 60-70 hours to get their certificates, only their solo time pre-checkride is PIC time.

Additionally, the XC time for TMP is not required to be PIC, nor is it required to be >50nm.  The FAA definition of XC is a flight that lands at an airport other than takeoff, so short hops count toward the 50 hours of XC time.  The 100 hours of PIC differs, for example, from the 100 hours of total time required to fly high-performance (182s) aircraft for CAP.

[Shotgun]

Additionally, the XC time for TMP is not required to be PIC, nor is it required to be >50nm.  The FAA definition of XC is a flight that lands at an airport other than takeoff, so short hops count toward the 50 hours of XC time.  The 100 hours of PIC differs, for example, from the 100 hours of total time required to fly high-performance (182s) aircraft for CAP.

It is my understanding that there are basically two "definitions" for cross country per 14 CFR Part 61.1.
The general definition of cross country is a flight that includes a point of landing other than the point of departure using some form of navigation (pilotage, dead reckoning, radio navigation etc.). Actual distance is not considered and this definition counts toward FAR 135 experience requirement.

Cross Country experience counting toward a private or commercial certificate or an instrument rating requires a landing at an airport at least 50nm straight line distance away from the departure airport.

So if I interpret that correctly - in terms of aeronautical experience you must meet the 50 nm distance requirement in order to log it as a cross country flight.

I tried locating which definition is used for the TMP qualification, but didn't find anything definite. To me it makes sense to use requirements for aeronautical experience since that is what is actually kept track in a pilots logbook.

Thoughts?  Corrections?

[JeffDG]

Additionally, the XC time for TMP is not required to be PIC, nor is it required to be >50nm.  The FAA definition of XC is a flight that lands at an airport other than takeoff, so short hops count toward the 50 hours of XC time.  The 100 hours of PIC differs, for example, from the 100 hours of total time required to fly high-performance (182s) aircraft for CAP.

It is my understanding that there are basically two "definitions" for cross country per 14 CFR Part 61.1.
The general definition of cross country is a flight that includes a point of landing other than the point of departure using some form of navigation (pilotage, dead reckoning, radio navigation etc.). Actual distance is not considered and this definition counts toward FAR 135 experience requirement.

Cross Country experience counting toward a private or commercial certificate or an instrument rating requires a landing at an airport at least 50nm straight line distance away from the departure airport.

So if I interpret that correctly - in terms of aeronautical experience you must meet the 50 nm distance requirement in order to log it as a cross country flight.

I tried locating which definition is used for the TMP qualification, but didn't find anything definite. To me it makes sense to use requirements for aeronautical experience since that is what is actually kept track in a pilots logbook.

Thoughts?  Corrections?

There is only one definition of "Cross Country", that being a flight with a landing at a place other than the departure airport.

There are rules for things like your instrument rating that state that only cross-country flight where one point is >50nm away may be used, but that doesn't change the definition of XC. 

If you're going to use aeronatical experience, then which one?  Private (>50 nm), Instrument (>50nm + PIC), ATP (plain old XC)?