--- kind: "section" citation: "14 C.F.R. § 194.217" title: "14" number: "194.217" heading: "Test pilots, FAA test pilots, or aviation safety inspectors: Alternate aeronautical experience and logging requirements for a commercial pilot certificate with a powered-lift category rating." url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/14/194.217" --- # §194.217. Test pilots, FAA test pilots, or aviation safety inspectors: Alternate aeronautical experience and logging requirements for a commercial pilot certificate with a powered-lift category rating. - (a) **General applicability.** An applicant for a commercial pilot certificate with a powered-lift category rating who is a test pilot for the manufacturer of an experimental powered-lift, an FAA test pilot, or an aviation safety inspector may satisfy the alternate aeronautical experience and logging requirements set forth in paragraphs [(b)](#b) and [(c)](#c) of this section, provided— - (1) The flights are conducted in an experimental powered-lift at the manufacturer; - (2) The applicant is authorized by the Administrator to act as pilot in command of the experimental powered-lift. - (b) **Alternate aeronautical experience requirements.** Notwithstanding the eligibility requirement specified in [§ 61.123(f)](/cfr/14/61.123.md?p=f) of this chapter, a test pilot, FAA test pilot, or aviation safety inspector may meet the requirements in [paragraphs (b)(1) through (4)](#b-1..b-4) of this section in lieu of the aeronautical experience requirements of § [61.129(e)(3)](/cfr/14/61.129.md?p=e-3) and [(4)](/cfr/14/61.129.md?p=e-4) of this chapter. - (1) A test pilot, FAA test pilot, or aviation safety inspector may receive 20 hours of flight training on the areas of operation listed in [§ 61.127(b)(5)](/cfr/14/61.127.md?p=b-5) of this chapter from an instructor pilot for the manufacturer of an experimental powered-lift in lieu of an authorized instructor, provided— - (i) The training is conducted in accordance with the manufacturer's proposed training curriculum in the experimental powered-lift; and - (ii) The test pilot, FAA test pilot, or aviation safety inspector receives a logbook or training record endorsement from the instructor pilot certifying that the test pilot satisfactorily completed the training curriculum specified in [paragraph (b)(1)(i)](#b-1-i) of this section. - (2) A test pilot, FAA test pilot, or aviation safety inspector may accomplish the practical test preparation requirements in [§ 61.129(e)(3)(iv)](/cfr/14/61.129.md?p=e-3-iv) of this chapter with a pilot who serves as an instructor pilot for the manufacturer of the experimental powered-lift. - (3) A test pilot, FAA test pilot, or aviation safety inspector may satisfy the aeronautical experience requirement in [§ 61.129(e)(4)](/cfr/14/61.129.md?p=e-4) of this chapter by logging at least 10 hours of solo flight time under an endorsement from an instructor pilot or performing the duties of pilot-in-command in an experimental powered-lift with one of the following individuals onboard (which may be credited towards the flight time requirement in §§ [61.129(e)(2)](/cfr/14/61.129.md?p=e-2), and [(e)(2)(ii)](/cfr/14/61.129.md?p=e-2-ii) of this chapter and 194.216(a))— - (i) A test pilot for the manufacturer of the powered-lift who is authorized by the Administrator to act as pilot-in-command of the experimental powered-lift; or - (ii) An instructor pilot for the manufacturer of the powered-lift who is authorized by the Administrator to act as pilot-in-command of the experimental powered-lift. - (4) A test pilot, FAA test pilot, or aviation safety inspector may satisfy the alternate requirements in [§ 194.233](/cfr/14/194.233.md) in lieu of the cross-country aeronautical experience requirements specified in § [61.129(e)(3)(ii)](/cfr/14/61.129.md?p=e-3-ii) and [(iii)](/cfr/14/61.129.md?p=e-3-iii) and [(e)(4)(i)](/cfr/14/61.129.md?p=e-4-i) of this chapter. - (c) **Alternate logging requirement.** Notwithstanding the logging requirements in [§ 61.51(e)(1)](/cfr/14/61.51.md?p=e-1) of this chapter, an applicant for a commercial pilot certificate with a powered-lift category rating may log pilot-in-command flight time for the purpose of satisfying the aeronautical experience requirements in §§ [61.129(e)(2)(ii)](/cfr/14/61.129.md?p=e-2-ii) and [194.216(a)](/cfr/14/194.216.md?p=a) of this chapter for flights when the pilot is the sole manipulator of the controls of an experimental powered-lift for which the pilot is not rated, provided— - (1) The test pilot, FAA test pilot, or aviation safety inspector is acting as pilot-in-command of the experimental powered-lift in accordance with a letter of authorization issued by the Administrator; and - (2) The flight is conducted for the purpose of research and development or showing compliance with the regulations in this chapter in accordance with the experimental certificate issued to the powered-lift pursuant to [§ 21.191](/cfr/14/21.191.md) of this chapter. ## Notes ### Authority Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7572; 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 40113, 44701-44705, 44707, 44712, 44713, 44715, 44716, and 44722; Sec. 955 of Pub. L. 118-63. ### Source Source: Docket FAA-2023-1275, Amdt. 194-1, 89 FR 92489, Nov. 21, 2024, unless otherwise noted.