Originally Posted by
212man
There have been many aircraft over the decades that did not have dual controls. So, it’s unclear what the issue is. An entire war (WW2) was won without dual controlled fighters! Even the Buccaneer was never dual controlled and induction was via the Hunter T7(8?) with a Buccaneer instrument panel (which I had the pleasure of flying).
Well, the examples you cite are military, not aircraft certified by the FAA, and aircraft certified to military standards do not always meet FAA requirements and that's OK. The FAA also accepts licenses granted by the military. That's why V-22 pilots could theoretically qualify for powered lift ratings (powered lift looks like it's is going to be a type rating). The problem is that for a type rating is for a specific aircraft, not a category. For example, being qualified for multi-engine land means that your certificate is good for any multi-engine land aircraft that doesn't require a type rating. OTOH a G700 requires a type rating, so to fly as PIC in that you must be trained and certified in eh G700, not in another twin engine bizjet.
The proposed rule states (so far), "To the extent that manufacturers have suggested that there are alternate safe means to conduct flight training without a dual set of controls, the FAA finds that those means have not been demonstrated or validated to a level that would allow the FAA to propose relief from the requirement to conduct flight training with a dual set of controls". So, if you develop a single pilot powered lift aircraft without dual controls, you must either develop a second version of the craft with dual controls or else no civil pilot can get a type rating because there' no dual control version ch he/she can be trained. Looks like they aren't accepting simulators yet.