Originally Posted by
lifeafteraviation
No, of course you can't fly outside the AFM limitations during training or for any reason other than a test pilot doing certification flights or to handle an emergency.
What about a type rating checkride in the airplane? IIRC a no flap landing is a required element of a type rating ride. Seems like there's a few other things which would be required in a check ride which may not be approved for normal, non-emergency operations, like OEI maneuvers.
I agree that it appears the AFM would expressly forbid partial flap landings on a normal flight, but there's a lot of non-normal stuff that goes on on a checkride, often with the FAA on board.