FAA U-Turn on Touchdown Autos

[vaqueroaero]

So as of yesterday evening the full down / touchdown autorotation is now to be re-instated for the flight instructor checkride. A letter was issued by James Ballaugh of the FAA in Washington D.C.

It essentially states that effective immediately, the touchdown autorotation maneuver would be required for the CFI practical exam. In addition, the National Resource Inspector Program (NRI) for FAA inspectors to conduct this maneuver was re-instated. Any ASI not designated as an NRI would NOT be able to conduct this manuever, they would be able to view the maneuver from the ground.

The letter did give direction for each FSDO to appoint more examiners to conduct these exams with the NRI to check those examiners. It almost sounds like we are back to where we were before but the letter did address the delay in obtaining examiners for these rides.
Check local FSDO for more details.

[Gordy]

The memo is dated 07-13-2006.

[flylow]

Do you have a link to this updated memo? I'm preparing for the checkride now.

[walesuk]

Anyone know the reason they took it out of the PTS in the first place? And why the quick turnaround putting it back in? I think it's a good idea for instructors to do them... just not sure what the reason for the FAA flipflopping was.

[Gordy]

Originally Posted by flylow

Do you have a link to this updated memo? I'm preparing for the checkride now.

E-mail me a fax # and I can send a copy. As far as I know---it is not yet on-line.

[flylow]

I've uploaded a copy of the memo in pdf format. It can be viewed here.

For those that want to see the memo initially removing the requirement, I have a copy of that one here.

flylow