709 rides

[Bob Turner]

Five years ago I did not know what these were. Now I get questions about them every six months. We have had a real spate of them recently - not sure what the Feds use as a guide. One guy scraped a wingtip, with ten hours in taildraggers. 709. Nother practically totalled an entire aircraft after 50 hours of tailwheel instruction. No 709 ride.

Two Stearman pilots busted the Class B in a week. No ride. A month later a guy nicked the edge - ride.

No idea how these decisions are made.

But when they are, apparently the first thing the fed says is, give me your license, and I will issue you a 30 day temporary license.
I think, but am not sure, that this is a request for a voluntary relinquishment - that is, not mandatory.

More in a minute.

 

[Bruce]

Any time you have a voiliation or think you have one, like going into class b airspace without clearance there is a self reporting option I think it’s called and NASA report kinda like a get out of jail free card. If I remember it’s good for a year from violation, they still write a report but if there are no other issues with in that 12 month period your good to go. AOPA helped me with this many years ago when I flew through a SFR that I missed in the preflight. Not sure if this works for a accident or not, and hope I never find out.

 

[aftCG]

This past summer I did some flying with a woman who had wrecked her husband's C180 in a nasty ground loop. We're talking engine, prop and both wings, plus some fuselage wrinkles. They bought the plane back from the insurance company and had it put back to even better than before.
It seemed obvious that she was facing a 709 ride but my role was just getting her back in the air while the plane was being worked on. Fast forward to their plane about ready for pickup and no 709 ride was in order.

It turns out there are no FAA check airman who can do a ride in a tail dragger. Yes, we've finally gotten there. It's hard enough to find a DPE willing to do a ride, but it can't be a DPE for a 709 (not fact checked).

They searched the country, and when they came up empty they worked through previous connections with an FAA guy. In the end it was something like 10 hours of remedial instruction in the C180 and she's flown over 50 hours in it since then.

But interesting point about what invokes a 709 ride and what doesn't.

 

[Bob Turner]

What did you think about not giving up your license voluntarily?

Here is my next thought - do nothing without a written (or saved e-mail) communication. If they want your license or a 709 ride, tell them you need a copy of the order.

Then write them back, stating that you are ready for the ride, and that you will reserve the Citabria when they schedule you. The ball is then in their court, but only if you have documentation. And I heard that there are only four taildragger-approved feds. I met one - truly a nice guy. It took a year to get him out here - his instructions were - take me around three times and don't kill me - or something like that.

Oh - the 709 ride is not regarded as a punishment, so the NASA report doesn't stop that process. But you are correct - file early and often. Taking your certificate (if not a voluntary surrender) is a punishment, and the NASA report obviates that.