do we have anyone here who knows what is done in Germany and the US?
Thanks for those who have noted the German requirements. I just happen to have a copy of the US FARs on my desk (something to do with the job I do) so am able to look up and quote the US rules. These are drawn from FAR Part 61, which lists the rules from the government department there that sets gliding standards. (Most gliding clubs there are affiliated to the Soaring Society of America, which is a practical parallel to the GFA except they hold no official role, and only administer the sporting aspects of gliding.)
61.43 Practical tests; General Procedures
(a) .. the ability of an applicant for a certificate or rating issued under the Part to perform the required tasks on the practical test is based on that applicant's ability to safely:
(1) Perform the tasks specified in the area of operation for the certificate or rating sought within the approved standards;
(2) Demonstrate mastery of the aircraft with the successful outcome of each task performed never seriously in doubt;
(3) Demonstrate satisfactory proficiency and competency within the approved standards;
(4) Demonstrate sound judgement; and
(5) Demonstrate single-pilot competency if the aircraft is type certificated for single-pilot operations.
...
61.87 Solo requirements for student pilots (i) Maneuvers and procedures for pre-solo flight training in a glider ... (14) Stall entry, stall, and stall recovery; (15) Straight glides, turns, and spirals;
Subpart E - Private Pilots
61.106 Aeronautical knowledge
(a) General. A person who is applying for a private pi8lot certificate must receive and log ground training from an authorized instructor or complete a home-study course on the aeronautical knowledge areas in paragraph (b) of this section that apply to the category and class rating sought.
(b)(11) Stall awareness; spin entry, spins, and spin recovery techniques for the airplane and glider category ratings...
61.107 Flight proficiency
(a) General. A person who applies for a private pilot certificate must receive and log ground and flight training from and authorized instructor on the areas of operation of this section that apply to the aircraft category and class rating sought.
(b) areas of operation (6) For a glider category rating:
(vii) performance manuevers
(ix) Slow flight and stalls
(x) Emergency operations...
Perhaps their theoretical treatment of spin entry, spins and recovery, and limitation of practical experience to slow flight and stalls, explains the relatively poor record of US pilots in situations where they encounter a real (deliberate of accidental) spin, compared to the rest of the world with the emphasis on recognition and recovery from the developing stages of a spin.
And for those who were wondering, the certification requirements for the most commonly used worldwide airworthiness standard, JAR 22, require demonstration of recovery from a fully developed spin, at the most adverse weight and centre-of-gravity condition, and if the glider is able to carry water ballast, with the tank on one side full and on the other side empty - with recovery commencing within 1 turn of the initiation of control input using the technique listed in the aircraft's flight manual.
Hence the importance to RTFM - in this case - read the FLIGHT manual (and not exceed CG limits etc and adopt the recommended technique).
There was discussion some 12 - 18 months ago regarding the possibility for the Puchacz to occasionally adopt a flatter mode of spinning at rearwards CG. This mode involved a flatter attitude and slower rate of descent, but also a delayed recovery (i.e. it took more than 1 full turn after the initiation of recovery before the recovery took effect) if the aircraft was held in a developed spin beyond the stage of established autorotation.
In other words - while recovery still happens, it takes longer to begin if the spinning certification requirements are exceeded.
My own club has adopted the practice of avoiding rearward CG positions approaching the limit, by use of the ballast bars provided with the aircraft - particularly if intentional spinning is contemplated.
Wombat
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