§ 91.307(d)(2) states that the above does not apply to “spins and other flight maneuvers required by the regulations for any certificate or rating when given by - (i) A certificated flight instructor.” The question is, does this exception to the parachute requirement apply only when training for a certificate that requires spins such as the flight instructor certificate, or are parachutes not required when training for any certificate or rating because they are required for another certificate for which the trainee is not currently training?
The FAA’s Office of the Chief Counsel recently addressed this question in the Fitzpatrick-Spartan College interpretation. The interpretation acknowledged that there is some ambiguity in the language, stating “[s]ome parties have interpreted this subsection to mean that unless the certificate or rating being sought requires spin training, a parachute is required.” Relying on the express language of the original 1964 rulemaking in addition to the text of the regulation itself, the interpretation reaches the conclusion that regardless of the certificate or rating currently sought, parachutes are not required for spin training given by a CFI because spin training is required for at least one certificate.
The flight school raised the question because it holds dual certification with the FAA as a part 141 operation and with the Civil Aviation Administration of China which, unlike the FAA, requires spin training for commercial pilots. The spin training was included in the school’s FAA-approved training curriculum for commercial pilots, and the school’s request for the legal interpretation specifically referenced spin training as part of its 141 flight training operations. However, there is no language in the FAA’s interpretation limiting the resulting guidance to part 141 operations, so on its face it appears to apply equally to training under part 61 and part 141.
