Currency question - night and tailwheel

[TShort]

So this came up during a post-flying hangar flying session last night, and despite reviewing all the FARs we couldn't come to a definite conclusion.

I flew the -10 last week at night and am night current.

I am current in the Cessna 170 (tailwheel current).

So am I current at night in the -170 (in terms of carrying passengers), or do I have to be current at night in a tailwheel airplane?

The 61.57 says you are night current if:
"The required takeoffs and landings were performed in an aircraft of the same category, class, and type (if a type rating is required)."

But a tailwheel is an endorsement, so does currency in the RV-10 (airplane, single engine, land) cover the tailwheel airplane? My reading of the regs is that it does.

Thoughts?

Thanks,

[skylor]

Originally Posted by TShort

So this came up during a post-flying hangar flying session last night, and despite reviewing all the FARs we couldn't come to a definite conclusion.

I flew the -10 last week at night and am night current.

I am current in the Cessna 170 (tailwheel current).

So am I current at night in the -170 (in terms of carrying passengers), or do I have to be current at night in a tailwheel airplane?

The 61.57 says you are night current if:
"The required takeoffs and landings were performed in an aircraft of the same category, class, and type (if a type rating is required)."

But a tailwheel is an endorsement, so does currency in the RV-10 (airplane, single engine, land) cover the tailwheel airplane? My reading of the regs is that it does.

Thoughts?

Thanks,

There is no tail-wheel specific requirement applied to recent experience requirements for night flight. So if you're daytime-current in a tail-wheel aircraft, and you are night-time current in any ASEL, then you should be good to go at night in the tailwheel plane.

Skylor

[RV7A Flyer]

AFAIK, you're good to go. Category = Airplane, Class = Single-Engine Land

[Desert Rat]

This ^^^

Category/Class/Type doesn't have anything to do with landing gear configuration.

[rocketman1988]

Your category is airplane, class is single engine land, and no type is required for those aircraft. You are technically current in both.

That said, just because it?s legal doesn?t mean it?s safe. Landing the -10 at night is a different animal than the 170...just sayin?

[TShort]

Originally Posted by rocketman1988

Landing the -10 at night is a different animal than the 170...just sayin?

True... but I have flown probably 1/3 of my hours in the 170 at night, and much of that is takeoffs and landings. I'm very comfortable in the 170, and it just lands sooooo slow....

The -10 on the other hand ... with LEDs is lit up like and airliner and the runway looks like daylight.

Different challenges and different fun.

Thanks everyone for the input.

[Rich Pulman]

There are actually two questions here. 1) Is it legal? and 2) Is it safe? Given the differences you?ve mentioned regarding the two aircraft types, are you safe to use one type to maintain your night proficiency in the other? That?s a question only you can answer.

[TShort]

Originally Posted by Rich Pulman

There are actually two questions here. 1) Is it legal? and 2) Is it safe? Given the differences you?ve mentioned regarding the two aircraft types, are you safe to use one type to maintain your night proficiency in the other? That?s a question only you can answer.

This was purely a mental exercise, not a question for me to push any limits. I have no plans to use one as a means for currency in the other. It just came up since I was recently night current in the -10 5 days ago, and flying the 170 last night.

I fly both airplanes fairly frequently, and if I am not night current or have any concerns I either take my CFI buddy along or fly late evening and ease my way into night flight.

[scsmith]

Originally Posted by Desert Rat

This ^^^

Category/Class/Type doesn't have anything to do with landing gear configuration.

Well it does if the 'landing gear' are floats

[Caveman]

(ii) The required takeoffs and landings were performed in an aircraft of the same category, class, and type (if a type rating is required), and, if the aircraft to be flown is an airplane with a tailwheel, the takeoffs and landings must have been made to a full stop in an airplane with a tailwheel.