Requirements for grant

(1) An applicant for a towing rating must be the holder of a commercial, senior commercial or airline transport pilot’s licence (flying machines), granted under the provisions of the (2) The applicant shall be required to satisfy the requirements as to flying experience and undergo tests and examination as specified in subparagraphs (a), (b) and (c) below– (a) Flying Experience –The applicant shall be required to produce satisfactory evidence that he has, during the twelve months immediately preceding the date of the application, carried out – (i) as pilot in charge of a flying machine towing a glider, not less than five hours flying, including at least ten flights, not less than three of which shall have been carried out at night; and (ii) as pilot in charge of a glider towed by a flying machine and released therefrom, not less than three hours’ flying including at least ten flights one of which shall have been carried out at (b) Practical Flying Tests - Two flights as pilot in charge of a flying machine, of a type included in– (i) Group 1 of the aircraft rating of the applicant’s licence, towing one or more gliders, during each of which flights the 196 Civil Aviation applicant shall, in accordance with a plan arranged beforehand, fly to the position where the glider or gliders are to be released, and after such release, drop the tow rope within the assigned area and land the flying machine at the assigned place; and (ii) in respect of one of these flights, the total weight of the glider or gliders shall approximate to the maximum weight which the flying machine may be permitted to tow in the circumstances of the flight. The other flight shall be carried out at night and the position of release shall be when the flying machine is down wind of the place at which the glider or gliders are to land and is flying across wind at a suitable height above the level of that place. (c) (i) General knowledge of the procedure for towed flights, including the systems of intercommunication which may be used; the methods of towing; the effect of variation of load, and of wind and other meteorological conditions on gliding and towed flights; the principles governing the selection of landing grounds for gliders; (ii) knowledge of the types of gliders approved for towing by such types of flying machines included in Group 1 of the aircraft rating of the applicant’s licence as have been approved for towing; the flight characteristics of and Civil Aviation 197 the instruments prescribed for such types of gliders; the permissible limits of loading for such combinations of flying machines and gliders; the types of tow rope which may be used; the methods of inspection of tow ropes and quick release devices; (iii) practical knowledge of aviation law, with particular reference to the Order and the Regulations issued thereunder, also knowledge of any information notified with respect to the responsibilities of a pilot in towing provided that – (i) an applicant who is the holder of a commercial pilot’s licence (trailing gliders) may be exempted from the technical examination in the subjects specified in subparagraphs (c)(i) and (ii) of this paragraph; and (ii) an applicant who has at any time flown as a pilot of flying machines towing gliders in any of Her Majesty’s air forces may, to his and be exempted from all or any of the above requirements as to flying experience and practical flying tests, and from the technical examination in the subjects specified in subparagraphs (c)(i) and (ii) of this paragraph. Such exemption may be made conditional upon the satisfactory completion of a special 198 Civil Aviation (3) The tests shall be subject to the following conditions– (a) The tests may be carried out in any order; (b) the tests shall be witnessed or conducted as the case requires, by properly accredited examiners who shall deposit their reports with the appropriate authorities. The reports shall give full details of the flights, and in particular, of the landings; and (c) the applicant shall, before each test, furnish the examiners with proof of his identity.