Private Pilot Private Exam

The takeoffs and landings required to meet the recency of experience for carrying passengers in a tailwheel airplane must be to what?

1. A. A full stop

2. B. A touch-and-go

3. C. A simulated emergency stop

4. D. A go-around

The correct answer is: A. A full stop

To carry passengers in a tailwheel airplane, a pilot must have completed takeoffs and landings that are "full stop" within the last 90 days. This requirement ensures that the pilot has not only practiced takeoff and landing procedures but has also demonstrated proficiency in safely returning to the ground and bringing the aircraft to a complete stop. A full stop landing provides a comprehensive evaluation of the pilot’s landing skills, control of the aircraft during descent, and the ability to handle the aircraft until it is at a complete halt, which is particularly important in tailwheel airplanes that can have unique handling characteristics on the ground. Other options, such as touch-and-go landings, may involve a significant amount of practice but do not fulfill the requirement for carrying passengers. A touch-and-go allows the pilot to practice landings and immediate takeoff without fully stopping the aircraft, which does not provide the safety assurance reflected in a full stop landing. Simulated emergency stops and go-arounds are crucial skills in their own right but do not directly meet the recency-of-experience requirements set by aviation regulations for passenger carrying in a tailwheel aircraft.