Tailwheel Endorsment

Airplanes with a "conventional" landing gear configuration are also referred to as "tailwheel" or "tail-dragger" airplanes. Initially, the main obvious difference is that the moveable wheel which promotes steering the aircraft is located on the tail instead of up-front on the nose like on "tricycle gear" airplanes. The evolution of airplanes is such that "tail-draggers" were first, followed by "tail-wheel", then finally "tricycle gear" configured airplanes.

Today, tricycle-gear configured airplanes are the norm and most flight schools do not have access to tailwheel airplanes either for training or for rental. Finding a flight instructor to provide tailwheel training is also becoming increasingly more difficult as well.

Northwest Aviation College provides tailwheel training in a Citabria, which is a tailwheel airplane certified in the acrobatic category. Training consists of primary flight maneuvers, but focuses on the taxiing, takeoff and landing procedures that are specific to tailwheel equipped airplanes.

Upon completion of the training, and ability to operate a tailwheel airplane competently in varying wind and runway conditions, the instructor will provide the pilot with a "tailwheel endorsement", which authorizes the pilot to act as pilot-in-command in a tailwheel airplane.

If you are interested in this type of training, simply call the College to schedule your lessons!