You're depending upon a bunch of sciolist to give you guidance, usually in matters to which they really don't understand. Anyone can use google, then give you their opinion and cloak it as "interpretation" or some other official sounding BS.
These forums are filled with a bunch of misleading information. You just demonstrated that by writing a letter to the Chief Counsel on a subject that should have been handled at the FSDO level. I am willing to bet you've never stepped in a FSDO, never have spoken to an Inspector but yet through the internet you have now determined they are qualified to handle your supposed situation.
The DPE is assigned to an Operations Inspector, what's known as a POI (Principal Operations Inspector). This is the person you should go talk to in regards to this as he can resolve this issue right there. The DPE serves at the pleasure of the FAA, if he is not or not willing to perform his service at the direction of the FAA then his designation can be removed.
That post speaks for itself.........
The more I'm reading this the more I'm beginning to wonder how much of this is really true.
As I said, see above. Beyond that you can think whatever you want, and truth be told I really don't care one way or another, since you are adding nothing of value to the conversation.
This was a copy of my letter to the Chief Counsel btw, which did not name the DPE, etc. This is a fairly standard request to an administrative agency when one is in the legal profession.
To Whom It May Concern:
I request a legal interpretation concerning 14 C.F.R. § 61.39(a)(6)(i), which provides that to be eligible for a practical test or rating, an applicant must have an endorsement signed by an authorized instructor who certifies that the applicant “[h]as received and logged training time within 2 calendar months preceding the month of application in preparation for the practical test.” I also request a legal interpretation concerning the requirements of 14 C.F.R. § 61.39(a)(6) generally, and whether such endorsements must be presented in “original ink” format, or whether endorsements may be faxed or e-mailed.
FAR 61.39(a)(6)(i), amended effective October 20, 2009, previously stated that the applicant must have “received and logged training time within 60 days preceding the date of application in preparation for the practical test.”
As far as I can tell, neither FAR 61.39(a)(6), nor any other section of the FAR, requires “original ink” signatures.
The Federal Register states that the revision amended the phrase “60 calendar days” to read “two calendar months” to “make[] it simpler to calculate the time for when a segmented practical test must be completed,” and states that the new rule change “will allow a pilot to have up to three months” to log training. It thus appears that the change to “2 months” was meant to enlarge the necessary timeframe. For example, an applicant who receives and logs training on July 1, 2014 may receive the “sign-off” on September 30, 2014, as the training would have been “received and logged” within the preceding two calendar months. See generally 74 Fed. Reg. 42,500, 42512-13, Pilot, Flight Instructor, and Pilot School Certification (Aug. 21, 2009).
The first question is as follows: Is an applicant who possesses an endorsement, made in the same month of the practical test, stating that the applicant has received flight training in preparation for a practical test within the preceding 60 days, eligible for a practical test?
To the extent it factors into your answer, please assume that logbook reflects flight training within 60 days and within the preceding two calendar months, and assume that the training occurred as recently as the same month (e.g., flight training logged in July 2014 in preparation for a practical test to be taken in July 2014). Alternatively stated, does the lack of the specific “2 calendar month” wording render the applicant ineligible for the practical test although the logbook reflects training?
Please see the following additional authority suggesting that an applicant with an endorsement containing the "60 days" language rather than the "2 calendar months" language is nevertheless eligible for a practical test.
1. Advisory Circular 61-65E, Change 1, dated 1/6/2014, Paragraph 10:
PREREQUISITES FOR PRACTICAL TESTS. Except as provided by § 61.39(c), each applicant must have received an endorsement from an authorized instructor who certified that the applicant received and logged the required flight time/training in preparation for the practical test within 60 days preceding the date of the test and has been found proficient to pass the practical test.
2. FAA Order 8900.2, Change 2, effective date 7/24/2013, Chapter 7, Section 2, Paragraph 24(d)(2):
For practical tests which require an authorized instructor’s endorsement (per §61.39(a)(6)), an appropriately rated and qualified instructor must complete and sign the Instructor’s Recommendation section. The examiner must verify that the required aeronautical experience/flight training has been logged within the 60 calendar-days preceding the date of application.
A conclusion that an applicant with an endorsement containing the 60-day language is not eligible for the practical test suggests that both that Advisory Circular and the FAA Order are incorrect.
The second question is as follows: Must an applicant present an “original” ink endorsement signature from an authorized instructor, or is a faxed and signed endorsement (or e-mailed and signed endorsement, for example sent through e-mail in PDF format) sufficient?
A subpart question is as follows: Is an “e-signed” endorsement sufficient (e.g.., akin to a Federal Court CM/ECF e-filing e-signature: /s/ [instructor], [date], [certificate number], [expiration date].), or must the signature be written by hand?
Respectfully,
xxx