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Tow Pilot Requirements

With glider license:
•PPL or higher
•50 hours P1
•tailwheel signoff with a minimum of 5 hours tailwheel

Without glider license:
•PPL or higher
•100 hours P1
•tailwheel signoff with a minimum of 5 hours tailwheel
 
Notes:
1. A minimum of 5 hours tailwheel time is required before solo towing in SOSA towplanes.  Dual training can start with less than 5 hours as long as the pilot has a tailwheel signoff.
2. Tow pilots are required to join the club as flying members, there are no special rates for tow pilots.
3. Towpilots that do not have glider pilot licenses are expected to be solo in gliders and continue to work towards getting their glider license.  Towpilots that do not fly gliders will not be allowed to continue towing.
4. Generally a pilot that hasn't towed before will require a minimum of 5 hours of dual before being released for solo towing.  Dual consists of a checkout in the Citabria followed by some solo work before beginning dual towing.  Any flying that doesn't involve towing is billed to the trainee at the SOSA power flying rate.  There is no charge for instruction.  A new towpilot can expect to pay for about 3 hours during their training.
5. After checkout the new towpilot is restricted to towing in the Citabria for a minimum of 25 hours towing before being eligible to checkout on the Pawnee.
6. Once checked out a towpilot will be assigned duty days (approximately 6 per year) when they will be expected to tow.  On those days they have priority as a towpilot during either the morning or afternoon shift.  On other occasions towing is non-scheduled, pilots tow as required.  Pilots are required to share the available towing among those tow pilots on hand that wish to tow.
7. An enthusiastic towpilot can expect to tow 30 to 50 hours a year if they are at the field regularly.
8. There is no remuneration for towing.



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