The minimum certificate for a pilot who conducts the post-modification flight test prior to passenger operations is

• A. Private Pilot Certificate
• B. Commercial Pilot Certificate
• C. Airline Transport Pilot
• D. Student Pilot Certificate

Answer: (A)

Post-modification flight tests are airworthiness checks done before you allow carrying passengers, and they don’t involve paid operations. The pilot conducting the test needs enough certification to act as the pilot in command for a glider, but there’s no requirement for a higher certificate since the flight isn’t a revenue mission. A Private Pilot certificate (with the appropriate glider rating) provides the privileges needed to perform the test and to operate the glider safely as PIC. A Student Pilot certificate can’t be used to conduct a post-modification flight test as PIC, and a Commercial or Airline Transport Pilot certificate is unnecessary for this purpose since no compensation or airline operations are involved.