Touring Motor Glider (TMG)

Touring Motor Gliders (TMG) combine the advantages of sailplanes with the independence of motorised aircraft and are particularly attractive to glider pilots who wish to fly autonomously. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the technical characteristics, licensing requirements and proper recording of TMG flights as defined by EASA.

What characterizes a TMG?

EASA article FCL.010 defines the characteristics of TMGs as follows:

"Touring motor glider (TMG)" means, unless otherwise specified [...] a specific class of powered sailplanes that has an integrally mounted, non-retractable engine and a non-retractable propeller. It shall be capable of taking off and climbing under its engine power according to its flight manual.

The FAA describes TMGs in a very similar way in its Glider Flying Handbook and provides some additional descriptions:

Touring motor gliders are equipped with a fixed, nose-mounted engine and a full feathering propeller. [...] Touring motor gliders resemble an airplane to the untrained eye. They do have some basic airplane characteristics but are not certified as an airplane. On other types of self-launching gliders, the engine and propeller are located aft of the cockpit.

Both definitions thus clarify an important difference that distinguishes TMGs from high-performance self-launching gliders: The fixed-mounted and non-retractable engine.

The Grob G109B or the Diamond HK36 "Super Dimona" are both modern examples of a TMG.

Which licenses and ratings are required to fly a TMG?

In principle, a TMG can be flown with an SPL TMG extension, a class rating TMG with a LAPL (A) or also with a class rating TMG with a PPL (A).

If you have both an SPL TMG extension and at least a PPL (A) with SEP Land, it is generally worth applying for the class rating TMG (A). On the one hand, this exempts you from the recency conditions of the SPL TMG extension, and on the other hand, both the SEP and TMG class ratings can be fully credited for the biannual revalidation. This is remarkable, as not only the hours for flight time and PIC time can be split as desired, but also the refresher training with the instructor. Another nice side effect is that flights on TMGs can always be entered in the same logbook as your SEP flights.

The TMG extension SPL is suitable for glider pilots who never want to obtain a SEP (A) or similar. However, anyone who flies less than 12 hours per year can acquire the TMG with the LAPL (A). As soon as a SEP Land is available or under discussion, the TMG (A) class rating is recommended.

Overview

In which pilot logbook should TMG flights be recorded?

Although TMGs as such are at home in both the airplane (A) and sailplane (S) categories, each individual flight must be recorded in exactly one category, as it must not be counted twice. If you hold a licence in only one of the two categories, you must record the flights in the appropriate logbook. If you hold a PPL (A) with a class rating of SEP (A), you should record the TMG flights in the same logbook as your flights on piston aircrafts and apply for the TMG class rating.

With capzlog.aero, flights on TMG aircraft can be recorded in the airplane and sailplane categories. The TMG recency is calculated and displayed directly, both with SPL and LAPL (A). The combined revalidation of SEP Land and TMG is processed fully automatically, taking into account the rules for credibility.