Statement of Kenneth Sorenson regarding the use of Pawnee PA-25s for glider towing
Piper PA-25 Pawnee · Airworthiness Directives
Overview
This document is a statement by Kenneth Sorenson regarding the use of Piper PA-25 Pawnee aircraft for glider towing operations. It provides insights into the operational status of PA-25s within the gliding community, particularly focusing on their use in towing gliders. The statement is based on a survey conducted among organizations and individuals involved in soaring operations across the United States. The document aims to inform stakeholders about the prevalence and reliance on the PA-25 for glider towing, highlighting the number of aircraft and organizations involved in such operations. It serves as a response to a proposed FAA Airworthiness Directive applicable to the Piper PA-25.
- 121 organizations and individuals surveyed regarding PA-25 glider towing.
- 143 PA-25 aircraft are used exclusively for glider towing.
- 97 organizations operate at least one PA-25 for glider towing.
- 71 organizations rely solely on the PA-25 for towing.
- 15 small commercial operations use 33 Pawnee PA-25s for glider training.
Document
Source
Originally published by www.ssa.org. Sprinkle hosts a reference copy with an added summary, specifications and searchable full text.
Document details
- Type
- Airworthiness Directives
- Year
- 2025
- Pages
- 1
- File size
- 269 KB
- Publisher
- www.ssa.org
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In this document
Survey Overview
The survey conducted by Kenneth Sorenson involved 121 organizations and individuals, out of a potential 135, who are likely to operate Piper PA-25 aircraft for glider towing. This comprehensive survey included responses from both SSA member organizations and non-member organizations engaged in glider operations.
Operational Statistics
According to the survey results, there are 143 Piper PA-25 airplanes currently used exclusively for glider towing. Additionally, 97 organizations reported operating at least one PA-25 for this purpose, with 71 organizations relying solely on the PA-25 for their towing needs.
Commercial Operations
The survey identified 15 organizations that are small commercial operations, primarily focused on glider training, which collectively operate 33 Pawnee PA-25 aircraft. Notably, 12 of these commercial operations exclusively utilize the Pawnee for their towing services.
Private Ownership
The survey also included responses from private owners, with 5 reports indicating individual ownership of PA-25 aircraft used for glider towing.
Full document text
Statement of Kenneth Sorenson regarding the use of Pawnee PA-25s for glider towing I am a director of the Soaring Society of America, an active soaring pilot and flight instructor, and a member of the committee assigned responsibility to develop SSA’s response to the notice of proposed FAA Airworthiness Directive applicable to Piper Pawnee PA-25 aircraft. As part of my responsibility as a member of the committee I communicated with SSA clubs and other organizations and individuals who I believe operate Piper Pawnees. I also reviewed the FAA on-line registry for PA-25 aircraft. From these sources I determine the following: A review of the FAA registry for PA-25 aircraft, together with a survey of soaring operations in the US, including clubs, commercial operations, and private owners, provide the following information, which I believe to be accurate to the best of my knowledge. 121 organizations and individuals responded to the survey, out of a possible 135 organizations and individuals likely to operate Pawnees for glider towing. The surveyed organizations and individuals represented all SSA member organizations as well as some non-SSA member organizations that conduct active glider operations. 143 Pawnee PA-25 airplanes are used exclusively for glider towing. 97 organizations are operating at least one Pawnee PA-25 airplane for glider towing. 71 organizations rely solely on the Pawnee PA-25 for their glider towing. 51 organizations rely solely on a single PA-25 for their glider towing. 15 of the organizations reporting are small commercial operations (mostly for glider training), operating 33 Pawnees total. Many of the commercial operations operate more than one Pawnee. 12 have only Pawnees. 5 of the reports are from private owners. ___________________________ Kenneth Sorenson December 20, 2025