Pilot Certification

FAR 61 Subpart C

PHAK 1-20

• A student pilot is being trained by an instructor pilot for his or her first full certificate, and is permitted to fly alone (solo) under specific, limited circumstances
• Endorsements are a form of authorization, written to establish that the certificate holder has received training in specific skill areas. Endorsements are written and signed by an authorized individual, usually a certificated flight instructor (CFI), and are based on aircraft classification

Privileges

• Solo PIC

Limitations

FAR 61.89 – General limitations

A student pilot may not –

• carry passengers
• fly, or carry passengers or property, for compensation or hire
• fly in furtherance of a business
• fly in flight or surface visibility less than 3 statute miles (day) or 5 statute miles (night)
• operate an aircraft outside of the various endorsements provided by the flight instructor
• act as a required crewmember

FAR 61.83 – Eligibility requirements

• Be at least 16 years of age
• Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language
• There is no minimum aeronautical knowledge or experience requirement for the issuance of a student pilot certificate, and it does not expire

FAR 61.87 – Solo requirements

• Receive and log flight training in areas of FAR 61.87(d)
• Pre-solo knowledge test administered by and reviewed with instructor
• Hold FAA medical certificate or operate under BasicMed
• Receive logbook endorsement within last 90 days
• Must be proficient in maneuvers and procedures of make and model to be flown
• FAR 61.51(i)(2) A student pilot must carry their student pilot certificate and logbook in the aircraft on all solo cross-country flights as evidence of the required authorized instructor endorsements

FAR 61.93 – Solo cross-country flight requirements

• Receive ground and flight training in areas of FAR 61.93(e)
• Accomplish pre-solo flight maneuvers and procedures required by FAR 61.87
• Receive endorsement to fly to an airport within 25 miles (takeoff & landing practice) or 50 miles (solo cross-country)

FAR 61.95 – Operations in class B airspace

• A student pilot may not operate in or fly to an airport within class B airspace on a solo flight without receiving training and a logbook endorsement

ACS Private Pilot - Airplane

FAR 61 Subpart E

FAR 61.103 – Eligibility requirements

• Be at least 17 years of age
• Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language
• Hold a student pilot certificate, sport pilot certificate, or recreational pilot certificate
• After completing knowledge and experience requirements, applicant will take a written knowledge test and an in-person oral and practical test –
  • Receive a logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor who –
    • Conducted training on the aeronautical knowledge areas listed in FAR 61.105(b)
    • Certified that the person is prepared for the required knowledge test
  • Pass the required knowledge test on the aeronautical knowledge areas listed in FAR 61.105(b)
  • Receive a logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor who –
    • Conducted the training in the areas of operation listed in FAR 61.107(b)
    • Certified that the person is prepared for the required practical test
  • Pass a practical test on the areas of operation listed in FAR 61.107(b)

FAR 61.105(b) – Aeronautical knowledge

FAR 61.107(b)(1) – Flight proficiency

FAR 61.109(a) – Aeronautical experience

A person who applies for a private pilot certificate must log at least –

• 40 hours of flight time, including at least 20 hours of flight training from an authorized instructor and 10 hours of solo training in the areas of operation listed in FAR 61.107(b)(1) , including –
  • 3 hours of cross-country flight training
  • 3 hours of night flight training, including –
    • 10 full stop takeoffs and landings and 100nm cross-country flight
  • 3 hours of flight training on the control and maneuvering of an airplane solely by reference to instruments including –
    • Straight and level, airspeed climbs and descents, heading turns, attitude recovery, radio contact, use of navigation and radar services
  • 3 hours of flight training in preparation for the practical test, within 2 calendar months
  • 10 hours solo flight time, including –
    • 5 hours solo cross-country time
    • One solo cross-country flight of 150nm total distance, with full-stop landings at 3 points, and one segment of the flight consisting of a straight-line distance of more than 50nm
    • 3 takeoffs and 3 landings to a full stop, using the traffic pattern at an airport with an operating control tower

FAR 61.109(k) – Permitted credit for use of a full flight simulator or flight training device

• A maximum of 2.5 hours of training in a flight training device representing the category, class, and type, if applicable, of aircraft appropriate to the rating sought, may be credited toward the flight training time required by this section

FAR 61.113 – Private pilot privileges and limitations: Pilot in command

• A private pilot flies for pleasure or personal business without accepting compensation for flying except in some very limited, specific circumstances
• Passengers may be carried and flight in furtherance of a business is permitted; however, a private pilot may not be compensated in any way for services as a pilot, although passengers can pay a pro rata share of flight expenses, such as fuel or rental costs

Privileges

• Act as PIC, carry passengers
• PIC for hire incidental to business or employment (no passengers or property)
  • (traveling doctor) – incidental to business? ask FSDO
• FAR 61.113(e) search & location reimbursement
• FAR 61.113(f) aircraft sale demo flight (200 hours)
• FAR 91.146 PIC for charitable, non-profit, community event
• FAR 91.15 dropping objects
• FAR 61.69 , FAR 91.309 glider tow

Limitations

• No compensation or hire
• Must pay at least pro-rata share
• 3rd class medical or BasicMed
• 17 years old

ACS Commercial Pilot - Airplane

FAR 61 Subpart F

FAR 61.123 – Eligibility requirements

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language
• Hold a private pilot certificate
• After completing knowledge and experience requirements, applicant will take a written knowledge test and an in-person oral and practical test –
  • Receive a logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor who –
    • Conducted training on the aeronautical knowledge areas listed in FAR 61.125(b)
    • Certified that the person is prepared for the required knowledge test
  • Pass the required knowledge test on the aeronautical knowledge areas listed in FAR 61.125(b)
  • Receive a logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor who –
    • Conducted the training in the areas of operation listed in FAR 61.127(b)(1)
    • Certified that the person is prepared for the required practical test
  • Pass a practical test on the areas of operation listed in FAR 61.127(b)(1)

FAR 61.125(b) – Aeronautical knowledge

FAR 61.127(b)(1) – Flight proficiency

FAR 61.129(a) – Aeronautical experience

A person who applies for a commercial pilot certificate must log at least –

• 250 hours of flight time, including –
  • 100 hours in powered aircraft (50 hours must be in airplanes)
  • 100 hours of PIC flight time, including –
    • 50 hours of flight in airplanes
    • 50 hours in XC flight (10 hours must be in airplanes)
  • 20 hours of training on the areas of operation listed in FAR 61.127(b)(1) of this part including –
    • 10 of instrument training using a view-limiting device (five hours must be in a single engine airplane)
    • 10 hours of training in a complex, turbine-powered, or TAA airplane
    • One 2-hour cross country flight in daytime conditions (straight line distance ≥100 NM)
    • One 2-hour cross country flight in nighttime conditions (straight line distance ≥100 NM)
    • 3 hours of flight training in preparation for the practical test, within 2 calendar months
  • 10 hours solo flight time or 10 hours of flight time performing PIC duties, on the areas of operation listed under FAR 61.127(b)(1) –
    • One XC flight ≥300 NM total distance, landings at three points, one straight-line distance ≥250 NM from the original departure point
    • 5 hours in night VFR conditions with 10 takeoffs and 10 landings (with flight in the traffic pattern) at an airport with an operating control tower

FAR 61.133 – Privileges and limitations

Privileges

• Fly, or carry passengers or property, for compensation or hire (if qualified for operation)
• FAR 119.1(e) – no operating certificate needed (flight instruction, banner tow, skydive…)

Limitations

• 18 years old, 2nd class medical to exercise privileges
• FAR 61.133(b)(1) – no passengers >50nm or at night for hire without Instrument Rating

FAR 91.147 – Passengers for hire

ACS Flight Instructor - Airplane

FAR 61 Subpart H

ACS Instrument Rating - Airplane

An instrument rated pilot is trained to fly solely by reference in instruments in less than Visual Metrological Conditions (VMC)

Instrument rating is required to –

• FAR 61.3(e) Act as PIC in less than VFR conditions
• FAR 61.133(b)(1) Carry passengers for hire at night or on XC flights longer than 50 nm
• FAR 91.135 Fly in Class A airspace
• FAR 91.157(b)(4)(i) Special VFR between sunset and sunrise

FAR 61.65 – Instrument rating requirements

• Hold at least a current private pilot certificate, or be concurrently applying for a private pilot certificate
• Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language
• After completing knowledge and experience requirements, applicant will take a written knowledge test as well as an in-person oral and practical test –

  • Receive and log ground training from an authorized instructor on the aeronautical knowledge areas of FAR 61.65(b)

  • Receive a logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor certifying that the person is prepared to take the required knowledge test

  • Pass the required knowledge test on the aeronautical knowledge areas of FAR 61.65(b)

  • Receive and log training on the areas of operation of FAR 61.65(c) from an authorized instructor

  • Receive a logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor certifying that the person is prepared to take the required practical test

  • Pass the required practical test on the areas of operation in FAR 61.65(c)

FAR 61.65(b) – Aeronautical Knowledge

FAR 61.65(c) – Flight proficiency

FAR 61.65(d) – Aeronautical experience

• 50 hours of cross-country flight time as PIC, with 10 hours in an airplane
• 40 hours actual or simulated instrument time in the areas of operation listed in FAR 61.65(c) , with 15 hours from an authorized instructor who holds an instrument-airplane rating, including –
  • Three hours of instrument flight training from an authorized instructor within 2 calendar months of the practical test
  • Instrument flight training on cross country flight procedures, including one cross country flight that is performed under instrument flight rules, when a flight plan has been filed with an air traffic control facility, and that involves –
    • A flight of 250 nautical miles along airways or by directed routing from an air traffic control facility
    • An instrument approach at each airport
    • 3 different kinds of approaches with the use of navigation systems

FAR 61.65(i) – Use of an aviation training device

• A maximum of 10 hours of instrument time received in a basic aviation training device or a maximum of 20 hours of instrument time received in an advanced aviation training device may be credited for the instrument time requirements of this section

Private Pilot – Multi Engine (AMEL)

FAR 61.107(b)(2) – Flight proficiency

FAR 61.109(b) – Aeronautical experience

Commercial Pilot – Multi Engine (CMEL)

FAR 61.127(b)(2) – Flight proficiency

FAR 61.129(b) – Aeronautical experience

FAR 61.31 – Type ratings required

A type rating or endorsement is required to act as PIC in the following aircraft –

• Large aircraft
• Turbojet-powered airplanes
• FAA required

FAR 61.31(e) – Additional training required for operating complex airplanes

A complex endorsement is required to act as PIC in an aircraft that has all 3 –

• Retractable landing gear
• Controllable-pitch propeller
• Flaps

FAR 61.31(f) – Additional training required for operating high-performance airplanes

• A complex endorsement is required to act as PIC in an aircraft that has more than 200 horsepower

FAR 61.31(g) – Additional training required for operating pressurized aircraft

Required to act as PIC of a pressurized aircraft –

• that has a service ceiling or maximum operating altitude, whichever is lower, above 25,000’ MSL

FAR 61.31(i) – Additional training required for operating tailwheel airplanes

• Receive and log flight training from an authorized instructor in a tailwheel airplane