Lesson Overview

Objective

The student should develop knowledge of the elements related to certificates and documents. Knowledge will be gained regarding the necessary requirements for each license, medical certificate, and recent flight experience.

Reference

  • Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3B)

  • Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25B)

  • 14 CFR Part 23, 14 CFR Part 43, 14 CFR Part 61, 14 CFR Part 67, 14 CFR Part 91, 14 CFR Part 61, Subpart J : Sport Pilot

  • POH/AFM

Elements

  • Training Requirements

  • Privileges and Limitations

  • Medical Certificates

  • Recent Flight Experience Requirements

  • Required Logbook Entries

Equipment

  • White board

  • Markers

  • References

  • iPad

Schedule

  1. Discuss objectives

  2. Review material

  3. Development

  4. Conclusion

Instructor Actions

  1. Discuss lesson objectives

  2. Present lecture

  3. Questions

  4. Homework

Student Actions

Participate in discussion Take notes

Completion Standards

The student knows what to expect with each license issued and understands the requirements in logging time as well as obtaining a medical.

Instructor Notes

Attention

Understanding what is required with each certificate and document that a pilot may obtain is essential to obtaining that certificate.

Overview

Review Objectives and Elements/Key ideas

What

Certificates and Documents cover the knowledge necessary to obtain and maintain the recreational, private, and commercial license. This also covers medical certificates and required logbook entries.

Why

Each certificate and medical has different rules. The pilot should know what is required to obtain and maintain the desired certificate as well as the privileges and limitations associated with each certificate. It is also necessary to know how medical certificates work and what training must be logged.

Lesson Details

Training requirements

Recreational certificate [61.96]

Must receive and log at least 30 hours of flight time that includes at least:

  1. 15 hours from an authorized instructor in the areas listed in 61.98

  2. 3 hours of flight training for the rating sought in preparation of the practical test (within 60 days)

  3. 3 hours of solo flying

Private certificate [61.109]

  1. For an airplane single engine rating

    1. Must log at least 40 hours of flight time

      1. At least 20 of which must be flight instruction from an authorized instructor

      2. At least 10 hours must be solo flight including

        1. 5 hours of solo cross-country time

        2. One solo cross country flight of at least 150 nm total distance with full stop landings at a minimum of 3 points and one segment of the flight consisting of a straight line distance of at least 50 nm between the T/O and LDG locations

        3. 3 T/Os and LDGs to a full stop at an airport with an operating control tower

    2. The training must include at least:

      1. 3 hours cross-country flight training in a single engine plane

      2. 3 hours of night flight training which includes:

        1. Once cross-country flight over 100 nm total distance

        2. 10 T/Os and LDGs to a full stop at an airport

      3. 3 hours of flight training on the control/maneuvering solely by reference to instruments

      4. 3 hours of flight training in prep for the practical test (within 60 days)

  2. For an airplane multiengine rating the same requirements apply but in a multiengine airplane

    1. Except, the 10 hours of solo time must be in an airplane

Commercial certificate [61.129]

  1. For an airplane single engine rating

    1. Must log at least 250 hours of flight time as a pilot that consists of at least:

      1. 100 hours in powered aircraft, 50 hours of which must be in airplanes

      2. 100 hours of PIC flight time, which includes at least:

        1. 50 hours in airplanes; and

        2. 50 hours in cross-country flight of which at least 10 hours must be in airplanes

      3. 20 hours of training in the areas of operation [61.127(b)(1)] that includes at least:

        1. 10 hrs of instrument training of which at least 5 hrs must be in a single engine airplane

        2. 10 hrs of training in an airplane that has retractable gear, flaps, and a controllable pitch propeller, or is turbine powered

        3. One cross-country flight of at least 2 hours in a SE airplane in day VFR conditions The total straight-line distance must be more than 100 nm

        4. One cross-country flight of at least 2 hours in a SE airplane in night VFR conditions. The total straight-line distance must be more than 100 nm.

        5. 3 hrs in a SE airplane in prep for the practical test (within 60 days)

      4. 10 hrs of solo flight time in a SE on the areas of operation in [61.127] which includes at least:

        1. One cross-country flight not less than 300 nm total distance with landings at a min of 3 points, one of which is a straight-line distance of at least 250 nm

        2. 5 hrs in night VFR conditions with 10 T/Os and LDGs with an operating control tower

  2. For an airplane multiengine rating

    1. The same as the single engine rating but with ME airplane requirements instead of SE

Privileges and limitations

Recreational certificate [61.101]

  1. A person who holds a recreational pilot certificate may:

    1. Carry no more than one passenger; and

    2. Not pay less than the pro rata share of the operating expenses of a flight with a passenger, provided the expenses involve only fuel, oil, airport expenses, or aircraft rental fees

  2. With less than 400 flight hours, and has not logged PIC in an aircraft within the preceding 180 days shall not act as PIC until receiving flight training and an endorsement certifying PIC proficiency

Private pilot

  1. May not act as PIC of an aircraft carrying passengers or property for compensation or hire

  2. May act as PIC for compensation/hire if incidental to the business and no passengers or property

  3. May not pay less than the pro rata share of the operating expenses of a flight provided the expenses involve only fuel, oil, airport expenditures, or rental fees

  4. May act as PIC for a charitable, nonprofit, or community event [91.146]

  5. May be reimbursed for operating expenses directly related to search and rescue

  6. May demonstrate an aircraft to a potential buyer if have over 200 hrs and are an aircraft salesman

  7. May act as PIC of an aircraft towing a glider under [61.69]

  8. May not act as PIC for comp/hire as SIC of an aircraft type certificated for more than 1 pilot or act as SIC for an aircraft carrying persons/property for comp/hire

Commercial

  1. May act as PIC of an aircraft carrying persons or property for comp/hire

  2. May act as PIC of an aircraft for comp/hire

  3. Without an instrument rating in the same category and class, the carriage of passengers for hire on x-country flights over 50 nm or at night is prohibited

Medical certificates

First class

  1. When exercising the privileges of an ATP certificate

  2. Expires the end of the last day of the:

    1. 12th month for 1st class activities

    2. 12th month for 2nd class activities

    3. 24th month for 3rd class activities (over 40 years old)

    4. 60th month for 3rd class activities (under 40 years old)

Second Class

  1. When exercising the privileges of Commercial certificate

  2. Expires the end of the last day of the:

    1. 12th month for 2nd class activities

    2. 24th month for 3rd class activities (over 40 years old)

    3. 60th month for 3rd class activities (under 40 years old)

Third Class

  1. When exercising the privileges of a CFI, Private, Recreational, Student certificate, etc.

  2. Expires the end of the last day of the:

    1. 24th month (over 40 years old)

    2. 60th month (under 40 years old)

Basic Med (Part 68.x)

As of May 1, 2017, pilots had the ability to take advantage of some new regulatory relief in the form of a program called Basic Med. This allows pilots to operate without a normal medical certificate. This privilege is granted under the provision that they complete a medical education course, undergo a medical examination every four years, and comply with aircraft and operating restrictions. For more details see :

Basic Med Information (FAA)

Basic Med FAQ (FAA)

Pilot Requirements

  1. Possess a U.S. driver’s license

  2. Have held a medical that was valid at any time after July 15, 2006.

  3. Have not had the most recently held medical certificate revoked, suspended, or withdrawn.

  4. Have not had the most recent application for medical certification completed and denied.

  5. Have completed a medical education course described in FESSA within the past 24 calendar months

  6. Have received a comprehensive medical examination from a State-licensed physician within the previous 48 months.

  7. Be under the care and treatment of a physician for certain conditions

  8. When applicable, have been found eligible for special issuance of a medical certificate for certain specified mental health, neurological, or cardiovascular conditions

  9. Make certain health attestations and agree to a National Driver Register check

Aircraft Requirements

  1. Any aircraft authorized under federal law to carry not more than 6 occupants

  2. Has a maximum certificated takeoff weight of not more than 6,000 pounds

Basic Operating Requirements

  1. Carries not more than 5 passengers

  2. Operates under VFR or IFR, within the United States, at less than 18,000’ MSL, and not exceeding 250 knots

  3. Flight not operated for compensation or hire

Recent flight experience requirements

Pilot in command

  1. To carry passengers, a pilot must have made 3 T/Os and LDGs within the preceding 90 days, and

    1. Acted as the sole manipulator of the flight controls in the same category, class, type aircraft

  2. To carry passengers, 1 hr after sunset to 1 hr before sunrise, a pilot must have 3 T/Os and LDGs within the preceding 90 days to a full stop during that time period, and

    1. Acted as the sole manipulator of the flight controls in the same category, class, type aircraft

  3. For IFR conditions, within the preceding 6 months, you must have performed and logged at least

    1. 6 instrument approaches, holding procedures, and intercepting/tracking courses

      1. A person who does not meet these reqs within the prescribed time or within 6 calendar months after it, must take an IPC to serve as PIC

Flight reviews

  1. No person may act as PIC unless, within the preceding 24 calendar months he has

    1. Accomplished a flight review and received a log book endorsement certifying it was completed

  2. Consists of a MINIMUM of 1 hour of flight training and 1 hour of ground training and must include:

    1. A review of the current general operating rules and flight rules of Part 91 and a review of those maneuvers that are necessary for the pilot to demonstrate the safe exercise of the certificate

Required logbook entries

  1. General

    1. Date, Total flight/lesson time; location of departure/arrival (for a sim, the location where the lesson occurred); type and identification of aircraft, sim, or training device; and the name of the safety pilot (if necessary)

  2. Type of pilot experience or training

    1. Solo, PIC, SIC, Flight and ground training received, training in a sim or flight training device

  3. Conditions of Flight

    1. Day/Night, Actual Instrument, Simulated Instrument in flight or a sim/FTD

Conclusion

Each certificate and medical has different rules—​it is important to know what is required to obtain and maintain the desired certificate, and the privileges and limitations associated with it. It is also important to know how medical certificates work and what training must be logged.

ACS Requirements

To determine that the applicant exhibits instructional knowledge of the elements related to certificates and documents by describing:

  1. The training requirements for the issuance of recreational, private, and commercial pilot certificates.

  2. The privileges and limitations of pilot certificates and ratings at recreational, private, and commercial levels.

  3. Class and duration of medical certificates.

  4. Recent pilot flight experience requirements.

  5. Required entries in pilot logbook or flight record.