Student Pilot Certification Information (FAR Part 61.81)

Congratulations on taking the first steps to become a certificated pilot!

Learning to fly can be one of the most enjoyable things to do with your spare time and can be a very rewarding career. There are several things to consider before diving into your flight training.

First, Consider your aviation goals

• Do you want to just fly for fun locally?
• Do you want to fly professionally?
• Do you want to fly yourself around for business travel?

Decide what type of training you wish to do.

There are two main types of pilot schools. “Part 61 Training” and “Part 141 Training” are the two sets of regulations to get certificated under. Both types of training will get you to the same place. Airlines do not care which type of training you receive. The main difference is how they are structured and minimum flight time to be eligible for a pilot certificate.
 
Part 61

• Casual come and go where you can meet with an instructor when your schedules mesh
• Minimum 40 hours flight time for Private Pilot
• Minimum 250 hours flight time for Commercial Pilot
• Flexible training, Part 61 school does not require FAA approval
• Allows you option of doing home study type programs for ground school knowledge

• Structured training program with standardized training syllabus approved by the FAA.
• Formal ground instruction in classroom environment
• Minimum 35 hours flight time for Private Pilot
• Minimum 190 hours flight time for Commercial Pilot

Looking at some key differences above, keep in mind the average flight time to obtain a private pilot certificate is about 55 hours. Therefore, neither part is necessarily better than the other for the private pilot certificate. The key difference is the flight time for the commercial certificate. If flying professionally is your goal, being able to gain your certificates in as little flight time as possible may be worthwhile. Keep in mind that airlines require a lot more flight time than 190. Most pilots intending to fly for an airline will gain their Certificated Flight Instructor license and flight instruct to build the minimum required airline time. A Commercial Pilots Certificate is a requirement to become a CFI.

Of course, it may just depend on what learning style suits you best. Part 61 is far more flexible and the instructor can modify his teaching to a way that works best for you.

Find a Flight School

Take a “Discovery Flight” or “Introductory Lesson” from your chosen school

Consider the Minimum Student Pilot requirements

• You can begin pilot training at just about any age with a certificated flight instructor, however you must be at least 16 years old to be eligible for a student pilot certificate (You must have a Student Pilot Certificate before you are allowed to fly solo)
• Must be able to read, speak, write and understand the English language.

How to Obtain a Student Pilot Certificate

To find an AME near you, go to: AME Locator

There are three types of medical certificates. First Class, Second Class, and Third Class. Third class is the minimum certificate required for a private pilot. A private pilot is required to have at least a third class medical. In order for a commercial pilot to exercise commercial pilot privileges, they must have at least a second class medical. An Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) is required to have a first class medical to exercise ATP privileges.

The length of time a medical certificate is valid depends on the class and age of pilot. First class medicals do not last as long as third class. See FAR Part 61.23 for more information regarding medical certificates. When the time for a first class medical expires, it reverts to a second class medical. When a second-class medical expires, it reverts to a third class medical.

• Under the age of 40, third class medicals last till the 60th month after the date of examination shown on certificate.
• Over of age of 40, third class medicals last until the 24th month after the date of examination shown on certificate.

Begin Training!

Student Pilot Solo Flight Requirements and Student Pilot Limitations

Note: The following information is for a student pilot flying a single engine airplane in pursuit of a private pilot certificate.

The following information comes from 14 CFR Part 61 Subpart C.

Requirements to Fly Solo

§61.83 states the student pilot must be at least 16 years old before allowed to operate an airplane solo and must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English Language.

§61.85 states the student pilot must obtain a medical from an AME (if seeking private pilot certificate which requires a medical), which is also the student pilot certificate.

§61.87 states a student pilot must have certain aeronautical knowledge and pass a knowledge test administered by his/her instructor and must review the test and incorrect answers with the instructor afterwards.

Aeronautical Knowledge Required:

• Applicable sections of parts 61 and part 91
• Airspace rules and procedures for the airport where the solo flight will be performed
• Flight characteristics and operational limitations for the make and model aircraft to be flown

A student pilot must receive and log flight training for the maneuvers and procedures in the make and model aircraft to be flown and also demonstrate satisfactory proficiency and safety as judged by a flight instructor.

Maneuvers and Procedures

• Proper flight preparation procedures, including preflight planning and preparation, power-plant operation, and aircraft systems
• Taxiing or surface operations, including runups
• Takeoffs and landings, including normal and crosswind
• Straight and level flight, and turns in both directions
• Climbs and climbing turns
• Airport traffic patterns, including entry and departure procedures
• Collision avoidance, windshear avoidance, and wake turbulence avoidance
• Descents, with and without turns, using high and low drag configurations
• Flight at various airspeeds from cruise to slow flight
• Stall entries from various flight attitudes and power combinations with recovery initiated at the first indication of a stall, and recovery from a full stall
• Emergency procedures and equipment malfunctions
• Ground reference maneuvers
• Approaches to a landing area with simulated engine malfunctions
• Slips to a landing
• Go-arounds

There are no set number of hours to reach to fly solo. As soon as the instructor determines the student pilot is proficient in the above areas, the instructor may endorse the student pilot certificate and logbook for solo flight in a particular make and model aircraft.

§61.87 (p) (1) (v) The endorsement on the student pilot certificate and student logbook for solo flight is valid for up to 90 days and must be re-endorsed every 90 days after. Student pilots are only allowed to fly the make and model for which they are endorsed.

Student Pilot Limitations

§61.89 States a student pilot may not carry passengers when flying solo. The student pilot may also not act as pilot in command (flying solo) while carrying property for compensation or hire or in furtherance of a business.

In order for a student pilot to fly solo, the flight and surface visibility must also be greater than 3 statute miles during daylight hours and 5 statute miles at night

A student pilot may also not act as a required crewmember. This means a student pilot is not capable of acting as a safety pilot for an already certificated pilot.

Student pilots must also obey any limitations placed in their logbook by their instructor. Such limitations may be weather related. Such limitations may be that a student may not fly solo when total winds or cross winds are greater than a certain number.

Student pilots must carry their medical certificate and logbook at all times operating an aircraft solo.

Solo Cross-country flight requirements

§61.93 states that a student pilot may not fly more than 25 nm from the airport where the flight originated unless the student has received the appropriate ground and flight training for cross country flight maneuvers and has obtained the required endorsements.

A student pilot may make repeated specific cross-country flights, which means flights greater than 25 nm but less than 50 nm and the student has received dual flight training for the route of flight in both directions and for operations at the other airport and has received the appropriate endorsement.

Solo cross-country flights greater than 50 nm require an individual endorsement by an instructor each time stating the instructor has reviewed the planning and weather and determined the student is capable of safely completing the flight.

Student pilots may also fly to other airports within 25 nm as long as the student has received dual flight training for operations at the airport of destination and the purpose of the flight is to practice take offs and landings at a different airport.

For student pilots to perform any cross-country flights, the student pilot must have received ground and flight training from an authorized instructor on cross-country maneuvers and procedures appropriate to the make and model aircraft to be flown and have demonstrated cross-country proficiency during dual training flights.

A student pilot must also maintain view of the ground for the entire time operating an aircraft solo. This means, a student pilot may not fly above a broken or overcast cloud layer. A student pilot must also stay in VFR conditions.

Operations in Class B airspace and at airports within Class B airspace

§61.95 Student pilots may not operate an aircraft solo within Class B airspace unless the student has received ground and flight training for operations in the specific class B airspace. This means that if a student pilot has received training and an endorsement to operate within Pittsburgh’s Class B airspace, the student pilot may not operate within Philadelphia’s Class B airspace without an additional endorsement. This endorsement is valid for 90-day periods and must come from an authorized instructor who gave the training.

A student pilot must also receive ground and flight training on operations at specific airports within class B airspace and have the required endorsement. This endorsement is also valid for 90-day periods. A student pilot is not allowed to operate an aircraft solo for airports located within the surface area of class B airspace.

The following are student pilot endorsement examples from AC61-65.

1. Presolo aeronautical knowledge: section 61.87(b).
I certify that (First name, MI, Last name) has satisfactorily completed the presolo knowledge exam of section 61.87(b) for the (make and model aircraft).
 
/s/ [date] J. J. Jones 987654321CFI Exp. 12-31-05

2. Presolo flight training: section 61.87(c).
I certify that (First name, MI, Last name) has received the required presolo training in a (make and model aircraft). I have determined he/she has demonstrated the proficiency of section 61.87(d) and is proficient to make solo flights in (make and model aircraft).
 
/s/ [date] J. J. Jones 987654321CFI Exp. 12-31-05

3. Presolo flight training at night: section 61.87(c) and (o).
I certify that (First name, MI, Last name) has received the required presolo training in a (make and model aircraft). I have determined he/she has demonstrated the proficiency of section 61.87(o) and is proficient to make solo flights at night in a (make and model aircraft).
 
/s/ [date] J. J. Jones 987654321CFI Exp. 12-31-05

4. Solo flight (each additional 90-day period): section 61.87(p).
I certify that (First name, MI, Last name) has received the required training to qualify for solo flying. I have determined he/she meets the applicable requirements of section 61.87(p) and is proficient to make solo flights in (make and model).
 
/s/ [date] J. J. Jones 987654321CFI Exp. 12-31-05

5. Solo takeoffs and landings at another airport within 25 nm: section 61.93(b)(1).
I certify that (First name, MI, Last name) has received the required training of section 61.93(b)(1). I have determined that he/she is proficient to practice solo takeoffs and landings at (airport name). The takeoffs and landings at (airport name) are subject to the following conditions: (List any applicable conditions or limitations.)
 
/s/ [date] J. J. Jones 987654321CFI Exp. 12-31-05

6. Initial solo cross-country flight: section 61.93(c)(1).
I certify that (First name, MI, Last name) has received the required solo cross-country training. I find he/she has met the applicable requirements of section 61.93, and is proficient to make solo cross-country flights in a (make and model aircraft).
 
/s/ [date] J. J. Jones 987654321CFI Exp. 12-31-05

7. Solo cross-country flight: section 61.93(c)(2).
I have reviewed the cross-country planning of (First name, MI, Last name). I find the planning and preparation to be correct to make the solo flight from (location) to (destination) via (route of flight) with landings at (name the airports) in a (make and model aircraft) on (date). (List any applicable conditions or limitations.)
 
/s/ [date] J. J. Jones 987654321CFI Exp. 12-31-05

8. Repeated solo cross-country flights not more than 50 nm from the point of departure: section 61.93(b)(2).
I certify that (First name, MI, Last name) has received the required training in both directions between and at both (airport names). I have determined that he/she is proficient of section 61.93(b)(2) to conduct repeated solo cross-country flights over that route, subject to the following conditions: (List any applicable conditions or limitations.)
 
/s/ [date] J. J. Jones 987654321CFI Exp. 12-31-05

9. Solo flight in Class B airspace: section 61.95(a).
I certify that (First name, MI, Last name) has received the required training of section 61.95(a). I have determined he/she is proficient to conduct solo flights in (name of Class B) airspace. (List any applicable conditions or limitations.)
 
/s/ [date] J. J. Jones 987654321CFI Exp. 12-31-05

10. Solo flight to, from, or at an airport located in Class B airspace: section 61.95(a) and section 91.131(b)(1).
I certify that (First name, MI, Last name) has received the required training of section 61.95(a)(1). I have determined that he/she is proficient to conduct solo flight operations at (name of airport). (List any applicable conditions or limitations.)
 
/s/ [date] J. J. Jones 987654321CFI Exp. 12-31-05