14 CFR Part 61
Part 61 — Certification: Pilots, Flight Instructors, and Ground Instructors
139 sections. Reserved sections are omitted. SkeyeMentor has written plain-English explanations for 11 of them so far; the official text is shown in full on every section page regardless.
Subpart A—General
- §61.1Applicability and definitions
- §61.2Exercise of Privilege
- §61.3Requirement for certificates, ratings, privileges, and authorizationsExplained
- §61.4Qualification and approval of flight simulators and flight training devices
- §61.5Certificates and ratings issued under this part
- §61.7Obsolete certificates and ratings
- §61.8Inapplicability of unmanned aircraft operations
- §61.9Inapplicability of simplified flight controls aircraft experience credit
- §61.11Expired pilot certificates and re-issuance
- §61.13Issuance of airman certificates, ratings, and authorizations
- §61.14Incorporation by Reference
- §61.15Offenses involving alcohol or drugs
- §61.16Refusal to submit to an alcohol test or to furnish test results
- §61.17Temporary certificate
- §61.19Duration of pilot and instructor certificates and privileges
- §61.21Duration of a Category II and a Category III pilot authorization (for other than part 121 and part 135 use)
- §61.23Medical certificates: Requirement and durationExplained
- §61.25Change of name
- §61.27Voluntary surrender or exchange of certificate
- §61.29Replacement of a lost or destroyed airman or medical certificate or knowledge test report
- §61.31Type rating requirements, additional training, and authorization requirements
- §61.33Tests: General procedure
- §61.35Knowledge test: Prerequisites and passing grades
- §61.37Knowledge tests: Cheating or other unauthorized conduct
- §61.39Prerequisites for practical tests
- §61.40Relief for U.S. Military and civilian personnel who are assigned outside the United States in support of U.S. Armed Forces operations
- §61.41Flight training received from flight instructors not certificated by the FAA
- §61.43Practical tests: General procedures
- §61.45Practical tests: Required aircraft and equipment
- §61.47Status and responsibilities of an examiner who is authorized by the Administrator to conduct practical tests
- §61.49Retesting after failure
- §61.51Pilot logbooksExplained
- §61.52Use of aeronautical experience obtained in ultralight vehicles
- §61.53Prohibition on operations during medical deficiency
- §61.55Second-in-command qualifications
- §61.56Flight reviewExplained
- §61.57Recent flight experience: Pilot in commandExplained
- §61.58Pilot-in-command proficiency check: Operation of an aircraft that requires more than one pilot flight crewmember or is turbojet-powered
- §61.60Change of address
Subpart B—Aircraft Ratings and Pilot Authorizations
- §61.61Applicability
- §61.63Additional aircraft ratings (other than for ratings at the airline transport pilot certification level)
- §61.64Use of a flight simulator and flight training device
- §61.65Instrument rating requirements
- §61.66Enhanced Flight Vision System Pilot Requirements
- §61.67Category II pilot authorization requirements
- §61.68Category III pilot authorization requirements
- §61.69Glider and unpowered ultralight vehicle towing: Experience and training requirements
- §61.71Graduates of an approved training program other than under this part: Special rules
- §61.73Military pilots or former military pilots: Special rules
- §61.75Private pilot certificate issued on the basis of a foreign pilot license
- §61.77Special purpose pilot authorization: Operation of a civil aircraft of the United States and leased by a non-U.S. citizen
Subpart C—Student Pilots
- §61.81Applicability
- §61.83Eligibility requirements for student pilots
- §61.85Application
- §61.87Solo requirements for student pilotsExplained
- §61.89General limitationsExplained
- §61.93Solo cross-country flight requirementsExplained
- §61.94Student pilot seeking a sport pilot certificate or a recreational pilot certificate: Operations at airports within, and in airspace located within, Class B, C, and D airspace, or at airports with an operational control tower in other airspace
- §61.95Operations in Class B airspace and at airports located within Class B airspace
Subpart D—Recreational Pilots
Subpart E—Private Pilots
- §61.102Applicability
- §61.103Eligibility requirements: GeneralExplained
- §61.105Aeronautical knowledge
- §61.107Flight proficiency
- §61.109Aeronautical experienceExplained
- §61.110Night flying exceptions
- §61.111Cross-country flights: Pilots based on small islands
- §61.113Private pilot privileges and limitations: Pilot in commandExplained
- §61.115Balloon rating: Limitations
- §61.117Private pilot privileges and limitations: Second in command of aircraft requiring more than one pilot
Subpart F—Commercial Pilots
Subpart G—Airline Transport Pilots
- §61.151Applicability
- §61.153Eligibility requirements: General
- §61.155Aeronautical knowledge
- §61.156Training requirements: Airplane category—multiengine class or multiengine airplane type rating concurrently with an airline transport pilot certificate
- §61.157Flight proficiency
- §61.159Aeronautical experience: Airplane category rating
- §61.160Aeronautical experience—airplane category restricted privileges
- §61.161Aeronautical experience: Rotorcraft category and helicopter class rating
- §61.163Aeronautical experience: Powered-lift category rating
- §61.165Additional aircraft category and class ratings
- §61.167Airline transport pilot privileges and limitations
- §61.169Letters of authorization for institutions of higher education
Subpart H—Flight Instructors Other than Flight Instructors With a Sport Pilot Rating
- §61.181Applicability
- §61.183Eligibility requirements
- §61.185Aeronautical knowledge
- §61.187Flight proficiency
- §61.189Flight instructor records
- §61.191Additional flight instructor ratings
- §61.193Flight instructor privileges
- §61.195Flight instructor limitations and qualifications
- §61.197Recent experience requirements for flight instructor certification
- §61.199Reinstatement of flight instructor privileges
Subpart I—Ground Instructors
Subpart J—Sport Pilots
- §61.301What is the purpose of this subpart and to whom does it apply?
- §61.303If I want to operate an aircraft that satisfies the limitations identified in § 61.316, what operating limits and endorsement requirements in this subpart must I comply with?
- §61.305What are the age and language requirements for a sport pilot certificate?
- §61.307What tests do I have to take to obtain a sport pilot certificate?
- §61.309What aeronautical knowledge must I have to apply for a sport pilot certificate?
- §61.311What flight proficiency requirements must I meet to apply for a sport pilot certificate?
- §61.313What aeronautical experience must I have to apply for a sport pilot certificate?
- §61.315What are the privileges and limits of my sport pilot certificate?
- §61.316What are the performance limits and design requirements for the aircraft that a sport pilot may operate?
- §61.317Is my sport pilot certificate issued with aircraft category and class ratings?
- §61.321How do I obtain privileges to operate an additional category or class of aircraft?
- §61.325How do I obtain privileges to operate an aircraft at an airport within, or in airspace within, Class B, C, and D airspace, or in other airspace with an airport having an operational control tower?
- §61.327Are there specific endorsement requirements to operate an aircraft based on VH?
- §61.329How do I obtain privileges to operate an aircraft at night?
- §61.331How do I obtain privileges to operate an aircraft with retractable landing gear or an airplane with a manual controllable pitch propeller?
Subpart K—Flight Instructors With a Sport Pilot Rating
- §61.401What is the purpose of this subpart?
- §61.403What are the age, language, and pilot certificate requirements for a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating?
- §61.405What tests do I have to take to obtain a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating?
- §61.407What aeronautical knowledge must I have to apply for a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating?
- §61.409What flight proficiency requirements must I meet to apply for a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating?
- §61.411What aeronautical experience must I have to apply for a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating?
- §61.412Do I need additional training to provide instruction on control and maneuvering an airplane solely by reference to the instruments in an aircraft based on VH?
- §61.413What are the privileges of my flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating?
- §61.415What are the limits of a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating?
- §61.417Will my flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating list aircraft category and class ratings?
- §61.419How do I obtain privileges to provide training in an additional category or class of aircraft?
- §61.421May I give myself an endorsement?
- §61.423What are the recordkeeping requirements for a flight instructor with a sport pilot rating?
- §61.425How do I establish recent experience for my flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating?
- §61.427How do I reinstate my flight instructor privileges if I fail to establish recent experience for my flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating?
- §61.429May I exercise the privileges of a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating if I hold a flight instructor certificate with another rating?
Source information
- Source type
- Code of Federal Regulations
- Official title
- Part 61 — Certification: Pilots, Flight Instructors, and Ground Instructors
- Citation
- 14 CFR Part 61
- Revision
- 2026-07-31
- Effective / amended
- Jul 31, 2026
- Status
- Current
- Last checked by SkeyeMentor
- Aug 8, 2026
- Internal version
- cfr-ingest-1.0.0
- Official source