Part 61 General

Question 1

Except for a certificate issued with an expiration date, in what circumstances is the certificate no longer valid?

Answer 1

If the certificate is surrendered, suspended, or revoked.

Question 2

Do paper student pilot certificates have an expiration date?

Answer 2

Yes. A paper student pilot certificate must have been issued prior to April 1, 2016.
For student pilot’s who have not reached their 40th birthday, 60 calendar months after the month of the date of examination shown on the medical certificate.
For student pilots who have reached their 40th birthday, 24 calendar months after the month of the date of examination shown on the medical certificate.

Question 3

Do pilot certificates have an expiration date?

Answer 3

No.

Question 4

Do flight instructor certificates have an expiration date?

Answer 4

Yes, a flight instructor certificate expires 24 calendar months from the month in which it was issued, renewed, or reinstated, as appropriate.

Question 5

Does a ground instructor certificate have an expiration date?

Answer 5

Negative.

Question 6

Which regulation number goes over the duration of pilot and instructor certificates?

Answer 6

61.19

Question 7

What must a pilot do if they are changing their legal name?

Answer 7

Send in an application accompanied with their airman certificate and a copy of a document verifying the name change.

Question 8

When is a type rating required?

Answer 8

A person who acts as a pilot in command of any of the following aircraft must hold a type rating for that aircraft:

1. Large aircraft
2. Turbojet-powered airplanes
3. Other aircraft specified by the Administrator through aircraft type certificate procedures.

Question 9

What is considered a large aircraft?

Answer 9

An aircraft with more than 12,500 pounds maximum certified takeoff weight.

Question 10

What is considered a complex airplane?

Answer 10

An airplane that has a retractable landing gear, flaps, and a controllable pitch propeller.

Question 11

What additional training is required for operating a complex airplane?

Answer 11

No person may act as PIC of a complex airplane, unless that person has:

1. Received and logged ground and flight training from an authorized instructor in a complex airplane, or in a flight simulator or flight training device that is representative of a complex airplane and has been found proficient in the operation and systems of the airplane.
2. Received a one-time endorsement in the pilot’s logbook from an authorized instructor who certifies the person is proficient to operating a complex airplane.

Question 12

What is considered a high-performance airplane?

Answer 12

An airplane with an engine of more than 200 HP.

Question 13

What additional training is required for operating of a high-performance airplane?

Answer 13

No person may act as PIC of a high performance airplane, unless that person has:

1. Received and logged ground and flight training from an authorized instructor in a high-performance airplane, or in a flight simulator or flight training device that is representative of a high-performance airplane, and has been found proficient in the operation and systems of the airplane.
2. Received a one-time endorsement in the pilot’s logbook from an authorized instructor who certifies . the person is proficient to operate a high-performance airplane.

Question 14

What is considered a pressurized aircraft capable of operating at high altitudes?

Answer 14

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

Question 15

What additional training is required for operating a tailwheel airplane?

Answer 15

No person may act as PIC of a tailwheel airplane unless that person has received and logged flight training from an authorized instructor in a tailwheel airplane and received an endorsement in the person’s logbook from an authorized instructor who found the person proficient in the operation of a tailwheel airplane. The flight training must include at least the following maneuvers and procedures:

1. Normal and crosswind takeoffs and landings.
2. Wheel landings.
3. Go-around procedures.

Question 16

What is the regulation number for type rating requirements, additional training, and authorization requirements?

Answer 16

61.31

Question 17

What is the maximum time a temporary pilot, flight instructor, or ground instructor certificate or rating can be issued?

Answer 17

120 days

Question 18

What circumstances cause a temporary certificate to expire?

Answer 18

1. On the expiration date shown on the certificate.
2. Upon receipt of the permanent certificate.
3. Upon receipt of a notice that the certificate or rating sought is denied or revoked.

Question 19

What must a pilot do if they receive a DUI?

Answer 19

They shall provide a written report to the FAA no later than 60 days after the motor vehicle action.

Question 20

When must a person hold a first class medical certificate?

Answer 20

1. When exercising the pilot-in-command privileges of an airline transport pilot certificate.

Question 21

When must a person hold a second class medical certificate?

Answer 21

1. Second-in-command privileges of an airline transport pilot certificate in part 121 of this chapter.
2. Privileges of a commercial pilot certificate.

Question 22

When must a person hold a third class medical certificate?

Answer 22

1. When exercising the privileges of a private pilot certificate, recreational pilot certificate, or student pilot certificate.
2. When exercising the privileges of a flight instructor certificate and acting as pilot-in-command or as a required flight crew member.
3. When taking a practical test in an aircraft for private, recreational, commercial, ATP, and flight instructor.
4. When performing the duties as an examiner in an aircraft when administering a practical test or proficiency check for an airman certificate, rating, or authorization.

Question 23

When is a medical certificate NOT required?

Answer 23

1. When exercising the privileges of a student pilot certificate while seeking:
   a. A sport pilot certificate with glider or balloon privileges.
   b. A pilot certificate with a glider category rating or balloon class rating.
2. When exercising the privileges of a sport pilot certificate with privileges in a glider or balloon.
3. When exercising the privileges of a pilot certificate with a glider category rating or balloon class rating in a glider or a balloon, as appropriate.
4. When exercising the privileges of a flight instructor certificate with:
   a. A sport pilot rating in a glider or balloon; or
   b. A glider category rating.
5. When exercising the privileges of a flight instructor certificate if the person is not acting as PIC or serving as a required pilot flight crew member.
6. When exercising the privileges of a ground instructor certificate.
7. When serving as an examiner or check airman and administering a practical test or proficiency check for an airman certificate, rating, or authorization conducted in a glider, balloon, flight simulator, or flight training device.
8. When taking a practical test or a proficiency check for a certificate, rating, authorization or operating privilege conducted in a glider, balloon, flight simulator, or flight training device.

Question 24

What are the requirements for BasicMed?

Answer 24

A person using a U.S. driver’s license to meet the requirements while operating under the conditions and limitations of 61.113(i) must meet the following requirements. The person must:

1. Comply with all medical requirements or restrictions associated with his or her U.S. driver’s license.
2. At any point after July 14, 2006, have held a medical certificate issued under part 67 of this chapter.
3. Complete the medical education course set forth in 68.3 of this chapter during the 24-calendar months before acting as PIC in an operating conducted under 61.113(i) and retain a certification of course completion in accordance with 68.3(b)(1) of this chapter.
4. Receive a comprehensive medical examination from a State-licensed physician during the 48 months before acting as PIC of an operation conducted under 61.113(i) and that medical examination is conducted in accordance with the requirements in part 68 of this chapter.

Question 25

What is the duration of a first class medical certificate?

Answer 25

Under 40: 12th month after the month of the date of examination shown on the medical certificate.
40 or older: 6th month after the month of the date of examination shown on the medical certificate.

Question 26

What is the duration of a second class medical certificate?

Answer 26

Any age: 12th month after the month of the date of examination shown on the medical certificate.

Question 27

What is the duration of a third class medical certificate?

Answer 27

Under 40: 60th month after the month of the date of examination shown on the medical certificate.
40 or older: 24th month after the month of the date of examination shown on the medical certificate.

Question 28

What is the regulation number for medical certificates?

Answer 28

61.23

Question 29

What are requirements for the knowledge test?

Answer 29

An applicant for a knowledge test must have:

1. Received an endorsement, if required by this part, from an authorized instructor certifying that the applicant accomplished the appropriate ground-training or a home-study course required by this part for the certificate or rating sought and is prepared for the knowledge test.
2. Proper identification at the time of application that contains the applicant’s:
   - Photograph
   - Signature
   - Date of birth
3. If the permanent mailing address is a post office box number, then the applicant must provide a current residential address.

Question 30

What is the regulation number for pre-requisites for a knowledge test?

Answer 30

61.35

Question 31

What are the requirements to retake a practical or knowledge test after failure?

Answer 31

An applicant for a knowledge or practical test who fails that test may reapply for the test only after the applicant has received:

1. The necessary training from an authorized instructor who has determined that the applicant is proficient to pass the test; and
2. An endorsement from an authorized instructor who gave the applicant the additional training.

Question 32

What type of training must a person log?

Answer 32

1. Training and aeronautical experience used to meet the requirements for a certificate, rating, or flight review of this part.
2. The aeronautical experience required for meeting the recent flight experience requirements of this part.

Question 33

What information for each flight must a person log?

Answer 33

1. General
   - Date
   - Total flight time or lesson time
   - Location where the aircraft departed and arrived, or for lessons in a flight simulator or flight training device, the location where the lesson occurred.
   - Type and identification of aircraft, flight simulator, flight training device, or aviation training device.
   - The name of a safety pilot, if required by 91.109 of this chapter.
2. Type of pilot experience or training:
   - Solo
   - Pilot in command
   - Second in command
   - Flight and ground training received from an authorized instructor
   - Training received in a flight simulator, flight training device, or aviation training device from an authorized instructor
3. Conditions of flight
   - Day or night
   - Actual instrument
   - Simulated instrument conditions in flight, a flight simulator, flight training device, or aviation training device.

Question 34

How does someone log solo flight time?

Answer 34

Except for a student pilot performing the duties of pilot-in-command of an airship, a pilot may log as solo flight time only that flight time when the pilot is the sole occupant of the aircraft.

Question 35

When may a person log PIC time?

Answer 35

A sport, recreational, private, commercial, or airline transport pilot may log pilot in command flight time for flights:

1. When the pilot is the sole manipulator of the controls of an aircraft for which the pilot is rated.
2. When the pilot is the sole occupant in the aircraft.
3. When the pilot performs the duties of PIC while under the supervision of a qualified pilot in command.

Question 36

What is required for logging training time?

Answer 36

A person may log training time when that person receives training from an authorized instructor in an aircraft, flight simulator, or flight training device.
The training time must be logged in a logbook and must:
1. Be endorsed in a legible manner by the authorized instructor; and
2. Include a description of the training given, the length of the training lesson, and the authorized instructor’s signature, certificate number, and certificate expiration date.

Question 37

What does a flight review consist of?

Answer 37

A flight review consists of a minimum of 1 hour of flight training and 1 hour of ground training. The review must include:

1. A review of the current general operating and flight rules of part 91 of this chapter; and
2. A review of those maneuvers and procedures that, at the discretion of the person giving the review, are necessary for the pilot to demonstrate the safe exercise of the privileges of the pilot certificate.

Question 38

Is a flight review required for a person to act as pilot-in-command?

Answer 38

No person may act as PIC of an aircraft unless, since the beginning of the 24th calendar month before the month in which that pilot acts as pilot in command, that person has:

1. Accomplished a flight review given in an aircraft for which that pilot is rated by an authorized instructor; and
2. A logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor who gave the review certifying that the person has satisfactorily completed the review.

Question 39

What are the recency requirements for operating an aircraft whilst carrying passengers?

Answer 39

No person may act as PIC of an aircraft carrying passengers unless that person has made at least three takeoffs and three landings within the preceding 90 days, and:

1. The person acted as the sole manipulator of the flight controls; and
2. The required takeoffs and landings were performed in an aircraft of the same category, class, and type, and if the aircraft to be flown is an airplane with a tailwheel, the landings must be made to a full stop in an airplane with a tailwheel.