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Part 61 E: Private Pilots

Eligibility (61.103)​

  • Must be 17 years old
  • Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language
  • Needs a student, sport, and recreational
  • Hold a 3rd class medical
  • Pass a knowledge test

Knowledge Test (61.105)​

  • Student must receive and log ground training complete a home-study course on the following areas:
    • Applicable Federal Aviation Regulations
    • Accident reporting requirements of the National Transportation Safety Board
    • Use of the applicable portions of the AIM and FAA advisory circulars
    • Aeronautical charts for VFR navigation, pilotage, dead reckoning
    • Radio communication procedures
    • Critical weather situations, windshear avoidance, and the weather reports and forecasts
    • Safe and efficient operation of aircraft, collision avoidance, wake turbulence
    • Effects of density altitude on takeoff and climb performance
    • Weight and balance computations
    • Principles of aerodynamics, powerplants, and aircraft systems
    • Stall awareness, spin entry, spins, and spin recovery techniques, if applying for an airplane single-engine rating
    • Aeronautical decision making and judgment and
    • Preflight action that includes—
      • runway lengths, takeoff and landing distances, weather reports and forecasts, and fuel requirements
      • Alternatives if the planned flight cannot be completed or delays are encountered.

Flight proficiency requirements (61.107)​

  • Need ground and flight around these areas:
    • Preflight preparation
    • Preflight procedures
    • Airport operations
    • Takeoffs, landings, and go-arounds
    • Performance maneuvers
    • Ground reference maneuvers
    • Navigation
    • Slow flight and stalls
    • Emergency operations
    • Postflight procedures
    • Basic instrument maneuvers
    • Night operations

Aeronautical experience (61.109)​

  • 40 hours total flight time
  • 20 hours of flight training, including
    • 3 hours XC flight training
    • 3 hours night flight training , including
      • 1 XC over 100nm
      • 10 takeoffs and landings at night
    • 3 hours controller solely by reference to instruments
    • 3 hours of flight training within 2 calendar month of the practical test
  • 10 hours of solo flight time, including
    • 5 hours solo XC flight
      • One solo XC flight over 150nm, with landings at 3 points, with one leg being >50nm between takeoff and landing

Privileges and Limitations (61.113)​

  • Aircraft limitations
    • Max weight 12,500lbs without a type rating

  • 200 hours you can demonstrate an airplane as a salesperson

  • Glider towing
  • Share expenses on pro-rata basis
  • Can be reimbursed for search and rescue or charitable events, with FAA approval
  • Can fly in the furtherance of a business, if its incidental

Endorsements​

  • AC 61-65 A.32: student is prepared for the private pilot knowledge test
    • This is only given if you gave the ground instruction
    • AC 61-65 A.82 is used if the student used a home study course
  • AC 61-65 A.33: private student is prepared for the practical test (needed along with A.1 and A.2)

ACS​

Private Pilot for Airplane Category ACS

Pilot looking to add a class rating​

A pilot looking to add a category or class rating, for instance a multi-engine pilot adding a single-engine private:

  • Look at 61.63(c), which implies:
    • To fly solo they need the AC 61-65 A.72 endorsement
      • This endorsement does not expire, unless an expiry is added by the instructor
    • There's no hourly requirements, XC requirements, or night requirements
    • No student pilot limitation (25nm, 50nm airports, Class B flight)
    • For the practical test, they will only need to demonstrate what's on the task matrix