Federal Aviation Regulations

Part 61: Certification: Pilots, flight instructors, and ground instructors

Special Federal Aviation Regulations

• SFAR No. 58
• SFAR No. 73 - Robinson R-22/R-44 Special Training and Experience Requirements
• SFAR No. 93 - Temporary Extension of Time To Allow for Certain Training and Testing
• SFAR No. 100 - Relief for U.S. Military and Civilian Personnel Who Are Assigned Outside the United States in Support of U.S. Armed Forces Operations

Federal Aviation Regulations

Subpart A - General


• Sec. 61.1 - Applicability and definitions.
• Sec. 61.3 - Requirement for certificates, ratings, and authorizations.
• Sec. 61.4 - Qualification and approval of flight simulators and flight training devices.
• Sec. 61.5 - Certificates and ratings issued under this part.
• Sec. 61.7 - Obsolete certificates and ratings.
• Sec. 61.9 - [Reserved]
• Sec. 61.11 - Expired pilot certificates and reissuance.
• Sec. 61.13 - Issuance of airman certificates, ratings, and authorizations.
• Sec. 61.14 - Refusal to submit to a drug or alcohol test.
• Sec. 61.15 - Offenses involving alcohol or drugs.
• Sec. 61.16 - Refusal to submit to an alcohol test or to furnish test results.
• Sec. 61.17 - Temporary certificate.
• Sec. 61.18 - Security disqualification.
• Sec. 61.19 - Duration of pilot and instructor certificates.
• Sec. 61.21 - Duration of a Category II and a Category III pilot authorization (for other than part 121 and part 135 use).
• Sec. 61.23 - Medical certificates: Requirement and duration.
• Sec. 61.25 - Change of name.
• Sec. 61.27 - Voluntary surrender or exchange of certificate.
• Sec. 61.29 - Replacement of a lost or destroyed airman or medical certificate or knowledge test report.
• Sec. 61.31 - Type rating requirements, additional training, and authorization requirements.
• Sec. 61.33 - Tests: General procedure.
• Sec. 61.35 - Knowledge test: Prerequisites and passing grades.
• Sec. 61.37 - Knowledge tests: Cheating or other unauthorized conduct.
• Sec. 61.39 - Prerequisites for practical tests.
• Sec. 61.41 - Flight training received from flight instructors not certificated by the FAA.
• Sec. 61.43 - Practical tests: General procedures.
• Sec. 61.45 - Practical tests: Required aircraft and equipment.
• Sec. 61.47 - Status of an examiner who is authorized by the Administrator to conduct practical tests.
• Sec. 61.49 - Retesting after failure.
• Sec. 61.51 - Pilot logbooks.
• Sec. 61.53 - Prohibition on operations during medical deficiency.
• Sec. 61.55 - Second-in-command qualifications.
• Sec. 61.56 - Flight review.
• Sec. 61.57 - Recent flight experience: Pilot in command.
• Sec. 61.58 - Pilot-in-command proficiency check: Operation of aircraft requiring more than one pilot flight crewmember.
• Sec. 61.59 - Falsification, reproduction, or alteration of applications, certificates, logbooks, reports, or records.
• Sec. 61.60 - Change of address.

Subpart B - Aircraft Ratings and Pilot Authorizations



• Sec. 61.61 - Applicability.
• Sec. 61.63 - 61
• Sec. 61.64 - [Reserved]
• Sec. 61.65 - Instrument rating requirements.
• Sec. 61.67 - Category II pilot authorization requirements.
• Sec. 61.68 - Category III pilot authorization requirements.
• Sec. 61.69 - Glider towing: Experience and training requirements.
• Sec. 61.71 - Graduates of an approved training program other than under this part: Special rules.
• Sec. 61.73 - Military pilots or former military pilots: Special rules.
• Sec. 61.75 - Private pilot certificate issued on the basis of a foreign pilot license.
• Sec. 61.77 - Special purpose pilot authorization: Operation of U.S.-registered civil aircraft leased by a person who is not a U.S. citizen.

Subpart C - Student Pilots



• Sec. 61.81 - Applicability.
• Sec. 61.83 - Eligibility requirements for student pilots.
• Sec. 61.85 - Application.
• Sec. 61.87 - Solo requirements for student pilots.
• Sec. 61.89 - General limitations.
• Sec. 61.91 - [Reserved]
• Sec. 61.93 - Solo cross-country flight requirements.
• Sec. 61.95 - Operations in Class B airspace and at airports located within Class B airspace.

Subpart D - Recreational Pilots



• Sec. 61.96 - Applicability and eligibility requirements: General.
• Sec. 61.97 - Aeronautical knowledge.
• Sec. 61.98 - Flight proficiency.
• Sec. 61.99 - Aeronautical experience.
• Sec. 61.100 - Pilots based on small islands.
• Sec. 61.101 - Recreational pilot privileges and limitations.

Subpart E - Private Pilots



• Sec. 61.102 - Applicability.
• Sec. 61.103 - Eligibility requirements: General.
• Sec. 61.105 - Aeronautical knowledge.
• Sec. 61.107 - Flight proficiency.
• Sec. 61.109 - Aeronautical experience.
• Sec. 61.110 - Night flying exceptions.
• Sec. 61.111 - Cross-country flights: Pilots based on small islands.
• Sec. 61.113 - Private pilot privileges and limitations: Pilot in command.
• Sec. 61.115 - Balloon rating: Limitations.
• Sec. 61.117 - Private pilot privileges and limitations: Second in command of aircraft requiring more than one pilot.
• Sec. 61.118-61.120 - [Reserved]

Subpart F - Commercial Pilots



• Sec. 61.121 - Applicability.
• Sec. 61.123 - Eligibility requirements: General.
• Sec. 61.125 - Aeronautical knowledge.
• Sec. 61.127 - Flight proficiency.
• Sec. 61.129 - Aeronautical experience.
• Sec. 61.131 - Exceptions to the night flying requirements.
• Sec. 61.133 - Commercial pilot privileges and limitations.
• Sec. 61.135-61.141 - [Reserved]

Subpart G - Airline Transport Pilots



• Sec. 61.151 - Applicability.
• Sec. 61.153 - Eligibility requirements: General.
• Sec. 61.155 - Aeronautical knowledge.
• Sec. 61.157 - 61
• Sec. 61.158 - [Reserved]
• Sec. 61.159 - 61
• Sec. 61.161 - Aeronautical experience: Rotorcraft category and helicopter class rating.
• Sec. 61.163 - Aeronautical experience: Powered-lift category rating.
• Sec. 61.165 - Additional aircraft category and class ratings.
• Sec. 61.167 - Privileges.
• Sec. 61.169-69.171 - [Reserved]

Subpart H - Flight Instructors



• Sec. 61.181 - Applicability.
• Sec. 61.183 - Eligibility requirements.
• Sec. 61.185 - Aeronautical knowledge.
• Sec. 61.187 - Flight proficiency.
• Sec. 61.189 - Flight instructor records.
• Sec. 61.191 - Additional flight instructor ratings.
• Sec. 61.193 - Flight instructor privileges.
• Sec. 61.195 - Flight instructor limitations and qualifications.
• Sec. 61.197 - Renewal of flight instructor certificates.
• Sec. 61.199 - Expired flight instructor certificates and ratings.
• Sec. 61.201 - [Reserved]

Subpart I - Ground Instructors



• Sec. 61.211 - Applicability.
• Sec. 61.213 - Eligibility requirements.
• Sec. 61.215 - Ground instructor privileges.
• Sec. 61.217 - Recent experience requirements.