Federal Aviation Regulations
Sec. 61.64 — Use of a flight simulator and flight training device.
(a) Use of a flight simulator for the airplane rating. If an applicant uses a flight simulator for training or the practical test for an airplane category, class, or type rating—(1) The flight simulator—
(i) Must represent the category, class, and type of airplane rating (if a type rating is applicable) for the rating sought;
(ii) Must be used in accordance with an approved course of training under part 141 or part 142 of this chapter; or under part 121 or part 135 of this chapter, provided the applicant is a pilot employee of that air carrier operator;
(iii) At a minimum, must be qualified and approved as a Level C flight simulator if the applicant performs the entire practical test in a flight simulator; and
(iv) At a minimum, must be qualified and approved as a Level A flight simulator if the applicant uses the flight simulator for any training;
(2) If the type rating is for a turbojet airplane, the applicant must—
(i) Hold a type rating in a turbojet airplane of the same class of airplane, and that type rating may not contain a supervised operating experience limitation;
(ii) Have 1,000 hours of flight time in two different turbojet airplanes of the same class of airplane;
(iii) Have been appointed by the U.S. Armed Forces as pilot in command in a turbojet airplane of the same class of airplane;
(iv) Have 500 hours of flight time in the same type of airplane; or
(v) Have logged at least 2,000 hours of flight time, of which 500 hours were in turbine-powered airplanes of the same class of airplane for which the type rating is sought.
(3) If the type rating is for a turbo propeller airplane, the applicant must—
(i) Hold a type rating in a turbo-propeller airplane of the same class of airplane, and that type rating may not contain a supervised operating experience limitation;
(ii) Have 1,000 hours of flight time in two different turbo-propeller airplanes of the same class of airplane;
(iii) Have been appointed by the U.S. Armed Forces as pilot in command in a turbo-propeller airplane of the same class of airplane;
(iv) Have 500 hours of flight time in the same type of airplane; or
(v) Have logged at least 2,000 hours of flight time, of which 500 hours were in turbine-powered airplanes of the same class of airplane for which the type rating is sought.
(4) If the applicant does not meet the requirements of paragraph (a)(2) or (a)(3) of this section as appropriate, then—
(i) The applicant must complete the following tasks on the practical test in the airplane of the category, class, and type of airplane rating (if a type rating is applicable) for which the airplane rating applies: preflight inspection, normal takeoff, normal instrument landing system approach, missed approach, and normal landing; or
(ii) The applicant's pilot certificate will be issued with a limitation that states:
“The [name the category, class, and type of airplane rating (if a type rating is applicable)] is subject to additional pilot in command limitations,” and the applicant is restricted from serving as pilot in command in that category, class, and type of airplane rating (if a type rating is applicable).
(iii) The limitation described under paragraph (a)(4)(ii) of this section may be removed from the applicant's pilot certificate if the applicant—
(A) Logs 25 hours of flight time in the category and class of airplane for the rating sought, and if a type rating is being sought, the flight time must be performed in the same type of airplane for the type rating sought;
(B) Performs 25 hours of flight time under the direct observation of the pilot in command who holds the appropriate airplane category, class, and type rating, without limitations, in the same category, class, and type of airplane rating, if a type rating is applicable;
(C) Logs each flight and the pilot in command who observed the flight attests to each flight;
(D) Obtains the flight time while in the pilot in command seat of the appropriate airplane category, class, and type, if a type rating is appropriate; and
(E) Has an Examiner review the pilot logbook and endorse that logbook, attesting to compliance with the required supervised operating experience.
(b) Use of a flight training device for the airplane rating. If an applicant uses a flight training device for training for the airplane category, class, or type rating, the applicant must meet the requirements of paragraph (a)(2), (a)(3) or (a)(4) of this section, and the flight training device—
(1) Must represent the category, class, and type of airplane rating (if a type rating is applicable) for the rating.
(2) Must be used in accordance with an approved course of training under part 141 or part 142 of this chapter, or under part 121 or part 135 of this chapter, provided the applicant is a pilot employee of that air carrier operator.
(3) Must be qualified and approved at or above a Level 2 flight training device if the applicant completes the entire practical test in the airplane.
(4) Must be qualified and approved at or above a Level 5 flight training device if the applicant uses a flight simulator for any portion of the practical test.
(c) Use of a flight simulator for the helicopter rating. If an applicant uses a flight simulator for training or the practical test for the helicopter class or type rating,
(1) The flight simulator—
(i) Must represent the class and type of helicopter rating (if a type rating is applicable) for the rating;
(ii) Must be used in accordance with an approved course of training under part 141 or part 142 of this chapter, or under part 135 of this chapter, provided the applicant is a pilot employee of that part 135 operator;
(iii) At a minimum, must be qualified and approved as a Level C flight simulator if the applicant performs the entire practical test in a flight simulator; and
(iv) At a minimum, must be qualified and approved as a Level A flight simulator if the applicant uses a flight simulator for any training.
(2) The applicant must meet one of the following requirements—
(i) Hold a type rating in a helicopter and that type rating may not contain the supervised operating experience limitation;
(ii) Have been appointed by the U.S. Armed Forces as pilot in command of a helicopter;
(iii) Have 500 hours of flight time in the type of helicopter; or
(iv) Have 1,000 hours of flight time in two different types of helicopters.
(3) If the applicant does not meet any of the requirements of paragraph (c)(2) of this section, then—
(i) The applicant must complete the following tasks on the practical test in the helicopter class and type rating (if a type rating is applicable) for which the rating applies: preflight inspection, normal takeoff, normal instrument landing system approach, missed approach, and normal landing; or
(ii) The applicant's pilot certificate will be issued with a limitation that states: “The [name the helicopter class and type of helicopter rating (if a type rating is applicable)] is subject to additional pilot in command limitations,” and the applicant is restricted from serving as pilot in command in that helicopter class and type of helicopter rating (if a type rating is applicable).
(iii) The limitation described under paragraph (c)(3)(ii) of this section may be removed from the pilot certificate if the applicant complies with the following—
(A) Logs 25 hours of flight time in the class of helicopter for the rating sought, if the person applied for a type rating, the flight time must be performed in the same type of helicopter for the type rating sought;
(B) Performs the 25 hours of flight time under the direct observation of the pilot in command who holds the appropriate class and type of helicopter rating (if a type rating is applicable), without limitations, in the same class, and type of helicopter rating, if a type rating is applicable;
(C) Logs each flight and the pilot in command who observed the flight attests to each flight;
(D) Performs the flight time while in the pilot in command seat of the appropriate class and type of helicopter rating, if a type rating is appropriate; and
(E) Has an Examiner review the pilot logbook and endorse that logbook, attesting to compliance with the required supervised operating experience.
(d) Use of a flight training device for the helicopter rating. If an applicant uses a flight training device for training for the helicopter class or type rating, the applicant must meet the requirements of either paragraph (c)(2) or (3) of this section and the flight training device—
(1) Must represent the class and type of helicopter rating (if a type rating is applicable) for the rating.
(2) Must be used in accordance with an approved course of training under part 141 or part 142 of this chapter, or under part 135 of this chapter, provided the applicant is a pilot employee of that part 135 operator.
(3) Must be qualified and approved at or above a Level 2 flight training device if the applicant completes the entire practical test in the helicopter.
(4) Must be qualified and approved at or above a Level 5 flight training device if the applicant uses a flight simulator for any portion of the practical test.
(e) Use of a flight simulator for the powered-lift rating. If an applicant uses a flight simulator for training or the practical test for the powered-lift category or type rating—
(1) The flight simulator—
(i) Must represent the category and type of powered-lift rating (if a type rating is applicable) for the rating;
(ii) Must be used in accordance with an approved course of training under part 141 or part 142 of this chapter, or under part 121 or part 135 of this chapter, provided the applicant is a pilot employee of that air carrier operator;
(iii) At a minimum, must be qualified and approved as a Level C flight simulator if the applicant performs the entire practical test in a flight simulator; and
(iv) At a minimum, must be qualified and approved as a Level A flight simulator if the applicant uses a flight simulator for any training.
(2) The applicant must meet one of the following requirements—
(i) Hold a type rating in a powered-lift without a supervised operating experience limitation;
(ii) Have been appointed by the U.S. Armed Forces as pilot in command of a powered-lift;
(iii) Have 500 hours of flight time in the type of powered-lift; or
(iv) Have 1,000 hours of flight time in two different types of powered-lifts.
(3) If the applicant does not meet any of the requirements of paragraph (e)(2) of this section, then—
(i) The applicant must complete the following tasks on the practical test in the powered-lift of the category and type of powered-lift rating (if a type rating is applicable) for which the rating applies: preflight inspection, normal takeoff, normal instrument landing system approach, missed approach, and normal landing; or
(ii) The applicant's pilot certificate will be issued with a limitation that states: “The [name of the category and powered-lift rating (if a type rating is applicable)] is subject to additional pilot in command limitations,” and the applicant is restricted from serving as pilot in command in that category and type of powered-lift rating (if a type rating is applicable).
(iii) The limitation described under paragraph (e)(3)(ii) of this section may be removed from the pilot certificate if the applicant complies with the following—
(A) Logs 25 hours of flight time in the powered-lift category for the rating sought, and if a type rating is being sought, the flight time must be performed in the same type of powered-lift for the type rating sought;
(B) Performs the 25 hours flight time under the direct observation of the pilot in command who holds the category and type of powered-lift rating (if a type rating is applicable), without limitations, in the same category and type of powered-lift rating, if a type rating is applicable;
(C) Logs each flight and the pilot in command who observed the flight attests to each flight;
(D) Performs the flight time while in the pilot in command seat of the appropriate category and type of powered-lift rating, if a type rating is appropriate; and
(E) Has an Examiner review the pilot logbook and endorse that logbook, attesting to compliance with the required supervised operating experience.
(f) Use of a flight training device for the powered-lift rating. Whenever an applicant uses a flight training device for training for the powered-lift category or type rating, the flight training device must meet the following requirements, and the applicant must meet the requirements of either paragraph (e)(2) or (e)(3) of this section.
(1) The flight training device must represent the class and type of powered-lift rating (if a type rating is applicable) for the rating.
(2) The flight training device must be used in accordance with an approved course of training under part 141 or part 142 of this chapter; or under part 121 or part 135 of this chapter, provided the applicant is a pilot employee of that air carrier operator.
(3) If the applicant completes the entire practical test in the powered-lift, the flight training device used for training must be qualified and approved at or above a Level 2 flight training device.
(4) If an applicant uses a flight simulator for any portion of the practical test, the flight training device used for training must be qualified and approved at or above a Level 5 flight training device.
[Doc. No. FAA–2006–26661, 74 FR 42553, Aug. 21, 2009; Amdt. 61–124A, 74 FR 53644, Oct. 20, 2009]
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