Flying
Solo
* § 61.81 - Applicability.
* § 61.83 - Eligibility requirements.
* § 61.85 - Application for a student pilot certificate.
* § 61.87 - Solo requirements.
* § 61.89 - General limitations for student pilot operations.
* § 61.93 - Solo cross-country flight requirements.
* § 61.95 - Operations in Class B airspace and at airports
located
within Class B airspace.
§ 61.81 - Applicability.
This subpart prescribes the requirements for the issuance of student pilot certificates, the conditions under which those certificates are necessary, and the general operating rules and limitations for the holders of those certificates.
§ 61.83 - Eligibility requirements.
To be eligible for a student pilot certificate, an applicant must:
- Be at least 16 years of age for other than the operation of a glider or balloon.
- Be at least 14 years of age for the operation of a glider or balloon.
- Be able to read, speak. write, and understand the English language.
If the applicant is unable to meet one of these requirements due to medical reasons, then the Administrator may place such operating limitations on that applicant's pilot certificate as are necessary for the safe operation of the aircraft.
§ 61.85 - Application for a student pilot certificate.
An application for a student pilot certificate is made on a form and in a manner provided by the Administrator and is submitted to:
- A designated aviation medical examiner if applying for an FAA medical certificate;
- An examiner; or
- A Flight Standards District Office.
§ 61.87 - Solo requirements.
- General.
- Pre-solo aeronautical knowledge.
- Pre-solo flight training.
- Maneuvers and procedures for pre-solo flight training
in a
single-engine airplane. - Limitations on student pilot operating an aircraft in solo flight at night.
General. A student pilot may not operate an aircraft in solo flight unless that student has met the requirements of this section. The term "solo flight," as used in this subpart. means that flight time during which a student pilot is the sole occupant of the aircraft, or that flight time during which the student performs the functions of a pilot in command of a gas balloon or an airship requiring more than one pilot flight crewmember.
Pre-solo aeronautical knowledge. A student pilot must demonstrate satisfactory aeronautical knowledge on a knowledge test that meets the requirements of this paragraph:
- The test must address the student pilot's knowledge of-
- Applicable sections of parts 61 and 91;
- Airspace rules and procedures for the airport where the solo flight will be performed; and
- Right characteristics and operational limitations for the make and model of aircraft to be flown,
- The student's authorized instructor must—
- Administer the test; and
- At the conclusion of the test, review all incorrect answers with the student before authorizing that student to conduct a solo flight.
Pre-solo flight training. Prior to conducting a solo flight, a student pilot must have:
- Received and logged flight training for the maneuvers and procedures of this section that are appropriate to the snake and model of aircraft to be flown; and
- Demonstrated satisfactory proficiency and safety, as judged by as authorized instructor, on the maneuvers and procedures required by this section in the make and model of aircraft or similar make and model of aircraft to be flown.
Maneuvers and procedures for pre-solo flight training in a single-engine airplane. A student pilot who is receiving training for a single-engine airplane rating must receive and log flight training for the following maneuvers and procedures:
- Proper flight preparation procedures, including preflight planning and preparation, powerplant operation, and aircraft systems;
- Taxiing or surface operations, including runups;
- Takeoffs and landings, including normal and crosswind;
- Straight and level flight, and turns in both directions;
- Climbs and climbing turns;
- Airport traffic patterns, including entry and departure procedures;
- Collision avoidance, windshear avoidance, and wake turbulence avoidance;
- Descents, with and without turns, using high and low drag configurations;
- Flight at various airspeeds from cruise to slow flight;
- Stall entries from various flight attitudes and power combinations with recovery initiated at the first indication of a stall, and recovery from a full stall;
- Emergency procedures and equipment malfunctions;
- Ground reference maneuvers;
- Approaches to a landing area with simulated engine malfunctions;
- Slips to a landing; and
- Go-arounds.
Limitations on student pilot operating an aircraft in solo flight at night. A student pilot may not operate an aircraft in solo flight at night unless that student pilot has received;
- Night training at night on night flying procedures that includes takeoffs, approaches, landings, and go-arounds at night at the airport where the solo flight will be conducted;
- Navigation training at night in the vicinity of the airport where the solo flight will be conducted; and
- An endorsement in the student's logbook for the specific make and model aircraft to be flown for night solo flight by an authorized instructor who gave the training within the 90-day period preceding the date of the flight.
§ 61.89 - General limitations for student pilot operations.
- A student pilot may not act as pilot in command of an aircraft:
- That is carrying a passenger;
- That is carrying property for compensation or hire;
- For compensation or hire;
- In furtherance of a business;
- On an international flight, except that a student pilot may make solo training flights from Haines, Gustavus, or Juneau, Alaska, to White Horse, Yukon, Canada, and return over the province of British Columbia;
- With a flight or surface visibility of less than 3 statute miles during daylight hours or 5 statute miles at night;
- When the flight cannot be made with visual reference to the surface; or
- In a manner contrary to any limitations placed in the pilot's logbook by an authorized instructor.
- A student pilot may not act as a required pilot flight crewmember on any aircraft for which more than one pilot is required by the type certificate of the aircraft or regulations under which the flight is conducted, except when receiving flight training from an authorized instructor on board an airship, and no person other than a required flight crewmember is carried on the aircraft.
§ 61.93 - Solo cross-country flight requirements.
- General.
- Authorization to perform certain solo flights and cross-country flights.
- Endorsements for solo cross-country flights.
- Maneuvers and procedures for cross-country flight
training in a
single-engine airplane.
- A student pilot must meet the requirements of this section before
- Conducting a solo cross-country flight, or any flight greater than 25 nautical miles from the airport from where the flight originated.
- Making a solo flight and landing at any location other than the airport of origination.
- A student pilot who seeks solo cross-country flight privileges must:
- Have received flight training from an instructor authorized to provide flight training on the maneuvers and procedures of this section that are appropriate to the make and model of aircraft for which solo cross-country privileges are sought;
- Have demonstrated cross-country proficiency on the appropriate maneuvers and procedures of this section to an authorized instructor;
- Have satisfactorily accomplished the pre-solo flight maneuvers and procedures in the make and model of aircraft or similar make and model of aircraft for which solo cross-country privileges are sought; and
- Comply with any limitations included in the authorized instructor's endorsement
- A student pilot who seeks solo cross-country flight privileges must have received ground and flight training from an authorized instructor on the cross-country maneuvers and procedures listed in this section that are appropriate to the aircraft to be flown.
Authorization to perform certain solo flights and cross-country flights. A student pilot must obtain an endorsement from an authorized instructor to make solo flights from the airport where the student pilot normally receives training to another location. A student pilot who receives this endorsement must comply with the requirements of this paragraph.
- Solo flights may be made to another airport that is within 25 nautical miles from the
airport where the student pilot normally receives training provided
- An authorized instructor has given the student pilot flight training at the other airport, and that training includes flight in both directions over me route, entering and exiting the traffic pattern, and takeoffs and landings at the other airport;
- The authorized instructor who gave the training endorses the student pilot's logbook authorizing the flight;
- The student pilot has current solo flight endorsements
- The authorized instructor has determined that the student pilot is proficient to make the flight and
- The purpose of the flight is to practice takeoffs and landings at that other airport
- Repeated specific solo cross country flights may be made to another airport that is
within 50 nautical miles of the airport from which the flight originated provided
- The authorized instructor has given the student flight training in both directions over the route including entering and exiting the traffic patterns takeoffs and landings at the airports to be used;
- The authorized instructor whit gave the training has endorsed the student's logbook certifying that the student is proficient to make such flights;
- The student has current sub flight endorsements; and
- The student has current sub cross-country flight endorsements however, for repeated solo cross-country flights to another airport within 50 nautical miles from which the flight originated, separate endorsements are not required to be made for each flight.
Endorsements for solo cross-country flights. A student pilot must have the endorsements prescribed in this paragraph for each cross-country flight:
- Student pilot certificate endorsement. A student pilot must have a solo cross-country endorsement from the authorized instructor who conducted the training, and that endorsement must be placed on that person's student pilot certificate fur the specific category of aircraft to be flown.
- Logbook endorsement
- A student pilot must have a sub cross-country endorsement from an authorized instructor that is placed in the student pilot's logbook in the specific make and model of aircraft to be flown.
- For each cross-country flight the authorized instructor who reviews the cross-country
planning must make an endorsement in the person's logbook after reviewing that person's
cross-country planning. The endorsement
- Specify the make and model of aircraft to be flown;
- State that the student's preflight planning and prepared and that the student is prepared to make the flight safely under the known conditions, and
- State that any limitations required by the student's authorized instructor are met.
Maneuvers and procedures for cross-country flight training in a single-engine airplane. A student pilot who is receiving training for cross-country flight in a single-engine airplane must receive and log flight training in the following maneuvers and procedures:
- Use of aeronautical charts for VFR navigation using pilotage and dead reckoning with the aid of a magnetic compass;
- Use of aircraft performance charts pertaining to cross-country flight;
- Procurement and analysis of aeronautical weather reports and forecasts, including recognition of critical weather situations and estimating visibility while in flight;
- Emergency procedures;
- Traffic pattern procedures that include area departure, area arrival, entry into the traffic pattern, and approach;
- Procedures and operating practices for collision avoidance, wake turbulence precautions, and windshear avoidance;
- Recognition, avoidance, and operational restrictions of hazardous terrain features in the geographical area where the cross-country flight will be flown;
- Procedures for operating the instruments and equipment installed in the aircraft to be flown, including recognition and use of the proper operational procedures and indications;
- Use of radios for VFR navigation and two-way communications;
- Takeoff, approach, and landing procedures. including short-field, soft-field, and crosswind takeoffs, approaches, and landings;
- Climbs at best angle and best rate; and
- Control and maneuvering solely by reference to flight instruments, including straight and level flight, turns, descents, climbs, use of radio aids, and ATC directives.
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§ 61.95 - Operations in Class B airspace and at airports located within Class B airspace.
- A student pilot may not operate an aircraft on a solo flight in Class B airspace unless:
- The student pilot has received both ground and flight training from an authorized instructor on that Class B airspace area, and the flight training was received in the specific Class B airspace area for which solo flight is authorized;
- The logbook of that student pilot has been endorsed by the authorized instructor who gave the student pilot flight training, and the endorsement is dated within the 90-day period preceding the date of the flight in that Class B airspace area; and
- The logbook endorsement specifies that the student pilot has received the required ground and flight training, and has been found proficient to conduct solo flight in that specific Class B airspace area.
- A student pilot may not operate an aircraft on a solo flight to, from, or at an airport
located within Class B airspace unless:
- The student pilot has received both ground and flight training from an instructor authorized to provide training to operate at that airport, and the flight and ground training has been received at the specific airport for which the solo flight is authorized;
- The logbook of that student pilot has been endorsed by an authorized instructor who gave the student pilot flight training, and the endorsement is dated within the 90-day period preceding the date of the flight at that airport; and
- The logbook endorsement specifies that the student pilot has received the required ground and flight training, and has been found proficient to conduct solo flight operations at that specific airport.
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