Section 9: FAA Documents

9-1 Federal Aviation Regulations

PART 61—Certification: Pilots, Flight Instructors, and Ground Instructors

Sec. 61.1: Applicability and definitions

1. This part prescribes:
   1. The requirements for issuing pilot, flight instructor, and ground instructor certificates and ratings; the conditions under which those certificates and ratings are necessary; and the privileges and limitations of those certificates and ratings.
   2. The requirements for issuing pilot, flight instructor, and ground instructor authorizations; the conditions under which those authorizations are necessary; and the privileges and limitations of those authorizations.
   3. The requirements for issuing pilot, flight instructor, and ground instructor certificates and ratings for persons who have taken courses approved by the Administrator under other parts of this chapter.

Sec. 61.3: Requirement for certificates, ratings, and authorizations

1. Required pilot certificate for operating a civil aircraft of the United States. No person may serve as a required pilot flight crewmember of a civil aircraft of the United States, unless that person:
   1. Has in the person’s physical possession or readily accessible in the aircraft when exercising the privileges of that pilot certificate or authorization—
      1. A pilot certificate issued under this part and in accordance with § 61.19;
   2. Has a photo identification that is in that person’s physical possession or readily accessible in the aircraft when exercising the privileges of that pilot certificate or authorization.
2. Medical certificate.
   1. A person may serve as a required pilot flight crewmember of an aircraft only if that person holds the appropriate medical certificate issued under part 67 of this chapter, or other documentation acceptable to the FAA, that is in that person’s physical possession or readily accessible in the aircraft.
3. Inspection of certificate. Each person who holds an airman certificate, medical certificate, authorization or license required by this part must present it and their photo identification as described in paragraph (a)(2) of this section for inspection upon a request from:
   1. The Administrator;
   2. An authorized representative of the National Transportation Safety Board;
   3. Any Federal, State, or local law enforcement officer; or
   4. An authorized representative of the Transportation Security Administration.

1. Operations requiring a medical certificate.
   1. Must hold at least a second class medical certificate when exercising:
      1. Privileges of a commercial pilot certificate;

Sec. 61.51: Pilot logbooks

1. Presentation of required documents.
   1. Persons must present their pilot certificate, medical certificate, logbook, or any other record required by this part for inspection upon a reasonable request by—
      1. The Administrator;
      2. An authorized representative from the National Transportation Safety Board; or
      3. Any Federal, State, or local law enforcement officer.

Sec. 61.56: Flight review

1. Except as provided in paragraphs (d), (e), and (g) of this section, no person may act as pilot in command 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 endorsed from an authorized instructor who gave the review certifying that the person has satisfactorily completed the review.

Sec. 61.57: Recent flight experience: Pilot in command

1. General experience.
   1. Except as provided in paragraph (e) of this section, no person may act as a pilot in command of an aircraft carrying passengers or of an aircraft certificated for more than one pilot flight crewmember 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 (if a type rating is required), and, if the aircraft to be flown is an airplane with a tailwheel, the takeoffs and landings must have been made to a full stop in an airplane with a tailwheel.

Sec. 61.133: Commercial pilot privileges and limitations

1. Privileges —
   1. General. A person who holds a commercial pilot certificate may act as pilot in command of an aircraft—
      1. Carrying persons or property for compensation or hire, provided the person is qualified in accordance with this part and with the applicable parts of this chapter that apply to the operation; and
      2. For compensation or hire, provided the person is qualified in accordance with this part and with the applicable parts of this chapter that apply to the operation.