Pilot and Aircraft Requirements for Safe Flight

Task A: Pilot Qualifications

This task focuses on what makes you, the pilot, legally qualified and prepared to fly.

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PA.I.A.K1 Certification requirements, recent flight experience, and recordkeeping. To be eligible for a private pilot certificate, you need to meet certain aeronautical experience requirements. This includes 40 hours of total flight time, of which 20 hours must be flight training from an authorized instructor and 10 hours must be solo flight. Within that solo time, you need 5 hours of solo cross-country time. You also need specific takeoffs and landings: 3 takeoffs and landings to a full stop at an airport with an operating control tower, and 10 takeoffs and landings to a full stop overall. You must also receive flight training and a logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor who covers the required knowledge and areas of operation, and who certifies you are prepared for the practical test. A prerequisite for the practical test is passing the airman knowledge test. Eligibility also includes holding a U.S. Student Pilot Certificate, Sport Pilot Certificate, Recreational Pilot Certificate, or a Private Pilot Certificate in a different aircraft category or class. To remain current as a private pilot, you are required to have a flight review every 24 calendar months from an instructor. To carry passengers (PAX), you need 3 takeoffs and landings within the preceding 90 days in the same aircraft category, class, and type (if a type rating is required). These can be touch-and-go landings. If you want to carry passengers at night, you need 3 takeoffs and landings to a full stop within the preceding 90 days, occurring 1 hour after sunset to 1 hour before sunrise. These takeoffs and landings are only required for carrying passengers, not for solo flights. Regarding recordkeeping, a private pilot does not need to carry their logbook. You only need to log what is required to show currency or the time needed for a certificate or rating. Your logbook is used to show endorsements and completed hours and is required for the checkride to verify eligibility.

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PA.I.A.K2 Privileges and limitations. As a private pilot, your privileges include the ability to act as pilot in command (PIC) and carry passengers. You may also fly for charity and conduct search and rescue operations. However, there are limitations. A private pilot cannot make money from flying passengers or property for compensation or hire. When flying with passengers, you may not pay less than your pro rata share of the operating expenses, which include fuel, oil, airport expenditures, or rental fees.

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PA.I.A.K3 Medical certificates: class, expiration, privileges, temporary disqualifications. For a private pilot certificate, a 3rd class medical certificate is required. There are three classes of medical certificates: first class, second class, and third class. Generally, a first-class medical is for airline transport pilots, a second class is for commercial pilots, and a third class is for student, recreational, and private pilots. The class of medical certificate determines the level of pilot certificate privileges you can exercise. The expiration date of a 3rd class medical certificate depends on your age. If you are under 40, it is valid for 60 calendar months. If you are 40 or older, it is valid for 24 calendar months. The medical certificate is good until the last day of the month it expires. A first-class medical, if obtained before age 40, is valid for exercising ATP privileges for 12 calendar months, commercial privileges for the next 12 months (24 total), and then private privileges for the remaining 36 months (60 total). If you fail to meet certain medical requirements or have physical disabilities, this might limit your ability to act as a pilot. Medical conditions require review by the FAA. Most disqualifying medical conditions can be considered for a special issuance if you can provide documentation that your condition is stable. You obtain a medical certificate by passing a physical examination administered by an FAA-authorized Aviation Medical Examiner (AME).

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PA.I.A.K4 Documents required to exercise private pilot privileges. When you are acting as pilot in command, you must have your pilot certificate, your medical certificate (or BasicMed documentation, discussed below), and a government-issued photo ID with you.

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PA.I.A.K5 Part 68 BasicMed privileges and limitations. Part 68 BasicMed provides an alternative way to meet the medical requirements for certain operations, primarily flights that are not for compensation or hire. To fly under BasicMed, you need to hold a current and valid U.S. driver’s license, have held an FAA medical certificate at any point after July 14, 2006, answer the health questions on the Comprehensive Medical Examination Checklist (CMEC), get a physical examination from any State-licensed physician and have them complete the CMEC (which you must keep), and take a BasicMed online medical education course (keeping the completion document). The comprehensive medical examination must occur within the previous 48 months. Pilots exercising private pilot privileges under BasicMed generally may not operate for compensation or hire, including carrying passengers or property for compensation.

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PA.I.A.R1 Proficiency versus currency. It is important to understand the difference between currency and proficiency. Currency means meeting the bare legal minimums required by regulations, such as the flight review every 24 months or the 3 takeoffs and landings every 90 days. Proficiency, on the other hand, means being competent, exercising good safety judgment, and making smart decisions. Proficiency involves knowing your limitations and setting personal minimums. Safe and competent piloting requires a commitment to learning, planning, and risk management that goes beyond merely performing maneuvers by rote. A pilot should perform a self-assessment as part of preflight preparation to determine if they are ready for the planned flight in terms of experience, recency, and physical/emotional condition.

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PA.I.A.R2 Flying unfamiliar aircraft or operating with unfamiliar flight display systems and avionics. Flying an unfamiliar aircraft or one with unfamiliar flight display systems and avionics is a risk that you must be able to identify, assess, and mitigate. It is essential to receive adequate training to ensure a complete understanding of the systems, their normal and emergency operation, and operating limitations when transitioning to different airplanes. Lack of knowledge about aircraft equipment and systems can lead to poor decisions. You should also be familiar with the pitot-static system, vacuum system, gyroscopic instruments, and the magnetic compass in the aircraft you are flying.

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Task B: Airworthiness Requirements

This task covers what makes the airplane itself legal and safe to fly.

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PA.I.B.K1 General airworthiness requirements and compliance for airplanes. For an airplane to be airworthy, it must conform to its type design and be in a condition for safe operation. While the owner/operator is primarily responsible for maintenance, the pilot in command (PIC) is responsible for determining whether the aircraft is in condition for safe flight. Before flying, the pilot must determine that the aircraft meets regulatory airworthiness standards and is in a safe mechanical condition.

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PA.I.B.K1a a. Location and expiration dates of required aircraft certificates. Certain documents must be on board or affixed to the aircraft. These include:

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A current Airworthiness Certificate. This is issued by the FAA and authorizes the aircraft to operate.

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A current Registration Certificate. Similar to a car registration, you must check the N number and expiration date. Aircraft registration is generally good for 7 calendar years.

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The Operating Handbook (POH/AFM), which must match the aircraft serial number. This contains operating limitations that pilots must comply with.

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A form with the exact weight and arm of the aircraft (Weight and balance). This information is typically found in the operating handbook, potentially with supplemental information for equipment changes.

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A Radio operators permit (only required if leaving the U.S.).

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All Placards in POH Section 2 must be visible for the aircraft to be airworthy. Additional placards may sometimes be required by Airworthiness Directives (AD).

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PA.I.B.K1b b. Required inspections and airplane logbook documentation. Aircraft must undergo regular inspections to maintain airworthiness. Key inspections include:

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Annual inspection: Required every 12 calendar months.

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100-hour inspection: Required if the aircraft is used for compensation or hire. (Not required for flights that are not for hire).

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Altimeter and Pitot-static system inspection: Required every 24 calendar months.

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Transponder inspection: Required every 24 calendar months.

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ELT inspection: Required every 12 calendar months and for battery replacement (after 1 cumulative hour of use or 50% shelf life). A 24-calendar month inspection interval for the ELT. Aircraft logbooks contain records of total operating time, repairs, alterations, inspections, and Airworthiness Directive (AD) compliance. A maintenance logbook should be kept for the airframe, each engine, and each propeller. AD compliance, including the fact, date, and method of compliance, must be recorded in the aircraft's maintenance records. Maintenance records are required for the practical test. Required discrepancy records are also part of airworthiness requirements.

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PA.I.B.K1c c. Airworthiness Directives and Special Airworthiness Information Bulletins. An Airworthiness Directive (AD) is issued by the FAA and is similar to a car recall. ADs mandate modifications or inspections to correct unsafe conditions found in an aircraft model. Compliance with applicable ADs is required and must be documented in the maintenance records. Special Airworthiness Information Bulletins (SAIBs) are also part of airworthiness requirements.

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PA.I.B.K1d d. Purpose and procedure for obtaining a special flight permit. A special flight permit, also called a ferry permit, is issued by the FAA. Its purpose is to allow an aircraft to be flown with a known issue that renders it otherwise unairworthy. The knowledge of the purpose and procedure for obtaining one is part of airworthiness requirements.

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PA.I.B.K1e e. Owner/Operator and pilot-in-command responsibilities. The owner/operator is primarily responsible for the maintenance of the aircraft. The pilot in command (PIC) is responsible for determining whether the aircraft is in a condition for safe flight before every flight. The PIC is directly responsible for and is the final authority as to the operation of the aircraft.

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PA.I.B.K2 Pilot-performed preventive maintenance. Certain simple or minor maintenance tasks, listed in 14 CFR part 43, appendix A, can be performed by certificated pilots. This is known as preventive maintenance. A pilot may perform preventive maintenance on an aircraft they own or operate, provided the aircraft is not used in air carrier service.

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PA.I.B.K3 Equipment requirements for day and night VFR flight, including: Minimum required equipment for flight under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) is listed in 14 CFR § 91.205.

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For Day VFR, required equipment includes: Airspeed indicator, Tachometer (for each engine), Oil pressure gauge, Magnetic compass/direction indicator, Altimeter, Temperature gauge (if water cooled), Oil temperature gauge (if air cooled), Fuel quantity indicator, Landing gear position indicator, Anti-collision lights (if manufactured after 1996), Manifold pressure gauge (for each altitude engine), ELT, and Seat belts.

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For Night VFR, in addition to the Day VFR equipment, the aircraft must have: Fuses (3 of a kind or a full set), Landing light (if for hire), Anti-collision light, Position light, and a Source of power.

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PA.I.B.K3a a. Flying with inoperative equipment. There is a procedure outlined in 14 CFR § 91.213 for determining if an aircraft is legal to fly with inoperative equipment. If the answer is "yes" to certain questions, the aircraft is not legal to fly. You must be able to apply appropriate procedures for operating with inoperative equipment.

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PA.I.B.K3b b. Using an approved Minimum Equipment List (MEL).An approved Minimum Equipment List (MEL) provides guidance on flying with certain inoperative equipment while maintaining airworthiness. If an aircraft has inoperative equipment and can be operated in accordance with 14 CFR § 91.213, it must be determined if the inoperative items are required for the practical test. It is essential to be familiar with the MEL if one is applicable.

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PA.I.B.K3c c. Kinds of Operation Equipment List (KOEL).The Kinds of Operation Equipment List (KOEL) is another document related to determining required equipment for specific types of operations.

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PA.I.B.K3d d. Required discrepancy records or placards. For an aircraft to be airworthy, all placards required by the POH Section 2 must be visible. Sometimes additional placards are required by an AD. Operating limitations may also be in the form of placards. Required discrepancy records or placards are part of airworthiness requirements knowledge.

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PA.I.B.K4 Standard and special airworthiness certificates and their associated operational limitations. The FAA issues standard airworthiness certificates to aircraft that have been proven to meet minimum standards set by regulations. These certificates come with associated operational limitations. A special flight permit is a type of special airworthiness certificate that allows flight with a known issue. These also have associated operational limitations.

 

By studying these points, you will gain a solid understanding of your responsibilities as a pilot and the requirements for the aircraft you fly, which will be essential for your private pilot exam.

**I'm not a CFI, don't forget to verify the information as times change. Email me for any updates that I might have missed.