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196 

14 CFR Ch. I (1–1–24 Edition) 

§ 121.440 

person has made at least three takeoffs 
and landings in the type airplane in 
which that person is to serve. The 
takeoffs and landings required by this 
paragraph may be performed in a Level 
B or higher FFS approved under 
§ 121.407 to include takeoff and landing 
maneuvers. In addition, any person 
who fails to make the three required 
takeoffs and landings within any con-
secutive 90-day period must re-estab-
lish recency of experience as provided 
in paragraph (b) of this section. 

(b) In addition to meeting all applica-

ble training and checking requirements 
of this part, a required pilot flightcrew 
member who has not met the require-
ments of paragraph (a) of this section 
must re-establish recency of experience 
as follows: 

(1) Under the supervision of a check 

airman, make at least three takeoffs 
and landings in the type airplane in 
which that person is to serve or in a 
Level B or higher FFS. 

(2) The takeoffs and landings re-

quired in paragraph (b)(1) of this sec-
tion must include— 

(i) At least one takeoff with a simu-

lated failure of the most critical pow-
erplant; 

(ii) At least one landing from an ILS 

approach to the lowest ILS minimum 
authorized for the certificate holder; 
and 

(iii) At least one landing to a full 

stop. 

(c) [Reserved] 
(d) When using an FFS to accomplish 

any of the requirements of paragraphs 
(a) or (b) of this section, each required 
flightcrew member position must be 
occupied by an appropriately qualified 
person, and the FFS must be operated 
as if in a normal inflight environment 
without use of the repositioning fea-
tures of the FFS. 

(e) A check airman who observes the 

takeoffs and landings prescribed in 
paragraph (b)(1) of this section shall 
certify that the person being observed 
is proficient and qualified to perform 
flight duty in operations under this 
part and may require any additional 
maneuvers that are determined nec-
essary to make this certifying state-
ment. 

(f) Deviation authority based upon 

designation of related aircraft in ac-
cordance with § 121.418(b). 

(1) The Administrator may authorize 

a deviation from the requirements of 
paragraph (a) of this section based 
upon a designation of related aircraft 
in accordance with § 121.418(b) of this 
part and a determination that the cer-
tificate holder can demonstrate an 
equivalent level of safety. 

(2) A request for deviation from para-

graph (a) of this section must be sub-
mitted to the Administrator. The re-
quest must include the following: 

(i) Identification of aircraft operated 

by the certificate holder designated as 
related aircraft. 

(ii) The number of takeoffs, landings, 

maneuvers, and procedures necessary 
to maintain or re-establish recency 
based on review of the related aircraft, 
the operation, and the duty position. 

(3) The administrator may, at any 

time, terminate a grant of deviation 
authority issued under this paragraph 
(f). 

[Doc. No. 16383, 43 FR 22648, May 25, 1978, as 
amended by Amdt. 121–148, 43 FR 46235, Oct. 
5, 1978; Amdt. 121–179, 47 FR 33390, Aug. 2, 
1982; Amdt. 121–366, 78 FR 67841, Nov. 12, 2013; 
Amdt. 121–382, 85 FR 10926, Feb. 25, 2020] 

§ 121.440 Line checks. 

(a) No certificate holder may use any 

person nor may any person serve as 
pilot in command of an airplane unless, 
within the preceding 12 calendar 
months, that person has passed a line 
check in which he satisfactorily per-
forms the duties and responsibilities of 
a pilot in command in one of the types 
of airplanes he is to fly. 

(b) A pilot in command line check for 

domestic and flag operations must— 

(1) Be given by a pilot check airman 

who is currently qualified on both the 
route and the airplane; and 

(2) Consist of at least one flight over 

a typical part of the certificate hold-
er’s route, or over a foreign or Federal 
airway, or over a direct route. 

(c) A pilot in command line check for 

supplemental operations must— 

(1) Be given by a pilot check airman 

who is currently qualified on the air-
plane; and 

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197 

Federal Aviation Administration, DOT 

§ 121.441 

(2) Consist of at least one flight over 

a part of a Federal airway, foreign air-
way, or advisory route over which the 
pilot may be assigned. 

[Doc. No. 9509, 35 FR 96, Jan. 3, 1970, as 
amended by Amdt. 121–143, 43 FR 22642, May 
25, 1978; Amdt. 121–253, 61 FR 2612, Jan. 26, 
1996; Amdt. 121–344, 74 FR 34235, July 15, 2009; 
Amdt. 121–359, 77 FR 34785, June 12, 2012] 

§ 121.441 Proficiency checks. 

(a) No certificate holder may use any 

person nor may any person serve as a 
required pilot flight crewmember un-
less that person has satisfactorily com-
pleted either a proficiency check, or an 
approved FFS course of training under 
§ 121.409, as follows: 

(1) For a pilot in command— 
(i) Before March 12, 2019, 
(A) A proficiency check within the 

preceding 12 calendar months and, 

(B) In addition, within the preceding 

6 calendar months, either a proficiency 
check or the approved FFS course of 
training. 

(ii) Beginning on March 12, 2019, 
(A) A proficiency check within the 

preceding 12 calendar months in the 
aircraft type in which the person is to 
serve and, 

(B) In addition, within the preceding 

6 calendar months, either a proficiency 
check or the approved FFS course of 
training. 

(2) For all other pilots— 
(i) Within the preceding 24 calendar 

months either a proficiency check or 
the line-oriented flight training course 
under § 121.409; and 

(ii) Within the preceding 12 calendar 

months, either a proficiency check or 
any FFS training course under § 121.409 

(b) Except as provided in paragraphs 

(c) and (d) of this section, a proficiency 
check must meet the following require-
ments: 

(1) It must include at least the proce-

dures and maneuvers set forth in ap-
pendix F to this part unless otherwise 
specifically provided in that appendix. 

(2) It must be given by the Adminis-

trator or a pilot check airman. 

(c) An approved FFS or FTD may be 

used in the conduct of a proficiency 
check as provided in appendix F to this 
part. 

(d) A person giving a proficiency 

check may, in his or her discretion, 

waive any of the maneuvers or proce-
dures for which a specific waiver au-
thority is set forth in Appendix F of 
this part if the conditions in para-
graphs (d)(1) through (3) of this section 
are satisfied: 

(1) The Administrator has not specifi-

cally required the particular maneuver 
or procedure to be performed. 

(2) The pilot being checked is, at the 

time of the check, employed by a cer-
tificate holder as a pilot. 

(3) The pilot being checked meets one 

of the following conditions: 

(i) The pilot is currently qualified for 

operations under this part in the par-
ticular type airplane and flightcrew 
member position. 

(ii) The pilot has, within the pre-

ceding six calendar months, satisfac-
torily completed an approved training 
curriculum, except for an upgrade 
training curriculum in accordance with 
§§ 121.420 and 121.426, for the particular 
type airplane. 

(e) If the pilot being checked fails 

any of the required maneuvers, the per-
son giving the proficiency check may 
give additional training to the pilot 
during the course of the proficiency 
check. In addition to repeating the ma-
neuvers failed, the person giving the 
proficiency check may require the 
pilot being checked to repeat any other 
maneuvers he finds are necessary to de-
termine the pilot’s proficiency. If the 
pilot being checked is unable to dem-
onstrate satisfactory performance to 
the person conducting the check, the 
certificate holder may not use him nor 
may he serve in operations under this 
part until he has satisfactorily com-
pleted a proficiency check. 

(f) Deviation authority based upon 

designation of related aircraft in ac-
cordance with § 121.418(b) of this part. 

(1) The Administrator may authorize 

a deviation from the proficiency check 
requirements of paragraphs (a), (b)(1), 
and (c) of this section based upon a des-
ignation of related aircraft in accord-
ance with § 121.418(b) of this part and a 
determination that the certificate 
holder can demonstrate an equivalent 
level of safety. 

(2) A request for deviation from para-

graphs (a), (b)(1), and (c) of this section