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
198
14 CFR Ch. I (1–1–24 Edition)
§ 121.443
must be submitted to the Adminis-
trator. The request must include the
following:
(i) Identification of aircraft operated
by the certificate holder designated as
related aircraft.
(ii) Based on review of the related
aircraft, the operation, and the duty
position:
(A) For recurrent proficiency checks,
the frequency of the related aircraft
proficiency check, the maneuvers and
procedures to be included in the related
aircraft proficiency check, and the
level of FSTD to be used for each ma-
neuver and procedure.
(B) For qualification proficiency
checks, the maneuvers and procedures
to be included in the related aircraft
proficiency check and the level of
FSTD to be used for each maneuver
and procedure.
(3) The administrator may, at any
time, terminate a grant of deviation
authority issued under this paragraph
(f).
[Doc. No. 9509, 35 FR 96, Jan. 3, 1970, as
amended by Amdt. 121–103, 38 FR 12203, May
10, 1973, Amdt. 121–108, 38 FR 35446, Dec. 28,
1973; Amdt. 121–144, 43 FR 22648, May 25, 1978;
Amdt. 121–263, 62 FR 13791, Mar. 21, 1997;
Amdt. 121–366, 78 FR 67841, Nov. 12, 2013;
Docket FAA–2016–9526, Amdt. 121–377, 81 FR
90983, Dec. 16, 2016; Amdt. 121–377A, 81 FR
95860, Dec. 29, 2016; Amdt. 121–377B, 83 FR
12475, Mar. 22, 2018; Amdt. 121–382, 85 FR
10926, Feb. 25, 2020]
§ 121.443 Pilot in command qualifica-
tion: Route and airports.
(a) Each certificate holder shall pro-
vide a system acceptable to the Admin-
istrator for disseminating the informa-
tion required by paragraph (b) of this
section to the pilot in command and
appropriate flight operation personnel.
The system must also provide an ac-
ceptable means for showing compliance
with § 121.445.
(b) No certificate holder may use any
person, nor may any person serve, as
pilot in command unless the certificate
holder has provided that person cur-
rent information concerning the fol-
lowing subjects pertinent to the areas
over which that person is to serve, and
to each airport and terminal area into
which that person is to operate, and
ensures that that person has adequate
knowledge of, and the ability to use,
the information:
(1) Weather characteristics appro-
priate to the season.
(2) Navigation facilities.
(3) Communication procedures, in-
cluding airport visual aids.
(4) Kinds of terrain and obstructions.
(5) Minimum safe flight levels.
(6) En route and terminal area ar-
rival and departure procedures, holding
procedures and authorized instrument
approach procedures for the airports
involved.
(7) Congested areas and physical lay-
out of each airport in the terminal area
in which the pilot will operate.
(8) Notices to Airmen.
[Doc. No. 17897, 45 FR 41594, June 19, 1980;
Amdt. 121–159, 45 FR 43154, June 26, 1980]
§ 121.445 Pilot in command airport
qualification: Special areas and air-
ports.
(a) The Administrator may deter-
mine that certain airports (due to
items such as surrounding terrain, ob-
structions, or complex approach or de-
parture procedures) are special airports
requiring special airport qualifications
and that certain areas or routes, or
both, require a special type of naviga-
tion qualification.
(b) Except as provided in paragraph
(c) of this section, no certificate holder
may use any person, nor may any per-
son serve, as pilot in command to or
from an airport determined to require
special airport qualifications unless,
within the preceding 12 calendar
months:
(1) The pilot in command or second in
command has made an entry to that
airport (including a takeoff and land-
ing) while serving as a pilot flight
crewmember; or
(2) The pilot in command has quali-
fied by using pictorial means accept-
able to the Administrator for that air-
port.
(c) Paragraph (b) of this section does
not apply when an entry to that air-
port (including a takeoff or a landing)
is being made if the ceiling at that air-
port is at least 1,000 feet above the low-
est MEA or MOCA, or initial approach
altitude prescribed for the instrument
approach procedure for that airport,