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546 

14 CFR Ch. I (1–1–24 Edition) 

§ 61.115 

(g) A private pilot who meets the re-

quirements of § 61.69 may act as a pilot 
in command of an aircraft towing a 
glider or unpowered ultralight vehicle. 

(h) A private pilot may act as pilot in 

command for the purpose of conducting 
a production flight test in a light-sport 
aircraft intended for certification in 
the light-sport category under § 21.190 
of this chapter, provided that— 

(1) The aircraft is a powered para-

chute or a weight-shift-control air-
craft; 

(2) The person has at least 100 hours 

of pilot-in-command time in the cat-
egory and class of aircraft flown; and 

(3) The person is familiar with the 

processes and procedures applicable to 
the conduct of production flight test-
ing, to include operations conducted 
under a special flight permit and any 
associated operating limitations. 

(i) A private pilot may act as pilot in 

command or serve as a required 
flightcrew member of an aircraft with-
out holding a medical certificate issued 
under part 67 of this chapter provided 
the pilot holds a valid U.S. driver’s li-
cense, meets the requirements of 
§ 61.23(c)(3), and complies with this sec-
tion and all of the following conditions 
and limitations: 

(1) The aircraft is authorized to carry 

not more than 6 occupants, has a max-
imum takeoff weight of not more than 
6,000 pounds, and is operated with no 
more than five passengers on board; 
and 

(2) The flight, including each portion 

of the flight, is not carried out— 

(i) At an altitude that is more than 

18,000 feet above mean sea level; 

(ii) Outside the United States unless 

authorized by the country in which the 
flight is conducted; or 

(iii) At an indicated airspeed exceed-

ing 250 knots; and 

(3) The pilot has available in his or 

her logbook— 

(i) The completed medical examina-

tion checklist required under § 68.7 of 
this chapter; and 

(ii) The certificate of course comple-

tion required under § 61.23(c)(3). 

[Doc. No. 25910, 62 FR 16298, Apr. 4, 1997, as 
amended by Amdt. 61–110, 69 FR 44869, July 
27, 2004; Amdt. 61–115, 72 FR 6910, Feb. 13, 
2007; Amdt. 61–125, 75 FR 5220, Feb. 1, 2010; 
Docket FAA–2016–9157, Amdt. 61–140, 82 FR 
3165, Jan. 11, 2017; Docket No. FAA–2021–1040, 
Amdt. Nos. 61–152, 87 FR 71237, Nov. 22, 2022] 

§ 61.115

Balloon rating: Limitations. 

(a) If a person who applies for a pri-

vate pilot certificate with a balloon 
rating takes a practical test in a bal-
loon with an airborne heater: 

(1) The pilot certificate will contain 

a limitation restricting the exercise of 
the privileges of that certificate to a 
balloon with an airborne heater; and 

(2) The limitation may be removed 

when the person obtains the required 
aeronautical experience in a gas bal-
loon and receives a logbook endorse-
ment from an authorized instructor 
who attests to the person’s accomplish-
ment of the required aeronautical ex-
perience and ability to satisfactorily 
operate a gas balloon. 

(b) If a person who applies for a pri-

vate pilot certificate with a balloon 
rating takes a practical test in a gas 
balloon: 

(1) The pilot certificate will contain 

a limitation restricting the exercise of 
the privilege of that certificate to a 
gas balloon; and 

(2) The limitation may be removed 

when the person obtains the required 
aeronautical experience in a balloon 
with an airborne heater and receives a 
logbook endorsement from an author-
ized instructor who attests to the per-
son’s accomplishment of the required 
aeronautical experience and ability to 
satisfactorily operate a balloon with an 
airborne heater. 

§ 61.117

Private pilot privileges and 

limitations: Second in command of 
aircraft requiring more than one 
pilot. 

Except as provided in § 61.113 of this 

part, no private pilot may, for com-
pensation or hire, act as second in com-
mand of an aircraft that is type certifi-
cated for more than one pilot, nor may 
that pilot act as second in command of 

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547 

Federal Aviation Administration, DOT 

§ 61.125 

such an aircraft that is carrying pas-
sengers or property for compensation 
or hire. 

[Doc. No. 25910, 62 FR 16298, Apr. 4, 1997; 
Amdt. 61–103, 62 FR 40904, July 30, 1997] 

§§ 61.118–61.120

[Reserved] 

Subpart F—Commercial Pilots 

§ 61.121

Applicability. 

This subpart prescribes the require-

ments for the issuance of commercial 
pilot certificates and ratings, the con-
ditions under which those certificates 
and ratings are necessary, and the gen-
eral operating rules for persons who 
hold those certificates and ratings. 

§ 61.123

Eligibility requirements: Gen-

eral. 

To be eligible for a commercial pilot 

certificate, a person must: 

(a) Be at least 18 years of age; 
(b) 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 rea-
sons, then the Administrator may 
place such operating limitations on 
that applicant’s pilot certificate as are 
necessary for the safe operation of the 
aircraft. 

(c) Receive a logbook endorsement 

from an authorized instructor who: 

(1) Conducted the required ground 

training or reviewed the person’s home 
study on the aeronautical knowledge 
areas listed in § 61.125 of this part that 
apply to the aircraft category and class 
rating sought; and 

(2) Certified that the person is pre-

pared for the required knowledge test 
that applies to the aircraft category 
and class rating sought. 

(d) Pass the required knowledge test 

on the aeronautical knowledge areas 
listed in § 61.125 of this part; 

(e) Receive the required training and 

a logbook endorsement from an author-
ized instructor who: 

(1) Conducted the training on the 

areas of operation listed in § 61.127(b) of 
this part that apply to the aircraft cat-
egory and class rating sought; and 

(2) Certified that the person is pre-

pared for the required practical test. 

(f) Meet the aeronautical experience 

requirements of this subpart that apply 

to the aircraft category and class rat-
ing sought before applying for the prac-
tical test; 

(g) Pass the required practical test 

on the areas of operation listed in 
§ 61.127(b) of this part that apply to the 
aircraft category and class rating 
sought; 

(h) Hold at least a private pilot cer-

tificate issued under this part or meet 
the requirements of § 61.73; and 

(i) Comply with the sections of this 

part that apply to the aircraft category 
and class rating sought. 

§ 61.125

Aeronautical knowledge. 

(a) 

General.  A person who applies for 

a commercial pilot certificate must re-
ceive and log ground training from an 
authorized instructor, or complete a 
home-study course, on the aeronautical 
knowledge areas of paragraph (b) of 
this section that apply to the aircraft 
category and class rating sought. 

(b) 

Aeronautical knowledge areas. (1) 

Applicable Federal Aviation Regula-
tions of this chapter that relate to 
commercial pilot privileges, limita-
tions, and flight operations; 

(2) Accident reporting requirements 

of the National Transportation Safety 
Board; 

(3) Basic aerodynamics and the prin-

ciples of flight; 

(4) Meteorology to include recogni-

tion of critical weather situations, 
windshear recognition and avoidance, 
and the use of aeronautical weather re-
ports and forecasts; 

(5) Safe and efficient operation of air-

craft; 

(6) Weight and balance computations; 
(7) Use of performance charts; 
(8) Significance and effects of exceed-

ing aircraft performance limitations; 

(9) Use of aeronautical charts and a 

magnetic compass for pilotage and 
dead reckoning; 

(10) Use of air navigation facilities; 
(11) Aeronautical decision making 

and judgment; 

(12) Principles and functions of air-

craft systems; 

(13) Maneuvers, procedures, and 

emergency operations appropriate to 
the aircraft; 

(14) Night and high-altitude oper-

ations; 

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