570 

14 CFR Ch. I (1–1–24 Edition) 

§ 61.195 

§ 61.195

Flight instructor limitations 

and qualifications. 

A person who holds a flight instruc-

tor certificate is subject to the fol-
lowing limitations: 

(a) 

Hours of training. In any 24-con-

secutive-hour period, a flight instruc-
tor may not conduct more than 8 hours 
of flight training. 

(b) 

Aircraft ratings. Except as pro-

vided in paragraph (c) of this section, a 
flight instructor may not conduct 
flight training in any aircraft unless 
the flight instructor: 

(1) Holds a flight instructor certifi-

cate with the applicable category and 
class rating; 

(2) Holds a pilot certificate with the 

applicable category and class rating; 
and 

(3) Meets the requirements of para-

graph (e) of this section, if applicable. 

(c) 

Instrument rating. A flight instruc-

tor may conduct instrument training 
for the issuance of an instrument rat-
ing, a type rating not limited to VFR, 
or the instrument training required for 
commercial pilot and airline transport 
pilot certificates if the following re-
quirements are met: 

(1) Except as provided in paragraph 

(c)(2) of this section, the flight instruc-
tor must hold an instrument rating ap-
propriate to the aircraft used for the 
instrument training on his or her flight 
instructor certificate, and— 

(i) Meet the requirements of para-

graph (b) of this section; or 

(ii) Hold a commercial pilot certifi-

cate or airline transport pilot certifi-
cate with the appropriate category and 
class ratings for the aircraft in which 
the instrument training is conducted 
provided the pilot receiving instrument 
training holds a pilot certificate with 
category and class ratings appropriate 
to the aircraft in which the instrument 
training is being conducted. 

(2) If the flight instructor is con-

ducting the instrument training in a 
multiengine airplane, the flight in-
structor must hold an instrument rat-
ing appropriate to the aircraft used for 
the instrument training on his or her 
flight instructor certificate and meet 
the requirements of paragraph (b) of 
this section. 

(d) 

Limitations on endorsements. A 

flight instructor may not endorse a: 

(1) Student pilot’s logbook for solo 

flight privileges, unless that flight in-
structor has— 

(i) Given that student the flight 

training required for solo flight privi-
leges required by this part; and 

(ii) Determined that the student is 

prepared to conduct the flight safely 
under known circumstances, subject to 
any limitations listed in the student’s 
logbook that the instructor considers 
necessary for the safety of the flight. 

(2) Student pilot’s logbook for a solo 

cross-country flight, unless that flight 
instructor has determined the stu-
dent’s flight preparation, planning, 
equipment, and proposed procedures 
are adequate for the proposed flight 
under the existing conditions and with-
in any limitations listed in the logbook 
that the instructor considers necessary 
for the safety of the flight; 

(3) Student pilot’s logbook for solo 

flight in a Class B airspace area or at 
an airport within Class B airspace un-
less that flight instructor has— 

(i) Given that student ground and 

flight training in that Class B airspace 
or at that airport; and 

(ii) Determined that the student is 

proficient to operate the aircraft safe-
ly. 

(4) Logbook of a recreational pilot, 

unless that flight instructor has— 

(i) Given that pilot the ground and 

flight training required by this part; 
and 

(ii) Determined that the recreational 

pilot is proficient to operate the air-
craft safely. 

(5) Logbook of a pilot for a flight re-

view, unless that instructor has con-
ducted a review of that pilot in accord-
ance with the requirements of § 61.56(a) 
of this part; or 

(6) Logbook of a pilot for an instru-

ment proficiency check, unless that in-
structor has tested that pilot in ac-
cordance with the requirements of 
§ 61.57(d) of this part. 

(e) 

Training in an aircraft that requires 

a type rating. A flight instructor may 
not give flight instruction, including 
instrument training, in an aircraft 
that requires the pilot in command to 
hold a type rating unless the flight in-
structor holds a type rating for that 
aircraft on his or her pilot certificate. 

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571 

Federal Aviation Administration, DOT 

§ 61.195 

(f) 

Training received in a multiengine 

airplane, a helicopter, or a powered-lift. A 
flight instructor may not give training 
required for the issuance of a certifi-
cate or rating in a multiengine air-
plane, a helicopter, or a powered-lift 
unless that flight instructor has at 
least 5 flight hours of pilot-in-com-
mand time in the specific make and 
model of multiengine airplane, heli-
copter, or powered-lift, as appropriate. 

(g) 

Position in aircraft and required 

pilot stations for providing flight training. 
(1) A flight instructor must perform all 
training from in an aircraft that com-
plies with the requirements of § 91.109 
of this chapter. 

(2) A flight instructor who provides 

flight training for a pilot certificate or 
rating issued under this part must pro-
vide that flight training in an aircraft 
that meets the following require-
ments— 

(i) The aircraft must have at least 

two pilot stations and be of the same 
category, class, and type, if appro-
priate, that applies to the pilot certifi-
cate or rating sought. 

(ii) For single-place aircraft, the pre- 

solo flight training must have been 
provided in an aircraft that has two 
pilot stations and is of the same cat-
egory, class, and type, if appropriate. 

(h) 

Qualifications of the flight instruc-

tor for training first-time flight instructor 
applicants. (1) The ground training pro-
vided to an initial applicant for a flight 
instructor certificate must be given by 
an authorized instructor who— 

(i) Holds a ground or flight instructor 

certificate with the appropriate rating, 
has held that certificate for at least 24 
calendar months, and has given at 
least 40 hours of ground training; or 

(ii) Holds a ground or flight instruc-

tor certificate with the appropriate 
rating, and has given at least 100 hours 
of ground training in an FAA-approved 
course. 

(2) Except for an instructor who 

meets the requirements of paragraph 
(h)(3)(ii) of this section, a flight in-
structor who provides training to an 
initial applicant for a flight instructor 
certificate must— 

(i) Meet the eligibility requirements 

prescribed in § 61.183 of this part; 

(ii) Hold the appropriate flight in-

structor certificate and rating; 

(iii) Have held a flight instructor cer-

tificate for at least 24 months; 

(iv) For training in preparation for 

an airplane, rotorcraft, or powered-lift 
rating, have given at least 200 hours of 
flight training as a flight instructor; 
and 

(v) For training in preparation for a 

glider rating, have given at least 80 
hours of flight training as a flight in-
structor. 

(3) A flight instructor who serves as a 

flight instructor in an FAA-approved 
course for the issuance of a flight in-
structor rating must hold a flight in-
structor certificate with the appro-
priate rating and pass the required ini-
tial and recurrent flight instructor pro-
ficiency tests, in accordance with the 
requirements of the part under which 
the FAA-approved course is conducted, 
and must— 

(i) Meet the requirements of para-

graph (h)(2) of this section; or 

(ii) Have trained and endorsed at 

least five applicants for a practical test 
for a pilot certificate, flight instructor 
certificate, ground instructor certifi-
cate, or an additional rating, and at 
least 80 percent of those applicants 
passed that test on their first attempt; 
and 

(A) Given at least 400 hours of flight 

training as a flight instructor for 
training in an airplane, a rotorcraft, or 
for a powered-lift rating; or 

(B) Given at least 100 hours of flight 

training as a flight instructor, for 
training in a glider rating. 

(i) 

Prohibition against self-endorse-

ments.  A flight instructor shall not 
make any self-endorsement for a cer-
tificate, rating, flight review, author-
ization, operating privilege, practical 
test, or knowledge test that is required 
by this part. 

(j) 

Additional qualifications required to 

give training in Category II or Category 
III operations. A flight instructor may 
not give training in Category II or Cat-
egory III operations unless the flight 
instructor has been trained and tested 
in Category II or Category III oper-
ations, pursuant to § 61.67 or § 61.68 of 
this part, as applicable. 

(k) 

Training for night vision goggle op-

erations.  A flight instructor may not 

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572 

14 CFR Ch. I (1–1–24 Edition) 

§ 61.197 

conduct training for night vision gog-
gle operations unless the flight instruc-
tor: 

(1) Has a pilot and flight instructor 

certificate with the applicable cat-
egory and class rating for the training; 

(2) If appropriate, has a type rating 

on his or her pilot certificate for the 
aircraft; 

(3) Is pilot in command qualified for 

night vision goggle operations, in ac-
cordance with § 61.31(k); 

(4) Has logged 100 night vision goggle 

operations as the sole manipulator of 
the controls; 

(5) Has logged 20 night vision goggle 

operations as the sole manipulator of 
the controls in the category and class, 
and type of aircraft, if aircraft class 
and type is appropriate, that the train-
ing will be given in; 

(6) Is qualified to act as pilot in com-

mand in night vision goggle operations 
under § 61.57(f) or (g); and 

(7) Has a logbook endorsement from 

an FAA Aviation Safety Inspector or a 
person who is authorized by the FAA to 
provide that logbook endorsement that 
states the flight instructor is author-
ized to perform the night vision goggle 
pilot in command qualification and re-
cent flight experience requirements 
under § 61.31(k) and § 61.57(f) and (g). 

(l) 

Training on control and maneu-

vering an aircraft solely by reference to 
the instruments. A flight instructor may 
conduct flight training on control and 
maneuvering an airplane solely by ref-
erence to the flight instruments, pro-
vided the flight instructor— 

(1) Holds a flight instructor certifi-

cate with the applicable category and 
class rating; or 

(2) Holds an instrument rating appro-

priate to the aircraft used for the 
training on his or her flight instructor 
certificate, and holds a commercial 
pilot certificate or airline transport 
pilot certificate with the appropriate 
category and class ratings for the air-
craft in which the training is con-
ducted provided the pilot receiving the 
training holds a pilot certificate with 
category and class ratings appropriate 

to the aircraft in which the training is 
being conducted. 

[Doc. No. 25910, 62 FR 16298, Apr. 4, 1997; 
Amdt. 61–103, 62 FR 40907, July 30, 1997; 
Amdt. 61–124, 74 FR 42561, Aug. 21, 2009; Dock-
et FAA–2010–1127, Amdt. 61–135, 81 FR 1307, 
Jan. 12, 2016; Docket FAA–2016–6142, Amdt. 
61–142, 83 FR 30729, June 27, 2018] 

§ 61.197

Renewal requirements for 

flight instructor certification. 

(a) A person who holds a flight in-

structor certificate that has not ex-
pired may renew that flight instructor 
certificate by— 

(1) Passing a practical test for— 
(i) One of the ratings listed on the 

current flight instructor certificate; or 

(ii) An additional flight instructor 

rating; or 

(2) Submitting a completed and 

signed application with the FAA and 
satisfactorily completing one of the 
following renewal requirements— 

(i) A record of training students 

showing that, during the preceding 24 
calendar months, the flight instructor 
has endorsed at least 5 students for a 
practical test for a certificate or rating 
and at least 80 percent of those stu-
dents passed that test on the first at-
tempt. 

(ii) A record showing that, within the 

preceding 24 calendar months, the 
flight instructor has served as a com-
pany check pilot, chief flight instruc-
tor, company check airman, or flight 
instructor in a part 121 or part 135 oper-
ation, or in a position involving the 
regular evaluation of pilots. 

(iii) A graduation certificate showing 

that, within the preceding 3 calendar 
months, the person has successfully 
completed an approved flight instruc-
tor refresher course consisting of 
ground training or flight training, or a 
combination of both. 

(iv) A record showing that, within 

the preceding 24 months from the 
month of application, the flight in-
structor passed an official U.S. Armed 
Forces military instructor pilot or 
pilot examiner proficiency check in an 
aircraft for which the military instruc-
tor already holds a rating or in an air-
craft for an additional rating. 

(b) The expiration month of a re-

newed flight instructor certificate 
shall be 24 calendar months from— 

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