467 

Federal Aviation Administration, DOT 

§ 61.3 

§ 61.2

Exercise of Privilege. 

(a) 

Validity. No person may: 

(1) Exercise privileges of a certifi-

cate, rating, endorsement, or author-
ization issued under this part if the 
certificate, rating or authorization is 
surrendered, suspended, revoked or ex-
pired. 

(2) Exercise privileges of a flight in-

structor certificate if that flight in-
structor certificate is surrendered, sus-
pended, revoked or expired. 

(3) Exercise privileges of a foreign 

pilot certificate to operate an aircraft 
of foreign registry under § 61.3(b) if the 
certificate is surrendered, suspended, 
revoked or expired. 

(4) Exercise privileges of a pilot cer-

tificate issued under § 61.75, or an au-
thorization issued under § 61.77, if the 
foreign pilot certificate relied upon for 
the issuance of the U.S. pilot certifi-
cate or authorization is surrendered, 
suspended, revoked or expired. 

(5) Exercise privileges of a medical 

certificate issued under part 67 to meet 
any requirements of part 61 if the med-
ical certificate is surrendered, sus-
pended, revoked or expired according 
to the duration standards set forth in 
§ 61.23(d). 

(6) Use an official government issued 

driver’s license to meet any require-
ments of part 61 related to holding that 
driver’s license, if the driver’s license 
is surrendered, suspended, revoked or 
expired. 

(b) 

Currency. No person may: 

(1) Exercise privileges of an airman 

certificate, rating, endorsement, or au-
thorization issued under this part un-
less that person meets the appropriate 
airman and medical recency require-
ments of this part, specific to the oper-
ation or activity. 

(2) Exercise privileges of a foreign 

pilot license within the United States 
to conduct an operation described in 
§ 61.3(b), unless that person meets the 
appropriate airman and medical 
recency requirements of the country 
that issued the license, specific to the 
operation. 

[Doc. No. FAA–2006–26661, 74 FR 42546, Aug. 
21, 2009] 

§ 61.3

Requirement for certificates, 

ratings, and authorizations. 

(a) 

Required pilot certificate for oper-

ating a civil aircraft of the United States. 
No person may serve as a required pilot 
flight crewmember of a civil aircraft of 
the United States, unless that person: 

(1) Has in the person’s physical pos-

session or readily accessible in the air-
craft when exercising the privileges of 
that pilot certificate or authoriza-
tion— 

(i) A pilot certificate issued under 

this part and in accordance with § 61.19; 

(ii) A special purpose pilot authoriza-

tion issued under § 61.77; 

(iii) A temporary certificate issued 

under § 61.17; 

(iv) A document conveying tem-

porary authority to exercise certificate 
privileges issued by the Airmen Certifi-
cation Branch under § 61.29(e); 

(v) When engaged in a flight oper-

ation within the United States for a 
part 119 certificate holder authorized 
to conduct operations under part 121 or 
135 of this chapter, a temporary docu-
ment provided by that certificate hold-
er under an approved certificate 
verification plan; 

(vi) When engaged in a flight oper-

ation within the United States for a 
fractional ownership program manager 
authorized to conduct operations under 
part 91, subpart K, of this chapter, a 
temporary document provided by that 
program manager under an approved 
certificate verification plan; or 

(vii) When operating an aircraft with-

in a foreign country, a pilot license 
issued by that country may be used. 

(2) Has a photo identification that is 

in that person’s physical possession or 
readily accessible in the aircraft when 
exercising the privileges of that pilot 
certificate or authorization. The photo 
identification must be a: 

(i) Driver’s license issued by a State, 

the District of Columbia, or territory 
or possession of the United States; 

(ii) Government identification card 

issued by the Federal government, a 
State, the District of Columbia, or a 
territory or possession of the United 
States; 

(iii) U.S. Armed Forces’ identifica-

tion card; 

(iv) Official passport; 

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§ 61.3 

(v) Credential that authorizes 

unescorted access to a security identi-
fication display area at an airport reg-
ulated under 49 CFR part 1542; or 

(vi) Other form of identification that 

the Administrator finds acceptable. 

(b) 

Required pilot certificate for oper-

ating a foreign-registered aircraft within 
the United States. No person may serve 
as a required pilot flight crewmember 
of a civil aircraft of foreign registry 
within the United States, unless— 

(1) That person’s pilot certificate or 

document issued under § 61.29(e) is in 
that person’s physical possession or 
readily accessible in the aircraft when 
exercising the privileges of that pilot 
certificate; and 

(2) Has been issued in accordance 

with this part, or has been issued or 
validated by the country in which the 
aircraft is registered. 

(c) 

Medical certificate. (1) A person 

may serve as a required pilot flight 
crewmember of an aircraft only if that 
person holds the appropriate medical 
certificate issued under part 67 of this 
chapter, or other documentation ac-
ceptable to the FAA, that is in that 
person’s physical possession or readily 
accessible in the aircraft. Paragraph 
(c)(2) of this section provides certain 
exceptions to the requirement to hold a 
medical certificate. 

(2) A person is not required to meet 

the requirements of paragraph (c)(1) of 
this section if that person— 

(i) Is exercising the privileges of a 

student pilot certificate while seeking 
a pilot certificate with a glider cat-
egory rating, a balloon class rating, or 
glider or balloon privileges; 

(ii) Is exercising the privileges of a 

student pilot certificate while seeking 
a sport pilot certificate with other 
than glider or balloon privileges and 
holds a U.S. driver’s license; 

(iii) Is exercising the privileges of a 

student pilot certificate while seeking 
a pilot certificate with a weight-shift- 
control aircraft category rating or a 
powered parachute category rating and 
holds a U.S. driver’s license; 

(iv) Is exercising the privileges of a 

sport pilot certificate with glider or 
balloon privileges; 

(v) Is exercising the privileges of a 

sport pilot certificate with other than 
glider or balloon privileges and holds a 

U.S. driver’s license. A person who has 
applied for or held a medical certificate 
may exercise the privileges of a sport 
pilot certificate using a U.S. driver’s li-
cense only if that person— 

(A) Has been found eligible for the 

issuance of at least a third-class air-
man medical certificate at the time of 
his or her most recent application; and 

(B) Has not had his or her most re-

cently issued medical certificate sus-
pended or revoked or most recent Au-
thorization for a Special Issuance of a 
Medical Certificate withdrawn. 

(vi) Is holding a pilot certificate with 

a balloon class rating and that per-
son— 

(A) Is exercising the privileges of a 

private pilot certificate in a balloon; or 

(B) Is providing flight training in a 

balloon in accordance with 
§ 61.133(a)(2)(ii); 

(vii) Is holding a pilot certificate or a 

flight instructor certificate with a 
glider category rating, and is piloting 
or providing training in a glider, as ap-
propriate; 

(viii) Is exercising the privileges of a 

flight instructor certificate, provided 
the person is not acting as pilot in 
command or as a required pilot flight 
crewmember; 

(ix) Is exercising the privileges of a 

ground instructor certificate; 

(x) Is operating an aircraft within a 

foreign country using a pilot license 
issued by that country and possesses 
evidence of current medical qualifica-
tion for that license; 

(xi) Is operating an aircraft with a 

U.S. pilot certificate, issued on the 
basis of a foreign pilot license, issued 
under § 61.75, and holds a medical cer-
tificate issued by the foreign country 
that issued the foreign pilot license, 
which is in that person’s physical pos-
session or readily accessible in the air-
craft when exercising the privileges of 
that airman certificate; 

(xii) Is a pilot of the U.S. Armed 

Forces, has an up-to-date U.S. military 
medical examination, and holds mili-
tary pilot flight status; 

(xiii) Is exercising the privileges of a 

student, recreational or private pilot 
certificate for operations conducted 
under the conditions and limitations 
set forth in § 61.113(i) and holds a U.S. 
driver’s license; 

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§ 61.3 

(xiv) Is exercising the privileges of a 

flight instructor certificate and acting 
as pilot in command or a required 
flightcrew member for operations con-
ducted under the conditions and limi-
tations set forth in § 61.113(i) and holds 
a U.S. driver’s license; or 

(xv) Is exercising the privileges of a 

student pilot certificate or higher 
while acting as pilot in command on a 
special medical flight test authorized 
under part 67 of this chapter. 

(d) 

Flight instructor certificate. (1) A 

person who holds a flight instructor 
certificate issued under this part must 
have that certificate, or other docu-
mentation acceptable to the Adminis-
trator, in that person’s physical posses-
sion or readily accessible in the air-
craft when exercising the privileges of 
that flight instructor certificate. 

(2) Except as provided in paragraph 

(d)(3) of this section, no person other 
than the holder of a flight instructor 
certificate issued under this part with 
the appropriate rating on that certifi-
cate may— 

(i) Give training required to qualify a 

person for solo flight and solo cross- 
country flight; 

(ii) Endorse an applicant for a— 
(A) Pilot certificate or rating issued 

under this part; 

(B) Flight instructor certificate or 

rating issued under this part; or 

(C) Ground instructor certificate or 

rating issued under this part; 

(iii) Endorse a pilot logbook to show 

training given; or 

(iv) Endorse a logbook for solo oper-

ating privileges. 

(3) A flight instructor certificate 

issued under this part is not nec-
essary— 

(i) Under paragraph (d)(2) of this sec-

tion, if the training is given by the 
holder of a commercial pilot certificate 
with a lighter-than-air rating, provided 
the training is given in accordance 
with the privileges of the certificate in 
a lighter-than-air aircraft; 

(ii) Under paragraph (d)(2) of this sec-

tion, if the training is given by the 
holder of an airline transport pilot cer-
tificate with a rating appropriate to 
the aircraft in which the training is 
given, provided the training is given in 
accordance with the privileges of the 
certificate and conducted in accord-

ance with an approved air carrier 
training program approved under part 
121 or part 135 of this chapter; 

(iii) Under paragraph (d)(2) of this 

section, if the training is given by a 
person who is qualified in accordance 
with subpart C of part 142 of this chap-
ter, provided the training is conducted 
in accordance with an approved part 
142 training program; 

(iv) Under paragraphs (d)(2)(i), 

(d)(2)(ii)(C), and (d)(2)(iii) of this sec-
tion, if the training is given by the 
holder of a ground instructor certifi-
cate in accordance with the privileges 
of the certificate; or 

(v) Under paragraph (d)(2)(iii) of this 

section, if the training is given by an 
authorized flight instructor under 
§ 61.41 of this part. 

(e) 

Instrument rating. No person may 

act as pilot in command of a civil air-
craft under IFR or in weather condi-
tions less than the minimums pre-
scribed for VFR flight unless that per-
son holds: 

(1) The appropriate aircraft category, 

class, type (if required), and instru-
ment rating on that person’s pilot cer-
tificate for any airplane, helicopter, or 
powered-lift being flown; 

(2) An airline transport pilot certifi-

cate with the appropriate aircraft cat-
egory, class, and type rating (if re-
quired) for the aircraft being flown; 

(3) For a glider, a pilot certificate 

with a glider category rating and an 
airplane instrument rating; or 

(4) For an airship, a commercial pilot 

certificate with a lighter-than-air cat-
egory rating and airship class rating. 

(f) 

Category II pilot authorization. Ex-

cept for a pilot conducting Category II 
operations under part 121 or part 135, a 
person may not: 

(1) Act as pilot in command of a civil 

aircraft during Category II operations 
unless that person— 

(i) Holds a Category II pilot author-

ization for that category or class of 
aircraft, and the type of aircraft, if ap-
plicable; or 

(ii) In the case of a civil aircraft of 

foreign registry, is authorized by the 
country of registry to act as pilot in 
command of that aircraft in Category 
II operations. 

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§ 61.3 

(2) Act as second in command of a 

civil aircraft during Category II oper-
ations unless that person— 

(i) Holds a pilot certificate with cat-

egory and class ratings for that air-
craft and an instrument rating for that 
category aircraft; 

(ii) Holds an airline transport pilot 

certificate with category and class rat-
ings for that aircraft; or 

(iii) In the case of a civil aircraft of 

foreign registry, is authorized by the 
country of registry to act as second in 
command of that aircraft during Cat-
egory II operations. 

(g) 

Category III pilot authorization. Ex-

cept for a pilot conducting Category III 
operations under part 121 or part 135, a 
person may not: 

(1) Act as pilot in command of a civil 

aircraft during Category III operations 
unless that person— 

(i) Holds a Category III pilot author-

ization for that category or class of 
aircraft, and the type of aircraft, if ap-
plicable; or 

(ii) In the case of a civil aircraft of 

foreign registry, is authorized by the 
country of registry to act as pilot in 
command of that aircraft in Category 
III operations. 

(2) Act as second in command of a 

civil aircraft during Category III oper-
ations unless that person— 

(i) Holds a pilot certificate with cat-

egory and class ratings for that air-
craft and an instrument rating for that 
category aircraft; 

(ii) Holds an airline transport pilot 

certificate with category and class rat-
ings for that aircraft; or 

(iii) In the case of a civil aircraft of 

foreign registry, is authorized by the 
country of registry to act as second in 
command of that aircraft during Cat-
egory III operations. 

(h) 

Category A aircraft pilot authoriza-

tion.  The Administrator may issue a 
certificate of authorization for a Cat-
egory II or Category III operation to 
the pilot of a small aircraft that is a 
Category A aircraft, as identified in 
§ 97.3(b)(1) of this chapter if: 

(1) The Administrator determines 

that the Category II or Category III op-
eration can be performed safely by that 
pilot under the terms of the certificate 
of authorization; and 

(2) The Category II or Category III 

operation does not involve the carriage 
of persons or property for compensa-
tion or hire. 

(i) 

Ground instructor certificate. (1) 

Each person who holds a ground in-
structor certificate issued under this 
part must have that certificate or a 
temporary document issued under 
§ 61.29(e) in that person’s physical pos-
session or immediately accessible when 
exercising the privileges of that certifi-
cate. 

(2) Except as provided in paragraph 

(i)(3) of this section, no person other 
than the holder of a ground instructor 
certificate, issued under this part or 
part 143, with the appropriate rating on 
that certificate may— 

(i) Give ground training required to 

qualify a person for solo flight and solo 
cross-country flight; 

(ii) Endorse an applicant for a knowl-

edge test required for a pilot, flight in-
structor, or ground instructor certifi-
cate or rating issued under this part; or 

(iii) Endorse a pilot logbook to show 

ground training given. 

(3) A ground instructor certificate 

issued under this part is not nec-
essary— 

(i) Under paragraph (i)(2) of this sec-

tion, if the training is given by the 
holder of a flight instructor certificate 
issued under this part in accordance 
with the privileges of that certificate; 

(ii) Under paragraph (i)(2) of this sec-

tion, if the training is given by the 
holder of a commercial pilot certificate 
with a lighter-than-air rating, provided 
the training is given in accordance 
with the privileges of the certificate in 
a lighter-than-air aircraft; 

(iii) Under paragraph (i)(2) of this 

section, if the training is given by the 
holder of an airline transport pilot cer-
tificate with a rating appropriate to 
the aircraft in which the training is 
given, provided the training is given in 
accordance with the privileges of the 
certificate and conducted in accord-
ance with an approved air carrier 
training program approved under part 
121 or part 135 of this chapter; 

(iv) Under paragraph (i)(2) of this sec-

tion, if the training is given by a per-
son who is qualified in accordance with 
subpart C of part 142 of this chapter, 
provided the training is conducted in 

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§ 61.4 

accordance with an approved part 142 
training program; or 

(v) Under paragraph (i)(2)(iii) of this 

section, if the training is given by an 
authorized flight instructor under 
§ 61.41 of this part. 

(j) 

Age limitation for certain operations. 

(1) 

Age limitation. No person who holds 

a pilot certificate issued under this 
part may serve as a pilot on a civil air-
plane of U.S. registry in the following 
operations if the person has reached his 
or her 60th birthday or, in the case of 
operations with more than one pilot, 
his or her 65th birthday: 

(i) Scheduled international air serv-

ices carrying passengers in turbojet- 
powered airplanes; 

(ii) Scheduled international air serv-

ices carrying passengers in airplanes 
having a passenger-seat configuration 
of more than nine passenger seats, ex-
cluding each crewmember seat; 

(iii) Nonscheduled international air 

transportation for compensation or 
hire in airplanes having a passenger- 
seat configuration of more than 30 pas-
senger seats, excluding each crew-
member seat; or 

(iv) Scheduled international air serv-

ices, or nonscheduled international air 
transportation for compensation or 
hire, in airplanes having a payload ca-
pacity of more than 7,500 pounds. 

(2) 

Definitions.  (i) ‘‘International air 

service,’’ as used in this paragraph (j), 
means scheduled air service performed 
in airplanes for the public transport of 
passengers, mail, or cargo, in which the 
service passes through the airspace 
over the territory of more than one 
country. 

(ii) ‘‘International air transpor-

tation,’’ as used in this paragraph (j), 
means air transportation performed in 
airplanes for the public transport of 
passengers, mail, or cargo, in which the 
service passes through the airspace 
over the territory of more than one 
country. 

(k) 

Special purpose pilot authorization. 

Any person that is required to hold a 
special purpose pilot authorization, 
issued in accordance with § 61.77 of this 
part, must have that authorization and 
the person’s foreign pilot license in 
that person’s physical possession or 
have it readily accessible in the air-

craft when exercising the privileges of 
that authorization. 

(l) 

Inspection of certificate. Each per-

son who holds an airman certificate, 
temporary document in accordance 
with paragraph (a)(1)(v) or (vi) of this 
section, medical certificate, documents 
establishing alternative medical quali-
fication under part 68 of this chapter, 
authorization, or license required by 
this part must present it and their 
photo identification as described in 
paragraph (a)(2) of this section for in-
spection upon a request from: 

(1) The Administrator; 
(2) An authorized representative of 

the National Transportation Safety 
Board; 

(3) Any Federal, State, or local law 

enforcement officer; or 

(4) An authorized representative of 

the Transportation Security Adminis-
tration. 

[Doc. No. 25910, 62 FR 16298, Apr. 4, 1997; 
Amdt. 61–103, 62 FR 40894, July 30, 1997; 
Amdt. 61–111, 67 FR 65861, Oct. 28, 2002; Amdt. 
61–110, 69 FR 44864, July 27, 2004; Amdt. 61– 
123, 74 FR 34234, July 15, 2009; Amdt. 61–124, 74 
FR 42546, Aug. 21, 2009; Amdt. 61–124A, 74 FR 
53644, Oct. 20, 2009; Amdt. 61–131, 78 FR 56828, 
Sept. 16, 2013; Amdt. 61–134, 80 FR 33400, June 
12, 2015; Docket FAA–2010–1127, Amdt. 61–135, 
81 FR 1306, Jan. 12, 2016; Doc. No. FAA–2016– 
9157, Amdt. 61–140, 82 FR 3164, Jan. 11, 2017; 
Amdt. 60–6, 83 FR 30276, June 27, 2018; Docket 
No. FAA–2021–1040, Amdt. Nos. 61–152, 87 FR 
71236, Nov. 22, 2022; Docket No. FAA–2021– 
1040; Amdt. No. 61–152, 87 FR 71236, Nov. 22, 
2022] 

§ 61.4

Qualification and approval of 

flight simulators and flight training 
devices. 

(a) Except as specified in paragraph 

(b) or (c) of this section, each flight 
simulator and flight training device 
used for training, and for which an air-
man is to receive credit to satisfy any 
training, testing, or checking require-
ment under this chapter, must be 
qualified and approved by the Adminis-
trator for— 

(1) The training, testing, and check-

ing for which it is used; 

(2) Each particular maneuver, proce-

dure, or crewmember function per-
formed; and 

(3) The representation of the specific 

category and class of aircraft, type of 
aircraft, particular variation within 

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