Eligibility Requirements
Reference: 14 CFR 61.83
- Be at least 16 years of age (14 for the operation of a glider or balloon)
- Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language
General
References: 14 CFR 61.85, 49 CFR 1552.225
Before beginning training, a student pilot should complete:
- Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requirements (endorsement for U.S. citizens)
- IACRA for a Student Pilot certificate
- MedExpress application for an FAA Medical certificate (if required)
Aeronautical Knowledge
Reference: 14 CFR 61.87(b)
Demonstrated satisfactory aeronautical knowledge on a knowledge test for the aircraft make and model.
The student’s authorized instructor must:
- Administer the test.
- At the conclusion of the test, review all incorrect answers with the student before authorizing that student to conduct a solo flight.
Note: A logbook endorsement should be made to document the completion of the knowledge test.
Presolo Flight Training
Reference: 14 CFR 61.87(c)
Prior to conducting a solo flight, a student pilot must have:
- Received and logged flight training for the maneuvers and procedures that are appropriate to the aircraft make and model.
- Demonstrated satisfactory proficiency and safety, as judged by an authorized instructor, on the maneuvers and procedures required by 14 CFR 61.87(d) in the aircraft make and model or similar make and model.
Note: A logbook endorsement should be made after the completion of this training.
Maneuvers for Presolo Flight Training
Reference: 14 CFR 61.87(d)
A student pilot must receive and log flight training for the following maneuvers and procedures:
- Proper flight preparation procedures, including preflight planning and preparation, powerplant operation, and aircraft systems
- Taxiing or surface operations, including run-ups
- Takeoffs and landings, including normal and crosswind
- Straight and level flight, and turns in both directions
- Climbs and climbing turns
- Airport traffic patterns, including entry and departure procedures
- Collision avoidance, wind shear avoidance, and wake turbulence avoidance
- Descents, with and without turns, using high and low drag configurations
- Flight at various airspeeds from cruise to slow flight
- Stall entries from various flight attitudes and power combinations with recovery initiated at the first indication of a stall, and recovery from a full stall
- Emergency procedures and equipment malfunctions
- Ground reference maneuvers
- Approaches to a landing area with simulated engine malfunctions
- Slips to a landing
- Go-arounds
Solo Flight Endorsement (First 90-Day Period)
Reference: 14 CFR 61.87(n)
A student pilot may not operate an aircraft in solo flight unless that student pilot has received an endorsement in the student’s logbook for the specific make and model aircraft to be flown by an authorized instructor who gave the training within the 90 days preceding the date of the flight.