Currency Requirements

What are the requirements to remain current as a private pilot? (14 CFR 61.56, 61.57) 

• Within the proceeding 24 months, accomplished a flight review given in the aircraft the pilot its rated for and received a endorsement certifying the pilot

  • Flight Review - 1 hour of fight (maneuvers) and 1 hour of ground training (part 91)

  • Flight review not required if the pilot has passed any of the following:

    • Proficiency check

    • Practical Test (Checkride)

    • FAA-sponsored pilot proficiency program (WINGS)

• To carry passengers, a pilot must have made, within the preceding 90 days:

  • For day: three takeoffs and landings as sole manipulator of an aircraft same category, class, and type (if applicable)

  • For night: Same as day (three takeoffs and landings) but to a full stop and conducting during the period beginning 1 hour after sunset and 1 hour before sunrise

  • If Tailwheel airplane: Landings must been made to a full stop in an airplane with a tailwheel

(Note: Takeoffs and landings required may be done in FAA approved flight sim or training device and conducted by certificated training center)

You have not kept up with logging each of your recent flights. Are you in violation of any regulation? (14 CFR 61.51)

No. You’re only required to document and record the training and aeronautical experience used to meet the requirements for a certificate, rating, or flight review, and the aeronautical experience required for meeting the recent flight experience requirement

You're flying in a single-engine, high performance, complex airplane. You hold a Private Pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating, but don't have a high-performance or complex airplane endorsement. Your friend, who has those endorsements, is acting as PIC for the flight. Can you log PIC time for the time you act as sole manipulator of the controls? Explain. (14 CFR 61.31, 61.51)

Yes, 61.51 states that a private pilot may log PIC time for the time during which that pilot is “sole manipulator of controls”. Essential, you can log PIC time, but you cannot act as PIC. To act as PIC, you must be properly rated and authorized in the aircraft

Explain the difference between being "current" and being "proficient."

• Being “current” means the pilot has accomplished the minimum FAA regulatory requirements to legally make a flight.

• Being “proficient” means that the pilot is capable of conducting a flight with a high degree of competence. Means not just being “legal” but being “smart” and “safe” enough to conduct flight. 

How will establishing a personal minimums checklist reduce risk?

Personal minimums help a pilot set conservative limits (weather, rest, experience, familiarity) beyond FAA requirements. This reduces risk by preventing flights in conditions that may exceed the pilot’s true ability.

The airplane you normally rent has been grounded due to an intermittent electrical problem. You ask to be scheduled in another airplane. During preflight of the new airplane, you discover that it has avionics you're unfamiliar with. Should you go ahead and depart on your VFR flight?

You are legally allowed to fly this aircraft; however, you wouldn’t be “proficient” enough. This can add more work load and result in bad conduction of flight.

If a pilot changes his/her permanent mailing address and fails to notify the FAA Airmen Certification branch of the new address, how long may the pilot continue to exercise the privileges of his/her pilot certificate? (14 CFR 61.60)

The pilot has 30 days after the date of the move

What flight time can a pilot log as second-in-command time? (14 CFR 61.51)

A person may log SIC time only if that person:

• Is qualified in accordance with SIC requirements (61.55) and occupies an aircraft that requires more than one pilot by the aircraft’s type certificate

• Holds the appropriate category, class, and instrument rating (if applicable) for the aircraft being flown, and if more than one pilot is required under the type certificate or regulation under which the flight is being conducted.