Instrument Regulations Part 1 - The Pilot

Vocabulary practice cards covering 14 CFR Part 1, 61, and 91, including medical certificates, instrument currency, pilot authority, and NTSB 830 reporting requirements.

14 CFR Part 1

This section defines key terms used throughout the Federal Aviation Regulations and clarifies meanings of terms and phrases.

First Class Medical Certificate

Required for Airline Transport Pilot; valid for $12$ calendar months if the pilot is under age $40$, and $6$ months if the pilot is $40$ and over.

Second Class Medical Certificate

Required for Commercial Pilot Certificate; valid for $12$ calendar months regardless of age.

Third Class Medical Certificate

Required for Private Pilot, Flight Instructor, or Student Pilot; valid for $60$ calendar months if the pilot is under age $40$, or $24$ calendar months if the pilot is $40$ and over.

BasicMed

An alternate way for pilots to fly without an FAA medical certificate, requiring a U.S. Driver’s license and a medical held after $\text{July 14, 2006}$.

BasicMed Aircraft Requirements

Aircraft authorized to carry not more than $7$ occupants, not more than $6$ passengers, and a max certificated takeoff weight of not more than $12,500$ pounds.

BasicMed Operating Limitations

Operates under VFR or IFR, within the United States, at or below $18,000\,ft\,MSL$, not exceeding $250\,knots$, and not for compensation or hire.

Logging Instrument Time ( 61.51g)

A person may log instrument time only when operating the aircraft solely by reference to instruments under actual or simulated instrument flight conditions.

 61.3(e) Pilot in Command Requirements

To act as PIC under IFR, a person must hold the appropriate category, class, type (if required), and instrument rating on their pilot certificate.

Safety Pilot

A pilot used during simulated instrument flight to monitor airspace for other aircraft and obstacles while the training pilot focuses on instrument procedures.

Safety Pilot Requirements

Must hold at least a Private Pilot Certificate (category and class), have a valid medical or BasicMed, and the aircraft must have dual controls.

Recent Flight Experience ( 61.57)

To act as PIC, within the past $6$ months the pilot must have completed $6$ instrument approaches, course interception and tracking, and multiple holding procedures.

6 HITS

Acronym for IFR recency: $6$ Instrument Approaches, Holding procedures, Intercepted a course, Tracked a course, Using navigational systems.

Instrument Proficiency Check (IPC)

Required if currency is not regained within the $6$-month grace period; must be administered by a CFII, examiner, or FAA-approved official.

Instrument Rating Requirement (Commercial)

Required when carrying passengers for compensation or hire on cross-country flights in excess of $50\,NM$ or at night.

 91.135 Class A Airspace

Requires an instrument rating for all flights, extending from $18,000\,ft\,MSL$ up to and including Flight Level $600$.

Special VFR ( 91.157)

Between sunset and sunrise, a pilot must have an instrument rating to operate under these rules in controlled airspace.

 91.3 Responsibility of PIC

The pilot in command has ultimate responsibility for the operation and safety of the flight and is the final authority on operating the aircraft.

Aircraft Accident (49 CFR 830.2)

An occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft in which any person suffers death or serious injury, or in which the aircraft receives substantial damage.

Incident (49 CFR 830.2)

An occurrence other than an accident, associated with the operation of an aircraft, which affects or could affect the safety of operations.

Immediate NTSB Notification (49 CFR 830.5)

Required for flight control malfunctions, in-flight fires, aircraft collision in-flight, or an overdue aircraft believed to be in an accident.

NTSB Reporting Timeline

A report must be filed within $10$ days after an accident, or $7$ days if an overdue aircraft is still missing.

Preservation of Wreckage (49 CFR 830.10)

Wreckage and cargo may only be moved to remove persons injured/trapped, protect wreckage from further damage, or protect the public from injury.