Flight Instructor and Student Checklist

Flight Instructor and Student Checklist for Commercial Pilot Certification Requirements

-AIRPLANE, Single Engine Land-

ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible for a commercial pilot certificate a person must: ___ Be at least 18 years of age. ___ Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the language (or have operating limitations placed on the pilot certificate). ___ Receive a logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor who conducted the required ground training or reviewed the applicant's home study on the Aeronautical Knowledge areas listed below, certifying that the applicant is prepared for the required knowledge test. ___ Pass the required written knowledge test on the Aeronautical Knowledge areas listed below. ___ Receive training on the areas of operation listed below under Aeronautical Proficiency. ___ Meet the Aeronautical Experience requirements listed below before applying for the practical test. ___ Hold at least a private pilot certificate issued under this part or meet the requirements of Sec. 61.73. ___ Hold an single-engine instrument rating or have limitations placed on the pilot certificate (61.133) ___ Comply with the sections of Part 61 that apply to the single engine land rating. ___ Hold at least a current third-class medical certificate for the flight test. (A second class medical certificate is required to exercise the privileges of the commercial certificate after the test.) ___ Receive a logbook endorsement from the instructor who conducted the required Aeronautical Proficiency training, certifying that the applicant is prepared for the required practical test. ___ Have an endorsement that has been signed by an authorized instructor certifying that the applicant has received and logged training time within 60 days preceding the date of application in preparation for the practical test, is prepared for the required practical test, and has demonstrated satisfactory knowledge of the subject areas in which the applicant was deficient on the airman knowledge test (61.39). ___ Have a completed and signed application form (61.39). ___ Pass the required practical test on the areas of operation listed below under Aeronautical Proficiency.

AERONAUTICAL KNOWLEDGE

An applicant for a commercial pilot certificate must have received and logged training from an authorized instructor, or complete a home-study course in the following aeronautical knowledge areas:

___ Applicable Federal Aviation Regulations of this chapter (Part 61) that relate to commercial pilot privileges, limitations, and flight operations. ___ Accident reporting requirements of the National Transportation Safety Board. ___ Basic aerodynamics and the principles of flight. ___ Meteorology to include recognition of critical weather situations, windshear recognition and avoidance, and the use of aeronautical weather reports and forecasts. ___ Safe and efficient operation of aircraft. ___ Weight and balance computations. ___ Use of performance charts. ___ Significance and effects of exceeding aircraft performance limitations. ___ Use of aeronautical charts and a magnetic compass for pilotage and dead reckoning. ___ Use of air navigation facilities. ___ Aeronautical decision making and judgment. ___ Principles and functions of aircraft systems. ___ Maneuvers, procedures, and emergency operations appropriate to the aircraft. ___ Night and high-altitude operations. ___ Procedures for operating within the National Airspace System.

FLIGHT PROFICIENCY

The applicant for a commercial pilot certificate must have received and logged ground and flight training from an authorized instructor in the following areas of operation:

___ Preflight preparation. ___ Preflight procedures. ___ Airport operations. ___ Takeoffs, landings, and go-arounds. ___ Performance maneuvers. ___ Ground reference maneuvers. ___ Navigation. ___ Slow flight and stalls. ___ Emergency operations. ___ High altitude operations. ___ Postflight procedures.

AERONAUTICAL EXPERIENCE

An applicant for a commercial pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine rating must have acquired and logged at least the following aeronautical experience:

Total Flight Time: ___ 250 hours (minimum) total time logged, including: ___ 100 hours in powered aircraft, of which 50 hours must be in airplanes;

Pilot-In-Command Time: ___ 100 hours of pilot-in-command (PIC) flight time, including: ___ 50 hours of PIC time in airplanes; and ___ 50 hours cross-country PIC time of which at least 10 hours must be in airplanes.

Dual Time: ___ 20 hours (minimum) of training (dual) in the areas listed above under Flight Proficiency, including at least: ___ 10 hours of instrument training of which at least 5 hours must be in a single engine airplane; ___ 10 hours of training in an airplane that has a retractable landing gear, flaps, and a controllable pitch propeller, or is turbine-powered; ___ One cross-country flight of at least 2 hours in a single-engine airplane in day VFR conditions, consisting of a total straight-line distance of more than 100 nautical miles from the original point of departure; ___ One cross-country flight of at least 2 hours in a single-engine airplane in night VFR conditions, consisting of a total straight-line distance of more than 100 nautical miles from the original point of departure; and ___ 3 hours in a single-engine airplane in preparation for the practical test within the 60-day period preceding the date of the test.

Solo Time: ___ 10 hours (minimum) of solo flight time practicing the areas listed above in Flight Proficiency, including at least: ___ One cross-country flight of not less than 300 nautical miles total distance, with landings at a minimum of three points, one of which is a straight-line distance of at least 250 nautical miles from the original departure point; and ___ 5 hours in night VFR conditions with 10 takeoffs and 10 landings (with each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern) at an airport with an operating control tower.

EXAMPLES OF LOGBOOK ENDORSEMENTS FOR THE COMMERCIAL PILOT RATING

The following examples are recommended for use by authorized instructors when endorsing student logbooks at the completion of commercial pilot training. Each endorsement should include the instructor's signature, date of signature, CFI certificate number, and certificate expiration date. A reference to the appropriate FAR is provided for each endorsement.

1. Aeronautical knowledge test: §§ 61.35(a)(1) and 61.123(c)

I certify that (First name, MI, Last name) has received the required training of § 61.125. I have determined that he/she is prepared for the (name the knowledge test).

S/S [date] J.J. Jones 987654321CFI Exp. 12-31-00

2. Flight proficiency/practical test: §§ 61.123(e) and 61.127

I certify that (First name, MI, Last name) has received the required training of §§ 61.127 and 61.129. I have determined he/she is prepared for the (name the practical test).

S/S [date] J.J. Jones 987654321CFI Exp. 12-31-00