575 

Federal Aviation Administration, DOT 

§ 61.97 

(c) This section does not apply to a 

student pilot seeking a sport pilot cer-
tificate or a recreational pilot certifi-
cate. 

[Doc. No. 25910, 62 FR 16298, Apr. 4, 1997; 
Amdt. 61–103, 62 FR 40902, July 30, 1997; 
Amdt. 61–110, 69 FR 44868, July 27, 2004] 

Subpart D—Recreational Pilots 

§ 61.96

Applicability and eligibility re-

quirements: General. 

(a) This subpart prescribes the re-

quirement for the issuance of rec-
reational pilot certificates and ratings, 
the conditions under which those cer-
tificates and ratings are necessary, and 
the general operating rules for persons 
who hold those certificates and ratings. 

(b) To be eligible for a recreational 

pilot certificate, a person who applies 
for that certificate must: 

(1) Be at least 17 years of age; 
(2) Be able to read, speak, write, and 

understand the English language. If the 
applicant is unable to meet one of 
these requirements due to medical rea-
sons, then the Administrator may 
place such operating limitations on 
that applicant’s pilot certificate as are 
necessary for the safe operation of the 
aircraft; 

(3) Receive a logbook endorsement 

from an authorized instructor who— 

(i) Conducted the training or re-

viewed the applicant’s home study on 
the aeronautical knowledge areas list-
ed in § 61.97(b) of this part that apply to 
the aircraft category and class rating 
sought; and 

(ii) Certified that the applicant is 

prepared for the required knowledge 
test. 

(4) Pass the required knowledge test 

on the aeronautical knowledge areas 
listed in § 61.97(b) of this part; 

(5) Receive flight training and a log-

book endorsement from an authorized 
instructor who— 

(i) Conducted the training on the 

areas of operation listed in § 61.98(b) of 
this part that apply to the aircraft cat-
egory and class rating sought; and 

(ii) Certified that the applicant is 

prepared for the required practical 
test. 

(6) Meet the aeronautical experience 

requirements of § 61.99 of this part that 
apply to the aircraft category and class 

rating sought before applying for the 
practical test; 

(7) Pass the practical test on the 

areas of operation listed in § 61.98(b) 
that apply to the aircraft category and 
class rating; 

(8) Comply with the sections of this 

part that apply to the aircraft category 
and class rating; and 

(9) Hold either a student pilot certifi-

cate or sport pilot certificate. 

[Doc. No. 25910, 62 FR 16298, Apr. 4, 1997; 
Amdt. 61–103, 62 FR 40902, July 30, 1997; 
Amdt. 61–124, 74 FR 42558, Aug. 21, 2009] 

§ 61.97

Aeronautical knowledge. 

(a) 

General. 

A person who applies for 

a recreational pilot certificate must re-
ceive and log ground training from an 
authorized instructor or complete a 
home-study course on the aeronautical 
knowledge areas of paragraph (b) of 
this section that apply to the aircraft 
category and class rating sought. 

(b) 

Aeronautical knowledge areas. 

(1) 

Applicable Federal Aviation Regula-
tions of this chapter that relate to rec-
reational pilot privileges, limitations, 
and flight operations; 

(2) Accident reporting requirements 

of the National Transportation Safety 
Board; 

(3) Use of the applicable portions of 

the ‘‘Aeronautical Information Man-
ual’’ and FAA advisory circulars; 

(4) Use of aeronautical charts for 

VFR navigation using pilotage with 
the aid of a magnetic compass; 

(5) Recognition of critical weather 

situations from the ground and in 
flight, windshear avoidance, and the 
procurement and use of aeronautical 
weather reports and forecasts; 

(6) Safe and efficient operation of air-

craft, including collision avoidance, 
and recognition and avoidance of wake 
turbulence; 

(7) Effects of density altitude on 

takeoff and climb performance; 

(8) Weight and balance computations; 
(9) Principles of aerodynamics, pow-

erplants, and aircraft systems; 

(10) Stall awareness, spin entry, 

spins, and spin recovery techniques, if 
applying for an airplane single-engine 
rating; 

(11) Aeronautical decision making 

and judgment; and 

(12) Preflight action that includes— 

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