Regulation Text
§ 61.97 Aeronautical knowledge.
(a) General. A person who applies for a recreational pilot certificate must receive 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 Regulations of this chapter that relate to recreational 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 Manual” 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 aircraft, 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, powerplants, 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—
(i) How to obtain information on runway lengths at airports of intended use, data on takeoff and landing distances, weather reports and forecasts, and fuel requirements; and
(ii) How to plan for alternatives if the planned flight cannot be completed or delays are encountered.
[Docket 25910, 62 FR 16298, Apr. 4, 1997; Amdt. 61-103, 62 FR 40902, July 30, 1997]
Research Notes
Research Notes — § 61.97 Aeronautical Knowledge (Recreational Pilot)
Governing Advisory Circular
AC 61-65K governs endorsements for the recreational pilot knowledge test. The endorsement must be logged in the student's logbook before testing. Available at: faa.gov — AC 61-65K
Regulatory Cross-References
- 14 CFR § 61.35 — knowledge test prerequisites: endorsement required, 70% passing standard
- 14 CFR § 61.105 — private pilot aeronautical knowledge areas for comparison (substantially similar)
- 14 CFR Part 91 — FARs covering aircraft operations, referenced in § 61.97(b)(1)
Regulatory Context
The recreational pilot knowledge areas largely mirror private pilot requirements. The recreational pilot must demonstrate knowledge of applicable FARs, airspace, weather theory, aircraft performance, weight and balance, navigation, and more. Because of this overlap, a student who passes the recreational pilot knowledge test has completed most knowledge preparation for private pilot — one reason many instructors skip the recreational certificate entirely and build toward private from the start.
Source: 14 CFR § 61.97 — eCFR.gov
Amendment History
AOA Notes
These notes correspond to the highlighted phrases in the regulation text above. Each one flags something worth knowing — a common misread, a checkride gotcha, or a practical pro tip.
CFI Commentary
Highlighted phrases in the regulation text above link to instructor notes at the bottom of this page. Look for the amber or blue highlights — each one flags a gotcha or a pro tip worth knowing.