Regulation Text
§ 61.1 Applicability and definitions.
(a) Except as provided in parts 107 and 194 of this chapter, this part prescribes:
(1) The requirements for issuing pilot, flight instructor, and ground instructor certificates and ratings; the conditions under which those certificates and ratings are necessary; and the privileges and limitations of those certificates and ratings.
(2) The requirements for issuing pilot, flight instructor, and ground instructor authorizations; the conditions under which those authorizations are necessary; and the privileges and limitations of those authorizations.
(3) The requirements for issuing pilot, flight instructor, and ground instructor certificates and ratings for persons who have taken courses approved by the Administrator under other parts of this chapter.
(b) For the purpose of this part:
Accredited has the same meaning as defined by the Department of Education in 34 CFR 600.2.
Aeronautical experience means pilot time obtained in an aircraft, flight simulator, or flight training device for meeting the appropriate training and flight time requirements for an airman certificate, rating, flight review, or recency of flight experience requirements of this part.
Authorized instructor means—
(i) A person who holds a ground instructor certificate issued under part 61 of this chapter and is in compliance with § 61.217, when conducting ground training in accordance with the privileges and limitations of his or her ground instructor certificate;
(ii) A person who holds a flight instructor certificate issued under part 61 of this chapter and is in compliance with § 61.197, when conducting ground training or flight training in accordance with the privileges and limitations of his or her flight instructor certificate; or
(iii) A person authorized by the Administrator to provide ground training or flight training under part 61, 121, 135, or 142 of this chapter when conducting ground training or flight training in accordance with that authority.
Aviation training device means a training device, other than a full flight simulator or flight training device, that has been evaluated, qualified, and approved by the Administrator.
Complex airplane means an airplane that has a retractable landing gear, flaps, and a controllable pitch propeller, including airplanes equipped with an engine control system consisting of a digital computer and associated accessories for controlling the engine and propeller, such as a full authority digital engine control; or, in the case of a seaplane, flaps and a controllable pitch propeller, including seaplanes equipped with an engine control system consisting of a digital computer and associated accessories for controlling the engine and propeller, such as a full authority digital engine control.
Cross-country time means—
(i) Except as provided in paragraphs (ii) through (vii) of this definition, time acquired during flight—
(A) Conducted by a person who holds a pilot certificate;
(B) Conducted in an aircraft;
(C) That includes a landing at a point other than the point of departure; and
(D) That involves the use of dead reckoning, pilotage, electronic navigation aids, radio aids, or other navigation systems to navigate to the landing point.
(ii) For the purpose of meeting the aeronautical experience requirements (except for a rotorcraft category rating), for a private pilot certificate (except for a powered parachute category rating), a commercial pilot certificate, or an instrument rating, or for the purpose of exercising recreational pilot privileges (except in a rotorcraft) under § 61.101 (c), time acquired during a flight—
(A) Conducted in an appropriate aircraft;
(B) That includes a point of landing that was at least a straight-line distance of more than 50 nautical miles from the original point of departure; and
(C) That involves the use of dead reckoning, pilotage, electronic navigation aids, radio aids, or other navigation systems to navigate to the landing point.
(iii) For the purpose of meeting the aeronautical experience requirements for a sport pilot certificate (except for powered parachute privileges), time acquired during a flight conducted in an appropriate aircraft that—
(A) Includes a point of landing at least a straight line distance of more than 25 nautical miles from the original point of departure; and
(B) Involves, as applicable, the use of dead reckoning; pilotage; electronic navigation aids; radio aids; or other navigation systems to navigate to the landing point.
(iv) For the purpose of meeting the aeronautical experience requirements for a sport pilot certificate with powered parachute privileges or a private pilot certificate with a powered parachute category rating, time acquired during a flight conducted in an appropriate aircraft that—
(A) Includes a point of landing at least a straight line distance of more than 15 nautical miles from the original point of departure; and
(B) Involves, as applicable, the use of dead reckoning; pilotage; electronic navigation aids; radio aids; or other navigation systems to navigate to the landing point.
(v) For the purpose of meeting the aeronautical experience requirements for any pilot certificate with a rotorcraft category rating or an instrument-helicopter rating, or for the purpose of exercising recreational pilot privileges, in a rotorcraft, under § 61.101(c), time acquired during a flight—
(A) Conducted in an appropriate aircraft;
(B) That includes a point of landing that was at least a straight-line distance of more than 25 nautical miles from the original point of departure; and
(C) That involves the use of dead reckoning, pilotage, electronic navigation aids, radio aids, or other navigation systems to navigate to the landing point.
(vi) For the purpose of meeting the aeronautical experience requirements for an airline transport pilot certificate (except with a rotorcraft category rating), time acquired during a flight—
(A) Conducted in an appropriate aircraft;
(B) That is at least a straight-line distance of more than 50 nautical miles from the original point of departure; and
(C) That involves the use of dead reckoning, pilotage, electronic navigation aids, radio aids, or other navigation systems.
(vii) For a military pilot who qualifies for a commercial pilot certificate (except with a rotorcraft category rating) under § 61.73 of this part, time acquired during a flight—
(A) Conducted in an appropriate aircraft;
(B) That is at least a straight-line distance of more than 50 nautical miles from the original point of departure; and
(C) That involves the use of dead reckoning, pilotage, electronic navigation aids, radio aids, or other navigation systems.
Examiner means any person who is authorized by the Administrator to conduct a pilot proficiency test or a practical test for an airman certificate or rating issued under this part, or a person who is authorized to conduct a knowledge test under this part.
Flight training means that training, other than ground training, received from an authorized instructor in flight in an aircraft.
Ground training means that training, other than flight training, received from an authorized instructor.
Institution of higher education has the same meaning as defined by the Department of Education in 34 CFR 600.4.
Instrument approach means an approach procedure defined in part 97 of this chapter.
Instrument training means that time in which instrument training is received from an authorized instructor under actual or simulated instrument conditions.
Knowledge test means a test on the aeronautical knowledge areas required for an airman certificate or rating that can be administered in written form or by a computer.
Nationally recognized accrediting agency has the same meaning as defined by the Department of Education in 34 CFR 600.2.
Night vision goggles means an appliance worn by a pilot that enhances the pilot's ability to maintain visual surface reference at night.
Night vision goggle operation means the portion of a flight that occurs during the time period from 1 hour after sunset to 1 hour before sunrise where the pilot maintains visual surface reference using night vision goggles in an aircraft that is approved for such an operation.
Passenger means any person on board an aircraft other than a crewmember, FAA personnel, manufacturer personnel required for type certification, or a person receiving or providing flight training, checking, or testing as authorized by this part.
Pilot time means that time in which a person—
(i) Serves as a required pilot flight crewmember;
(ii) Receives training from an authorized instructor in an aircraft, full flight simulator, flight training device, or aviation training device;
(iii) Gives training as an authorized instructor in an aircraft, full flight simulator, flight training device, or aviation training device; or
(iv) Serves as second in command in operations conducted in accordance with § 135.99(c) of this chapter when a second pilot is not required under the type certification of the aircraft or the regulations under which the flight is being conducted, provided the requirements in § 61.159(c) are satisfied.
Practical test means a test on the areas of operations for an airman certificate, rating, or authorization that is conducted by having the applicant respond to questions and demonstrate maneuvers in flight, in a flight simulator, or in a flight training device.
Set of aircraft means aircraft that share similar performance characteristics, such as similar airspeed and altitude operating envelopes, similar handling characteristics, and the same number and type of propulsion systems.
Student pilot seeking a sport pilot certificate means a person who has received an endorsement—
(i) To exercise student pilot privileges from a certificated flight instructor with a sport pilot rating; or
(ii) That includes a limitation for the operation of an aircraft specified in § 61.89(c) issued by a certificated flight instructor with other than a sport pilot rating.
Technically advanced airplane (TAA) means an airplane equipped with an electronically advanced avionics system.
Training time means training received—
(i) In flight from an authorized instructor;
(ii) On the ground from an authorized instructor; or
(iii) In a flight simulator or flight training device from an authorized instructor.
Research Notes
Cross-Country Time Definitions
The 50 NM straight-line distance requirement applies for private, commercial, instrument, and ATP certificates. "Straight-line" means direct great-circle distance from departure to landing point — not the route actually flown. FAA Chief Counsel interpretations have consistently confirmed this reading: an intermediate stop that puts your final destination within 50 NM straight-line of your origin does not qualify for private pilot cross-country logging requirements.
Seven distinct cross-country time definitions appear in § 61.1(b): (i) general definition (any landing at another point using navigation); (ii) private/commercial/instrument/ATP — 50 NM straight-line; (iii) sport pilot (non-powered parachute) — 25 NM; (iv) powered parachute sport or private — 15 NM; (v) rotorcraft certificates — 25 NM; (vi) ATP (non-rotorcraft) — 50 NM, no landing required; (vii) military commercial pilot — 50 NM.
Key reference: AC 61-65J — Certification: Pilots and Flight and Ground Instructors (logbook entry guidance).
Authorized Instructor Definition
An "authorized instructor" under § 61.1(b) means a certificate holder who is current and in compliance with their currency requirements — not just anyone with a certificate. A flight instructor whose certificate has lapsed per § 61.197 is not an authorized instructor, even if they once held a valid certificate. Endorsements from a non-current instructor are legally invalid.
FAA Legal Interpretation Grannis (2011) clarified that "authorized instructor" for sign-off purposes requires the instructor to be current and qualified in the specific category and class of aircraft.
Complex Airplane Definition — 2018 FADEC Amendment
The 2018 amendment (effective July 27, 2018) modified the complex airplane definition to explicitly include aircraft equipped with "an engine control system consisting of a digital computer and associated accessories for controlling the engine and propeller, such as a full authority digital engine control" (FADEC) as meeting the controllable pitch propeller requirement. Before this amendment, the regulatory status of FADEC-equipped aircraft like the Cirrus SR22 was ambiguous.
See also: § 61.31(e) for complex airplane endorsement requirements.
Recent 2024 Amendments
The October 2024 and November 2024 amendments added definitions for "simplified aircraft" and "simplified flight controls aircraft" (connected to the MOSAIC rulemaking expanding the light-sport aircraft category), and added a Part 194 reference in § 61.1(a) scope. Part 194 governs pilot operations under the new MOSAIC framework. These definitions are forward-looking — watch for corresponding amendments to § 61.9 and elsewhere as MOSAIC implementation continues.
Reference: AC 61-136B — FAA Approval of Aviation Training Devices.
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.