Regulation Text
§ 61.3 Requirement for certificates, ratings, privileges, and authorizations.
(a) Required pilot certificate for operating a civil aircraft of the United States. No person may serve as a required pilot flight crewmember of a civil aircraft of the United States, unless that person:
(1) Has in the person's physical possession or readily accessible in the aircraft when exercising the privileges of that pilot certificate or authorization—
(i) A pilot certificate issued under this part and in accordance with § 61.19;
(ii) A special purpose pilot authorization issued under § 61.77;
(iii) A temporary certificate issued under § 61.17;
(iv) A document conveying temporary authority to exercise certificate privileges issued by the Airmen Certification Branch under § 61.29(e);
(v) When engaged in a flight operation within the United States for a part 119 certificate holder authorized to conduct operations under part 121 or 135 of this chapter, a temporary document provided by that certificate holder under an approved certificate verification plan;
(vi) When engaged in a flight operation within the United States for a fractional ownership program manager authorized to conduct operations under part 91, subpart K, of this chapter, a temporary document provided by that program manager under an approved certificate verification plan; or
(vii) When operating an aircraft within a foreign country, a pilot license issued by that country may be used.
(2) Has a photo identification that is in that person's physical possession or readily accessible in the aircraft when exercising the privileges of that pilot certificate or authorization. The photo identification must be a:
(i) Driver's license issued by a State, the District of Columbia, or territory or possession of the United States;
(ii) Government identification card issued by the Federal government, a State, the District of Columbia, or a territory or possession of the United States;
(iii) U.S. Armed Forces' identification card;
(iv) Official passport;
(v) Credential that authorizes unescorted access to a security identification display area at an airport regulated under 49 CFR part 1542; or
(vi) Other form of identification that the Administrator finds acceptable.
(b) Required pilot certificate for operating a foreign-registered aircraft within the United States. No person may serve as a required pilot flight crewmember of a civil aircraft of foreign registry within the United States, unless—
(1) That person's pilot certificate or document issued under § 61.29(e) is in that person's physical possession or readily accessible in the aircraft when exercising the privileges of that pilot certificate; and
(2) Has been issued in accordance with this part, or has been issued or validated by the country in which the aircraft is registered.
(c) Medical certificate. (1) A person may serve as a required pilot flight crewmember of an aircraft only if that person holds the appropriate medical certificate issued under part 67 of this chapter, or other documentation acceptable to the FAA, that is in that person's physical possession or readily accessible in the aircraft. Paragraph (c)(2) of this section provides certain exceptions to the requirement to hold a medical certificate.
(2) A person is not required to meet the requirements of paragraph (c)(1) of this section if that person—
(i) Is exercising the privileges of a student pilot certificate while seeking a pilot certificate with a glider category rating, a balloon class rating, or glider or balloon privileges;
(ii) Is exercising the privileges of a student pilot certificate while seeking a sport pilot certificate with other than glider or balloon privileges and holds a U.S. driver's license;
(iii) Is exercising the privileges of a student pilot certificate while seeking a pilot certificate with a weight-shift-control aircraft category rating or a powered parachute category rating and holds a U.S. driver's license;
(iv) Is exercising the privileges of a sport pilot certificate with glider or balloon privileges;
(v) Is exercising the privileges of a sport pilot certificate with other than glider or balloon privileges and holds a U.S. driver's license. A person who has applied for or held a medical certificate may exercise the privileges of a sport pilot certificate using a U.S. driver's license only if that person—
(A) Has been found eligible for the issuance of at least a third-class airman medical certificate at the time of his or her most recent application; and
(B) Has not had his or her most recently issued medical certificate suspended or revoked or most recent Authorization for a Special Issuance of a Medical Certificate withdrawn.
(vi) Is holding a pilot certificate with a balloon class rating and that person—
(A) Is exercising the privileges of a private pilot certificate in a balloon; or
(B) Is providing flight training in a balloon in accordance with § 61.133(a)(2)(ii);
(vii) Is holding a pilot certificate or a flight instructor certificate with a glider category rating, and is piloting or providing training in a glider, as appropriate;
(viii) Is exercising the privileges of a flight instructor certificate, provided the person is not acting as pilot in command or as a required pilot flight crewmember;
(ix) Is exercising the privileges of a ground instructor certificate;
(x) Is operating an aircraft within a foreign country using a pilot license issued by that country and possesses evidence of current medical qualification for that license;
(xi) Is operating an aircraft with a U.S. pilot certificate, issued on the basis of a foreign pilot license, issued under § 61.75, and holds a medical certificate issued by the foreign country that issued the foreign pilot license, which is in that person's physical possession or readily accessible in the aircraft when exercising the privileges of that airman certificate;
(xii) Is a pilot of the U.S. Armed Forces, has an up-to-date U.S. military medical examination, and holds military pilot flight status;
(xiii) Is exercising the privileges of a student, recreational or private pilot certificate for operations conducted under the conditions and limitations set forth in § 61.113(i) and holds a U.S. driver's license;
(xiv) Is exercising the privileges of a flight instructor certificate and acting as pilot in command or a required flightcrew member for operations conducted under the conditions and limitations set forth in § 61.113(i) and holds a U.S. driver's license; or
(xv) Is exercising the privileges of a student pilot certificate or higher while acting as pilot in command on a special medical flight test authorized under part 67 of this chapter.
(d) Flight instructor certificate. (1) A person who holds a flight instructor certificate issued under this part must have that certificate, or other documentation acceptable to the Administrator, in that person's physical possession or readily accessible in the aircraft when exercising the privileges of that flight instructor certificate.
(2) Except as provided in paragraph (d)(3) of this section, no person other than the holder of a flight instructor certificate issued under this part with the appropriate rating on that certificate may—
(i) Give training required to qualify a person for solo flight and solo cross-country flight;
(ii) Endorse an applicant for a—
(A) Pilot certificate or rating issued under this part;
(B) Flight instructor certificate or rating issued under this part; or
(C) Ground instructor certificate or rating issued under this part;
(iii) Endorse a pilot logbook to show training given; or
(iv) Endorse a logbook for solo operating privileges.
(3) A flight instructor certificate issued under this part is not necessary—
(i) Under paragraph (d)(2) of this section, if the training is given by the holder of a commercial pilot certificate with a lighter-than-air rating, provided the training is given in accordance with the privileges of the certificate in a lighter-than-air aircraft;
(ii) Under paragraph (d)(2) of this section, if the training is given by the holder of an airline transport pilot certificate with a rating appropriate to the aircraft in which the training is given, provided the training is given in accordance with the privileges of the certificate and conducted in accordance with an approved air carrier training program approved under part 121 or part 135 of this chapter;
(iii) Under paragraph (d)(2) of this section, if the training is given by a person who is qualified in accordance with subpart C of part 142 of this chapter, provided the training is conducted in accordance with an approved part 142 training program;
(iv) Under paragraphs (d)(2)(i), (d)(2)(ii)(C), and (d)(2)(iii) of this section, if the training is given by the holder of a ground instructor certificate in accordance with the privileges of the certificate; or
(v) Under paragraph (d)(2)(iii) of this section, if the training is given by an authorized flight instructor under § 61.41 of this part.
(e) Instrument rating. No person may act as pilot in command of a civil aircraft under IFR or in weather conditions less than the minimums prescribed for VFR flight unless that person holds:
(1) The appropriate aircraft category, class, type (if a class or type rating is required), and instrument rating on that person's pilot certificate for any airplane, helicopter, or powered-lift being flown;
(2) An airline transport pilot certificate with the appropriate aircraft category, class, and type rating (if a class or type rating is required) for the aircraft being flown;
(3) For a glider, a pilot certificate with a glider category rating and an airplane instrument rating; or
(4) For an airship, a commercial pilot certificate with a lighter-than-air category rating and airship class rating.
(f) Category II pilot authorization. Except for a pilot conducting Category II operations under part 121 or part 135, a person may not:
(1) Act as pilot in command of a civil aircraft during Category II operations unless that person—
(i) Holds a Category II pilot authorization for that category or class of aircraft, and the type of aircraft, if applicable; or
(ii) In the case of a civil aircraft of foreign registry, is authorized by the country of registry to act as pilot in command of that aircraft in Category II operations.
(2) Act as second in command of a civil aircraft during Category II operations unless that person—
(i) Holds a pilot certificate with category and class ratings (if a class rating is required) for that aircraft and an instrument rating for that category aircraft;
(ii) Holds an airline transport pilot certificate with category and class ratings (if a class rating is required) for that aircraft; or
(iii) In the case of a civil aircraft of foreign registry, is authorized by the country of registry to act as second in command of that aircraft during Category II operations.
(g) Category III pilot authorization. Except for a pilot conducting Category III operations under part 121 or part 135, a person may not:
(1) Act as pilot in command of a civil aircraft during Category III operations unless that person—
(i) Holds a Category III pilot authorization for that category or class of aircraft, and the type of aircraft, if applicable; or
(ii) In the case of a civil aircraft of foreign registry, is authorized by the country of registry to act as pilot in command of that aircraft in Category III operations.
(2) Act as second in command of a civil aircraft during Category III operations unless that person—
(i) Holds a pilot certificate with category and class ratings (if a class rating is required) for that aircraft and an instrument rating for that category aircraft;
(ii) Holds an airline transport pilot certificate with category and class ratings (if a class rating is required) for that aircraft; or
(iii) In the case of a civil aircraft of foreign registry, is authorized by the country of registry to act as second in command of that aircraft during Category III operations.
(h) Category A aircraft pilot authorization. The Administrator may issue a certificate of authorization for a Category II or Category III operation to the pilot of a small aircraft that is a Category A aircraft, as identified in § 97.3(b)(1) of this chapter if:
(1) The Administrator determines that the Category II or Category III operation can be performed safely by that pilot under the terms of the certificate of authorization; and
(2) The Category II or Category III operation does not involve the carriage of persons or property for compensation or hire.
(i) Ground instructor certificate. (1) Each person who holds a ground instructor certificate issued under this part must have that certificate or a temporary document issued under § 61.29(e) in that person's physical possession or immediately accessible when exercising the privileges of that certificate.
(2) Except as provided in paragraph (i)(3) of this section, no person other than the holder of a ground instructor certificate, issued under this part or part 143, with the appropriate rating on that certificate may—
(i) Give ground training required to qualify a person for solo flight and solo cross-country flight;
(ii) Endorse an applicant for a knowledge test required for a pilot, flight instructor, or ground instructor certificate or rating issued under this part; or
(iii) Endorse a pilot logbook to show ground training given.
(3) A ground instructor certificate issued under this part is not necessary—
(i) Under paragraph (i)(2) of this section, if the training is given by the holder of a flight instructor certificate issued under this part in accordance with the privileges of that certificate;
(ii) Under paragraph (i)(2) of this section, if the training is given by the holder of a commercial pilot certificate with a lighter-than-air rating, provided the training is given in accordance with the privileges of the certificate in a lighter-than-air aircraft;
(iii) Under paragraph (i)(2) of this section, if the training is given by the holder of an airline transport pilot certificate with a rating appropriate to the aircraft in which the training is given, provided the training is given in accordance with the privileges of the certificate and conducted in accordance with an approved air carrier training program approved under part 121 or part 135 of this chapter;
(iv) Under paragraph (i)(2) of this section, if the training is given by a person who is qualified in accordance with subpart C of part 142 of this chapter, provided the training is conducted in accordance with an approved part 142 training program; or
(v) Under paragraph (i)(2)(iii) of this section, if the training is given by an authorized flight instructor under § 61.41 of this part.
(j) Age limitation for certain operations. (1) Age limitation. No person who holds a pilot certificate issued under this part may serve as a pilot on a civil airplane of U.S. registry in the following operations if the person has reached his or her 60th birthday or, in the case of operations with more than one pilot, his or her 65th birthday:
(i) Scheduled international air services carrying passengers in turbojet-powered airplanes;
(ii) Scheduled international air services carrying passengers in airplanes having a passenger-seat configuration of more than nine passenger seats, excluding each crewmember seat;
(iii) Nonscheduled international air transportation for compensation or hire in airplanes having a passenger-seat configuration of more than 30 passenger seats, excluding each crewmember seat; or
(iv) Scheduled international air services, or nonscheduled international air transportation for compensation or hire, in airplanes having a payload capacity of more than 7,500 pounds.
(2) Definitions. (i) “International air service,” as used in this paragraph (j), means scheduled air service performed in airplanes for the public transport of passengers, mail, or cargo, in which the service passes through the airspace over the territory of more than one country.
(ii) “International air transportation,” as used in this paragraph (j), means air transportation performed in airplanes for the public transport of passengers, mail, or cargo, in which the service passes through the airspace over the territory of more than one country.
(k) Special purpose pilot authorization. Any person that is required to hold a special purpose pilot authorization, issued in accordance with § 61.77 of this part, must have that authorization and the person's foreign pilot license in that person's physical possession or have it readily accessible in the aircraft when exercising the privileges of that authorization.
(l) Inspection of certificate. Each person who holds an airman certificate, temporary document in accordance with paragraph (a)(1)(v) or (vi) of this section, medical certificate, documents establishing alternative medical qualification under part 68 of this chapter, authorization, or license required by this part must present it and their photo identification as described in paragraph (a)(2) of this section for inspection upon a request from:
(1) The Administrator;
(2) An authorized representative of the National Transportation Safety Board;
(3) Any Federal, State, or local law enforcement officer; or
(4) An authorized representative of the Transportation Security Administration.
(m) For a person who possesses a sport pilot certificate. No person may exercise sport pilot privileges under § 61.313 unless that person receives a qualifying logbook endorsement under § 61.317 or § 61.321 of this part for the appropriate category and class privilege. The requirement in this paragraph (m) does not apply to a person who already holds the appropriate category and class rating on their pilot certificate.
Research Notes
Certificate and ID Carriage Requirements
Section 61.3(a) requires the pilot certificate to be "in the person's physical possession or readily accessible in the aircraft." The FAA has consistently interpreted "readily accessible" to mean within the cockpit or on the pilot's person — not locked in the trunk of a rental car or left at home. Electronic certificates displayed on a mobile device do NOT satisfy this requirement; the plastic pilot certificate must be physically present.
Photo ID requirement: § 61.3(a)(2) lists acceptable forms. A current driver's license from any U.S. state or territory satisfies the requirement. An expired driver's license does not. Note that the photo ID requirement is separate from the certificate requirement — you must have both.
Medical Certificate Requirements
Section 61.3(c) ties medical certificate requirements to the class of operation. For operations not requiring an ATP, a third-class medical is sufficient for most general aviation pilots. BasicMed (§ 61.23(c)(3)) is an alternative for operations that don't require an ATP, commercial, or air traffic control operator certificate — subject to the limitations at § 61.113(i).
Key distinction: § 61.3(c) tells you WHEN a medical is required. § 61.23 tells you what classes exist and how long they last. The interplay between the two sections is where most student confusion lives.
English Language Proficiency
Section 61.3(e) requires that any person exercising the privileges of a U.S. pilot certificate be able to read, speak, write, and understand English. This requirement cannot be waived. It applies to all certificate holders operating in the U.S. National Airspace System.
BasicMed Eligibility at § 61.3(c)
Since 2017, qualifying pilots can substitute BasicMed (§ 61.23(c)(3)) for a third-class medical in most general aviation operations. BasicMed requires a current driver's license AND a medical examination by any licensed physician AND completion of a medical education course every 24 months. If your last FAA medical was denied, revoked, or withdrawn, you cannot use BasicMed.
Reference: FAA BasicMed Program Overview. See also: AC 61-65J for certificate carriage specifics.
What You Must Carry — § 61.3 Decoded
Strip § 61.3 down to what it actually demands of you on a flying day and it's a short list. Four items. The reg writes them out in legal English; here's the same list in pilot English.
| # | What | Where it lives in § 61.3 | How "in possession" works |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot certificate (or equivalent — student certificate, foreign certificate with authorization letter, special-purpose authorization) | § 61.3(a)(1) | Physical possession or readily accessible in the aircraft while exercising the privileges of the certificate. |
| 2 | Government-issued photo ID (driver's license, passport, military ID, etc.) — current | § 61.3(a)(2) | Same standard — on you or readily accessible. An expired driver's license fails the standard. |
| 3 | Medical certificate or BasicMed documentation (Part 68) | § 61.3(c) | Physical possession or readily accessible. For BasicMed: the comprehensive medical exam checklist and the course-completion record both count as the "authorization." |
| 4 | Endorsements (where required — solo, complex/high-performance, tailwheel, mountain, etc.) | Carried under the certificate framework of § 61.3; specific endorsements per § 61.31 and the relevant solo/training sections | Logbook in the aircraft for student pilots and certain limited-privilege operations; otherwise the endorsements travel with your logbook. |
Two things the reg makes clear that pilots routinely miss:
- "In possession" is not the same as "on your person." The reg says physical possession or readily accessible in the aircraft. A certificate in your flight bag in the back seat counts. A certificate in the FBO lobby does not. Most CFIs default to flight-bag carriage because the line between "in the aircraft" and "at the airport" gets blurry fast.
- The pilot certificate and the photo ID are two separate requirements. § 61.3(a)(2) is its own subparagraph. An FAA inspector or a ramp check can ask for both — and the plastic pilot card alone won't satisfy the photo-ID half of the rule.
Reference: § 61.23 sets the duration of each medical class (and the BasicMed alternative). 14 CFR Part 68 is the full BasicMed framework. § 61.3 sets the carriage requirement; those other sections set the currency rules behind what you're carrying.
What an Examiner Asks About § 61.3
This reg shows up on every checkride — private through ATP — because it's the gateway rule. If you can't produce the documents the regulation requires, the oral never starts. Examiners aren't trying to trick you; they're testing whether you treat your own paperwork the way you'd treat the aircraft logbooks.
Common questions, in roughly the order they show up:
- "What do you have to have on you to act as PIC today?" Pilot certificate. Government-issued photo ID. Medical certificate or BasicMed documentation. Endorsements (if any apply). All four. The pilot who lists three is the pilot who forgets the photo ID — that's the most-missed answer in the entire reg.
- "If your medical expired yesterday, can you fly?" No. § 61.3(c) requires a current medical (or BasicMed) for operations that require one. Expired is expired — there's no grace period in the reg. The follow-up: "Could you fly tomorrow on a Sport Pilot driver's-license medical?" Maybe — if you qualify and you're flying a light-sport-eligible aircraft under Sport Pilot privileges.
- "Can you carry your certificate electronically — a PDF on your phone?" No. The FAA has been explicit: a digital image or PDF does not satisfy the physical-possession standard of § 61.3. The plastic card has to be there.
- "What's BasicMed and how is it different from a medical?" An alternative path under 14 CFR Part 68 — current driver's license, physician exam every 48 months, online medical course every 24 months. All three current at once. Limited to certain operations and aircraft sizes.
Pre-Flight Pocket Check, Under § 61.3
You're a CFI gearing up to fly a long cross-country with a primary student. Engine's warm, the aircraft is preflighted, the student is buckled in. Before you taxi, run the § 61.3 pocket check on yourself.
The reg pulls you to: Pilot certificate — in the flight bag, plastic card, not a phone photo. Government-issued photo ID — current driver's license or passport, in your wallet or your flight bag. Medical certificate or BasicMed documentation — current, in possession. CFI certificate — same standard, because you're exercising those privileges too. Endorsements you're relying on (your CFI renewal, the student's solo cross-country endorsement if applicable) — in your logbook, in the aircraft or readily accessible.
What competent adds: Know where every document is — not vaguely, specifically. Front pocket of the flight bag, top compartment. If a ramp inspector walks up after engine shutdown and asks for your certificates, you should be producing them in under thirty seconds. A CFI fumbling for their own paperwork in front of a student is a teaching moment turned upside down. Build the habit on the ground so you teach it without thinking: your documents live in one place, every flight, always.
The reg is the minimum — a list of things that must be with you. The competent layer is knowing exactly where they are when someone asks.
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.