Regulation Text
§ 61.87 Solo requirements for student pilots.
(a) General. A student pilot may not operate an aircraft in solo flight unless that student has met the requirements of this section. The term “solo flight” as used in this subpart means that flight time during which a student pilot is the sole occupant of the aircraft or that flight time during which the student performs the duties of a pilot in command of a gas balloon or an airship requiring more than one pilot flight crewmember.
(b) Aeronautical knowledge. A student pilot must demonstrate satisfactory aeronautical knowledge on a knowledge test that meets the requirements of this paragraph:
(1) The test must address the student pilot's knowledge of—
(i) Applicable sections of parts 61 and 91 of this chapter;
(ii) Airspace rules and procedures for the airport where the solo flight will be performed; and
(iii) Flight characteristics and operational limitations for the make and model of aircraft to be flown.
(2) The student's authorized instructor must—
(i) Administer the test; and
(ii) At the conclusion of the test, review all incorrect answers with the student before authorizing that student to conduct a solo flight.
(c) Pre-solo flight training. Prior to conducting a solo flight, a student pilot must have:
(1) Received and logged flight training for the maneuvers and procedures of this section that are appropriate to the make and model of aircraft to be flown; and
(2) Demonstrated satisfactory proficiency and safety, as judged by an authorized instructor, on the maneuvers and procedures required by this section in the make and model of aircraft or similar make and model of aircraft to be flown.
(d) Maneuvers and procedures for pre-solo flight training in a single-engine airplane. A student pilot who is receiving training for a single-engine airplane rating or privileges must receive and log flight training for the following maneuvers and procedures:
(1) Proper flight preparation procedures, including preflight planning and preparation, powerplant operation, and aircraft systems;
(2) Taxiing or surface operations, including runups;
(3) Takeoffs and landings, including normal and crosswind;
(4) Straight and level flight, and turns in both directions;
(5) Climbs and climbing turns;
(6) Airport traffic patterns, including entry and departure procedures;
(7) Collision avoidance, windshear avoidance, and wake turbulence avoidance;
(8) Descents, with and without turns, using high and low drag configurations;
(9) Flight at various airspeeds from cruise to slow flight;
(10) Stall entries from various flight attitudes and power combinations with recovery initiated at the first indication of a stall, and recovery from a full stall;
(11) Emergency procedures and equipment malfunctions;
(12) Ground reference maneuvers;
(13) Approaches to a landing area with simulated engine malfunctions;
(14) Slips to a landing; and
(15) Go-arounds.
(e) Maneuvers and procedures for pre-solo flight training in a multiengine airplane. A student pilot who is receiving training for a multiengine airplane rating must receive and log flight training for the following maneuvers and procedures:
(1) Proper flight preparation procedures, including preflight planning and preparation, powerplant operation, and aircraft systems;
(2) Taxiing or surface operations, including runups;
(3) Takeoffs and landings, including normal and crosswind;
(4) Straight and level flight, and turns in both directions;
(5) Climbs and climbing turns;
(6) Airport traffic patterns, including entry and departure procedures;
(7) Collision avoidance, windshear avoidance, and wake turbulence avoidance;
(8) Descents, with and without turns, using high and low drag configurations;
(9) Flight at various airspeeds from cruise to slow flight;
(10) Stall entries from various flight attitudes and power combinations with recovery initiated at the first indication of a stall, and recovery from a full stall;
(11) Emergency procedures and equipment malfunctions;
(12) Ground reference maneuvers;
(13) Approaches to a landing area with simulated engine malfunctions; and
(14) Go-arounds.
(f) Maneuvers and procedures for pre-solo flight training in a helicopter. A student pilot who is receiving training for a helicopter rating must receive and log flight training for the following maneuvers and procedures:
(1) Proper flight preparation procedures, including preflight planning and preparation, powerplant operation, and aircraft systems;
(2) Taxiing or surface operations, including runups;
(3) Takeoffs and landings, including normal and crosswind;
(4) Straight and level flight, and turns in both directions;
(5) Climbs and climbing turns;
(6) Airport traffic patterns, including entry and departure procedures;
(7) Collision avoidance, windshear avoidance, and wake turbulence avoidance;
(8) Descents with and without turns;
(9) Flight at various airspeeds;
(10) Emergency procedures and equipment malfunctions;
(11) Ground reference maneuvers;
(12) Approaches to the landing area;
(13) Hovering and hovering turns;
(14) Go-arounds;
(15) Simulated emergency procedures, including autorotational descents with a power recovery and power recovery to a hover;
(16) Rapid decelerations; and
(17) Simulated one-engine-inoperative approaches and landings for multiengine helicopters.
(g) Maneuvers and procedures for pre-solo flight training in a gyroplane. A student pilot who is receiving training for a gyroplane rating or privileges must receive and log flight training for the following maneuvers and procedures:
(1) Proper flight preparation procedures, including preflight planning and preparation, powerplant operation, and aircraft systems;
(2) Taxiing or surface operations, including runups;
(3) Takeoffs and landings, including normal and crosswind;
(4) Straight and level flight, and turns in both directions;
(5) Climbs and climbing turns;
(6) Airport traffic patterns, including entry and departure procedures;
(7) Collision avoidance, windshear avoidance, and wake turbulence avoidance;
(8) Descents with and without turns;
(9) Flight at various airspeeds;
(10) Emergency procedures and equipment malfunctions;
(11) Ground reference maneuvers;
(12) Approaches to the landing area;
(13) High rates of descent with power on and with simulated power off, and recovery from those flight configurations;
(14) Go-arounds; and
(15) Simulated emergency procedures, including simulated power-off landings and simulated power failure during departures.
(h) Maneuvers and procedures for pre-solo flight training in a powered-lift. A student pilot who is receiving training for a powered-lift rating must receive and log flight training in the following maneuvers and procedures:
(1) Proper flight preparation procedures, including preflight planning and preparation, powerplant operation, and aircraft systems;
(2) Taxiing or surface operations, including runups;
(3) Takeoffs and landings, including normal and crosswind;
(4) Straight and level flight, and turns in both directions;
(5) Climbs and climbing turns;
(6) Airport traffic patterns, including entry and departure procedures;
(7) Collision avoidance, windshear avoidance, and wake turbulence avoidance;
(8) Descents with and without turns;
(9) Flight at various airspeeds from cruise to slow flight;
(10) Stall entries from various flight attitudes and power combinations with recovery initiated at the first indication of a stall, and recovery from a full stall;
(11) Emergency procedures and equipment malfunctions;
(12) Ground reference maneuvers;
(13) Approaches to a landing with simulated engine malfunctions;
(14) Go-arounds;
(15) Approaches to the landing area;
(16) Hovering and hovering turns; and
(17) For multiengine powered-lifts, simulated one-engine-inoperative approaches and landings.
(i) Maneuvers and procedures for pre-solo flight training in a glider. A student pilot who is receiving training for a glider rating or privileges must receive and log flight training for the following maneuvers and procedures:
(1) Proper flight preparation procedures, including preflight planning, preparation, aircraft systems, and, if appropriate, powerplant operations;
(2) Taxiing or surface operations, including runups, if applicable;
(3) Launches, including normal and crosswind;
(4) Straight and level flight, and turns in both directions, if applicable;
(5) Airport traffic patterns, including entry procedures;
(6) Collision avoidance, windshear avoidance, and wake turbulence avoidance;
(7) Descents with and without turns using high and low drag configurations;
(8) Flight at various airspeeds;
(9) Emergency procedures and equipment malfunctions;
(10) Ground reference maneuvers, if applicable;
(11) Inspection of towline rigging and review of signals and release procedures, if applicable;
(12) Aerotow, ground tow, or self-launch procedures;
(13) Procedures for disassembly and assembly of the glider;
(14) Stall entry, stall, and stall recovery;
(15) Straight glides, turns, and spirals;
(16) Landings, including normal and crosswind;
(17) Slips to a landing;
(18) Procedures and techniques for thermalling; and
(19) Emergency operations, including towline break procedures.
(j) Maneuvers and procedures for pre-solo flight training in an airship. A student pilot who is receiving training for an airship rating or privileges must receive and log flight training for the following maneuvers and procedures:
(1) Proper flight preparation procedures, including preflight planning and preparation, powerplant operation, and aircraft systems;
(2) Taxiing or surface operations, including runups;
(3) Takeoffs and landings, including normal and crosswind;
(4) Straight and level flight, and turns in both directions;
(5) Climbs and climbing turns;
(6) Airport traffic patterns, including entry and departure procedures;
(7) Collision avoidance, windshear avoidance, and wake turbulence avoidance;
(8) Descents with and without turns;
(9) Flight at various airspeeds from cruise to slow flight;
(10) Emergency procedures and equipment malfunctions;
(11) Ground reference maneuvers;
(12) Rigging, ballasting, and controlling pressure in the ballonets, and superheating; and
(13) Landings with positive and with negative static trim.
(k) Maneuvers and procedures for pre-solo flight training in a balloon. A student pilot who is receiving training in a balloon must receive and log flight training for the following maneuvers and procedures:
(1) Layout and assembly procedures;
(2) Proper flight preparation procedures, including preflight planning and preparation, and aircraft systems;
(3) Ascents and descents;
(4) Landing and recovery procedures;
(5) Emergency procedures and equipment malfunctions;
(6) Operation of hot air or gas source, ballast, valves, vents, and rip panels, as appropriate;
(7) Use of deflation valves or rip panels for simulating an emergency;
(8) The effects of wind on climb and approach angles; and
(9) Obstruction detection and avoidance techniques.
(l) Maneuvers and procedures for pre-solo flight training in a powered parachute. A student pilot who is receiving training for a powered parachute rating or privileges must receive and log flight training for the following maneuvers and procedures:
(1) Proper flight preparation procedures, including preflight planning and preparation, preflight assembly and rigging, aircraft systems, and powerplant operations.
(2) Taxiing or surface operations, including run-ups.
(3) Takeoffs and landings, including normal and crosswind.
(4) Straight and level flight, and turns in both directions.
(5) Climbs, and climbing turns in both directions.
(6) Airport traffic patterns, including entry and departure procedures.
(7) Collision avoidance, windshear avoidance, and wake turbulence avoidance.
(8) Descents, and descending turns in both directions.
(9) Emergency procedures and equipment malfunctions.
(10) Ground reference maneuvers.
(11) Straight glides, and gliding turns in both directions.
(12) Go-arounds.
(13) Approaches to landing areas with a simulated engine malfunction.
(14) Procedures for canopy packing and aircraft disassembly.
(m) Maneuvers and procedures for pre-solo flight training in a weight-shift-control aircraft. A student pilot who is receiving training for a weight-shift-control aircraft rating or privileges must receive and log flight training for the following maneuvers and procedures:
(1) Proper flight preparation procedures, including preflight planning and preparation, preflight assembly and rigging, aircraft systems, and powerplant operations.
(2) Taxiing or surface operations, including run-ups.
(3) Takeoffs and landings, including normal and crosswind.
(4) Straight and level flight, and turns in both directions.
(5) Climbs, and climbing turns in both directions.
(6) Airport traffic patterns, including entry and departure procedures.
(7) Collision avoidance, windshear avoidance, and wake turbulence avoidance.
(8) Descents, and descending turns in both directions.
(9) Flight at various airspeeds from maximum cruise to slow flight.
(10) Emergency procedures and equipment malfunctions.
(11) Ground reference maneuvers.
(12) Stall entry, stall, and stall recovery.
(13) Straight glides, and gliding turns in both directions.
(14) Go-arounds.
(15) Approaches to landing areas with a simulated engine malfunction.
(16) Procedures for disassembly.
(n) Limitations on student pilots operating an aircraft in solo flight. A student pilot may not operate an aircraft in solo flight unless that student pilot has received an endorsement in the student's logbook for the specific make and model aircraft to be flown by an authorized instructor who gave the training within the 90 days preceding the date of the flight.
(o) Limitations on student pilots operating an aircraft in solo flight at night. A student pilot may not operate an aircraft in solo flight at night unless that student pilot has received:
(1) Flight training at night on night flying procedures that includes takeoffs, approaches, landings, and go-arounds at night at the airport where the solo flight will be conducted;
(2) Navigation training at night in the vicinity of the airport where the solo flight will be conducted; and
(3) An endorsement in the student's logbook for the specific make and model aircraft to be flown for night solo flight by an authorized instructor who gave the training within the 90-day period preceding the date of the flight.
(p) Limitations on flight instructors authorizing solo flight. No instructor may authorize a student pilot to perform a solo flight unless that instructor has—
(1) Given that student pilot training in the make and model of aircraft or a similar make and model of aircraft in which the solo flight is to be flown;
(2) Determined the student pilot is proficient in the maneuvers and procedures prescribed in this section;
(3) Determined the student pilot is proficient in the make and model of aircraft to be flown; and
(4) Endorsed the student pilot's logbook for the specific make and model aircraft to be flown, and that endorsement remains current for solo flight privileges, provided an authorized instructor updates the student's logbook every 90 days thereafter.
[Docket 25910, 62 FR 16298, Apr. 4, 1997; Amdt. 61-103, 62 FR 40902, July 30, 1997; Amdt. 61-104, 63 FR 20287, Apr. 23, 1998; Amdt. 61-110, 69 FR 44866, July 27, 2004; Amdt. 61-124, 74 FR 42557, Aug. 21, 2009; Docket FAA-2010-1127, Amdt. 61-135, 81 FR 1306, Jan. 12, 2016]
Research Notes
Research Notes
§ 61.87 is the most detailed and operationally significant section in Subpart C. AC 61-65J: Contains all required endorsement language for student pilot solo — the pre-solo training endorsement (A.6), the pre-solo knowledge test endorsement (A.7), and the solo flight endorsement (A.8). Every word of these endorsements is legally material. NTSB precedent: Accidents involving student pilots flying solo without current endorsements have resulted in certificate action against the authorizing CFI in several cases. AIM 4-1-18: Student pilot communications procedures — some students skip reading this before their first solo and are unprepared for ATC at tower airports. FAA Order 8900.1, Vol. 5: Inspector guidance on student pilot endorsements. AC 61-65J — FAA (endorsements)
Pre-Solo Requirements — § 61.87 Decoded
Before a student pilot is legally authorized to fly solo, a specific stack of requirements has to be in place. Miss any one and the flight isn't authorized — full stop. § 61.87 isn't a single hurdle; it's a chain, and every link has to hold.
Here's the chain, in the order most students complete it:
| # | Requirement | Where it lives |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pre-solo aeronautical knowledge test | § 61.87(b) — the authorized instructor administers it, then reviews every incorrect answer with the student before endorsing. |
| 2 | Pre-solo flight training on required maneuvers | § 61.87(c)–(m) — the maneuver list varies by category and class (airplane, rotorcraft, glider, etc.). For single-engine airplanes, it's § 61.87(d). |
| 3 | Student pilot certificate | FAA-issued under § 61.83. Plastic card, applied for via IACRA. Must be in the student's possession on the flight. |
| 4 | Medical certificate (or BasicMed / sport pilot equivalent) | Medical certificate required for most student solo operations; sport pilot pathway uses a valid U.S. driver's license in lieu of medical for light-sport aircraft. |
| 5 | Make-and-model logbook endorsement | § 61.87(n) — the instructor endorses the student's logbook for the specific make and model. A 172 endorsement doesn't cover a Cherokee. |
| 6 | Solo flight logbook endorsement (90-day validity) | § 61.87(n) — the instructor endorses for solo flight in that make and model. The endorsement is valid 90 days; after that, an authorized instructor must re-endorse for continued solo. |
Two structural things to know about § 61.87 that students miss:
- The 90-day clock is rolling, not one-and-done. The make-and-model endorsement under § 61.87(n) authorizes solo for 90 days. After that window, the instructor reviews the student's recent performance and signs again — or doesn't. It's not a rubber stamp.
- § 61.87 is the authorization. § 61.89 is the leash. Once a student is signed off to solo, § 61.89 tells them what they can't do on that solo — no passengers, no carrying property for compensation, no flight outside the U.S. without specific authorization, no demonstration of an aircraft to a prospective buyer. Read both regs together.
The pre-solo test isn't a formality either. It covers the applicable sections of Part 61, Part 91, and the flight characteristics and operational limitations of the aircraft being flown. The instructor reviews every wrong answer before signing — that review is the regulation's point, not the test score.
What an Examiner Asks About § 61.87
For a student pilot, § 61.87 is the reg an instructor will quiz on before signing the endorsement. For a CFI applicant, it's the reg a DPE will probe to see if the candidate actually understands what they're authorizing when they sign a student off to solo.
Common questions, in roughly the order they come up:
- "What does a student need in their possession before they can solo?" Student pilot certificate, medical (or equivalent), logbook with both the make-and-model and solo endorsements, photo ID. All four. Forget one and the flight isn't authorized.
- "How long is a solo endorsement valid?" Ninety days. Then an authorized instructor must re-endorse for continued solo in that make and model. The 90-day clock starts the day the endorsement is given, not the day of the next solo.
- "What's on the pre-solo knowledge test?" Applicable sections of Part 61 and Part 91, plus the flight characteristics and operational limitations of the specific aircraft. The instructor administers it and reviews every incorrect answer.
- "Can a student solo without a medical?" Trick question. Under the sport pilot pathway, a student flying a light-sport aircraft can use a valid U.S. driver's license in lieu of a medical — the answer the examiner wants is "normally yes, medical is required; sport pilot pathway is the exception."
- "What additional endorsements does a student need to solo cross-country?" That's § 61.93 — different reg, additional training and a separate endorsement on top of the § 61.87 stack.
The trick on every § 61.87 question is the 90-day re-endorsement. Students think the make-and-model endorsement is permanent. It isn't. Every 90 days the instructor decides again.
A Student's First Solo, Under § 61.87
It's a calm Tuesday morning. Your student shows up at the flight school the way they've shown up forty times before — except today, the right seat is going to be empty for three takeoffs and three landings to a full stop. Here's what § 61.87 makes you check before you sign — and what being a good CFI adds on top:
The reg pulls you to: Verify the pre-solo knowledge test is complete and every wrong answer has been reviewed. Confirm the student pilot certificate is current and in the student's possession. Confirm the medical (or sport-pilot driver's-license equivalent) is valid. Confirm the make-and-model endorsement is logged for the airplane parked on the ramp — not the one the student trained in last month. Confirm the solo flight endorsement is current within 90 days. Check the weather meets your personal minimums for a first-solo student. Then sign the logbook with the exact AC 61-65 endorsement language and step out of the airplane.
What competent adds: Walk the airplane with them one more time. Watch them taxi out — really watch, not from the FBO couch. Listen on the radio. Stand where they can see you when they touch down. If the first landing is ugly, you'll see it; if it's good, you'll know they're cleared in your gut, not just your logbook. After the third landing to a full stop, you walk out to the airplane with a pair of scissors. The shirttail tradition isn't in the regulation — but the moment is what the student will remember the rest of their flying life.
§ 61.87 is the framework that makes it legal. The framework matters — get the chain right and the FAA stays out of it. But the moment is what makes a pilot. Sign the logbook. Step out. Hand them the airplane.
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.