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01-A: Pilot Qualifications

Knowledge

K1: Certification requirements, recent flight experience and recordkeeping

  • definitions

    • class vs category definitions
      • with respect to airmen certificates (A|SEL; Category|Class (alphabetically ordered)
        • Category (A, Airplane, Rotorcraft, powered lift, lighter than air, weight shift, powered parachute)
        • Class (SEL, MEL, SES, MES)
        • Type (DC-7, C172)
        • mnemonic for airmen
          • to distinguish category from class for certificate
          • sort alphabetically (category before class)
          • order corresponds with A|SEL (category | class) certificate acronym
      • with respect to airplanes (inverted to before, A becomes Class)
        • Category: Normal, Utility, Aerobatic
        • Class: airplane, rotorcraft
    • night definitions
      • for take-off and landing currency to enable passenger carriage:
        • very strict definition (pitch black): 1 hour after sunset, 1 hour before sunrise
        • applies to the three landings to a full-stop, but you can carry people 1h longer than sunset without night currency (night only begins one hour after sunset for the purposes of currency/recency)
      • for night time logging
        • medium-strict definition
        • time span between evening civil twilight (civil dusk) and morning civil twilight (dawn)
        • night = civil twilight
          • excursion: twilight definitions
            • civil twilight: sun 0-6 degrees under the horizon (e.g., about 30 minutes in "normal" latitudes)
            • nautical twilight: sun 6-12 degrees under the horizon
            • astronomical twilight: sun 12-18 degrees under the horizon
            • night: sun more than 18 degrees under the horizon
            • moments between twilight phases are called dawn (in the morning) or dusk (in the evening)
      • for aircraft lighting
        • least strict definition (to maximize time you have to use light)
        • sunset to sunrise

  • currency requirements

    • with passengers
      • day: 90 days, 3 take-offs and landings (can be touch-and-go for tricylces and must be full-stop for tail-wheels)
      • night: 90 days, 3 take offs and landings (must be full stop) in pitch blackness (i.e., 1h after sunset and 1h before sunrise)
      • night landings count for day currency
    • without passengers
      • every 24 months (flight review)
    • recency requires the same category and class, but not the same type (unless a type rating is required)
    • to tow a glider as PIC
      • you need 100 hours in the same category, class, and type
      • three actual or simulated tows with a qualified pilot within the preceding 24 months

  • logging time

    • logging PIC time
      • act as the sole manipulator of the controls
    • logging SIC time
      • act as the SIC in an aircraft that requires a SIC

K2: Privileges and limitations

  • Special VFR at night (in class D)
    • requires aircraft and pilot IFR ratings
  • alcohol
    • 8 hours bottle to throttle
    • no more than 0.04 BAC (blood alcohol count)
  • drug offenses
    • must only be notified (to the Civil Aviation Security Divisuin AMC-700) if in relationship with motor vehicles within 60 days (other drug offenses must only be indicated during medical certificate applications)
    • lead to suspension, revocation or denial of certificates
    • mariuana possession/selling offenses must be indicated during medical certifciate applications, but not notified upon conviction
  • no flight for hire or compensation
  • permissible exceptions:
    • full flight reimbursement for charitable flights
    • pro-rate sharing
    • in furtherance of a business where the flight is only incidental
  • special aircraft:
    • type rating required above 12'500 lbs max take off weight
    • logged ground and flight instruction and a one-time endorsement in an airplane, required for
      • high performance aircraft (i.e., more than 200 horsepower)
      • complex aircraft
        • retractable landing gears, and
        • flaps, and
        • controllable pitch
      • tailwheel airplane
      • high-altitude airplane, i.e, service ceiling or maximum operating altitude below 25'000 MSL
  • written reports of an emergency must be provided only upon request (otherwise not needed)
  • 30-day-rule: changes of address must be reported within 30 days after the move to remain legal to fly
  • chair-type aprachutes must have been packed by a rated parachute rigger within the preceding 180 days
  • licenses must be shown upon inspection to
    • FAA
    • NTSB
    • law enforcement
    • TSA

K3: medical certificates: class, expiration, privileges, temporary disqualifications

  • 60/40/24 rule in medical certificate expiration
    • 60 months valid if under 40
    • Over 40, 24 months
  • certicates expire by the end of the calendar month

K4: documents required to exercise private pilot privileges

  • needed on-board:
    • pilot certificate
    • medical certificate
    • government ID
  • students need their logbook with endorsement
  • student certificates issued after April 1, 2016, don't expire
  • BasicMed generally needs (but not on-board during flight)
    • a driver's license
    • the CMEC (comprehensive medical examination checklist) endorsement in the logbook
    • the BasmicMed medical certificate completion course in their logbook
  • FAA advisory circulars
    • are obtainable from the Government Printing Office
    • correspond to the part number
      • AC 60 complement part 61 (airmen)
      • AC 70 complement part 71 (airspace)
      • AC 90 complement part 91 (airtraffic)

K5: Part 68 BasicMed

  • requires a course completion within the last 24 months
  • a CMEC (comprehensive medical exam) within the last 48 months
  • a valid driver’s license
  • aircraft requistrictions:
    • no more than 7 seats total and thus no more than 6 passengers
    • no more than 12500 lbs of max take off weight
  • airplane operation restrictions (plane can be more powerful though)
    • no more than 250 knots
    • no more than 18000 MSL
  • held a medical after July 14, 2006
  • only valid in the US, Mexico, Bahamas (not Canada)

Risk

R1: Proficiency vs currency

  • you might be legally current but not practically proficient
  • know your practical minimums w.r.t. winds, visibility, complexities

R2: Flying unfmiliar aircraft or operating with unfamiliar flight display systems and avionics

  • don't do it, take training before

Skills

S1: Apply requirements to act as PIC under VFR in a scenario given by the instructor

  • scenario (e.g., regarding pro-rata sharing with passengers)