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Pilot Qualifications: FAR 141 Apx D
Pilot Qualifications: FAR 141 Apx D
Eligibility:
Must hold at least a private pilot certificate.
Must hold an instrument rating or enrolled in an instrument course.
Required Experience:
35 hours of aeronautical knowledge training
120 hours of flight training
55 hours of dual instruction
10 hours in a TAA (technologically advanced aircraft) 61.129
10 hours of instrument training
2 hour night and 2 hour day cross country of more than 100 nautical miles one direction.
10 hours of solo or SPIC
One cross country with three landing points and one segment of the flight consisting of a straight line distance of 250 nautical miles
5 hours of night VFR with 10 takeoffs and landings
Privileges and Limitations: FAR 61.133
Privileges and Limitations: FAR 61.133
Privileges:
A Commercial Pilot may act as pilot in command (PIC) of an aircraft:
Carrying persons or property for compensation or hire, provided the operation does not require an air carrier or commercial operator certificate under Part 119.
For compensation or hire in connection with a business if the flight is only incidental to that business and the aircraft does not carry passengers or property for hire.
Examples of Permitted Activities (No Part 119 certificate required):
Flight instruction (if appropriately rated).
Ferry or demonstration flights.
Banner towing or aerial photography (with waiver, as applicable).
Crop dusting, seeding, spraying, or pipeline patrol.
Powerline or pipeline patrol.
Fire fighting or aerial surveying.
Glider towing.
Skydiver operations.
Limitations:
You may not act as PIC of an aircraft carrying persons or property for compensation or hire:
Unless you are operating under an appropriate operating certificate (Part 119) and complying with the operating rules (e.g., Part 135 for commuter/charter, Part 121 for airlines).
Key Limiting Concepts:
Common carriage triggers the need for a Part 119 or 135 certificate.
Holding out demonstrates willingness to engage in common carriage.
Private carriage may be legal under Part 91 but is narrowly interpreted.
Common Carriage: FAR 119.1
Common Carriage: FAR 119.1
Definition: FAR 110.2
The holding out of a willingness to transport persons or property from place to place for compensation or hire — available to the general public or a segment of it.
Elements (as recognized by the FAA and NTSB):
Holding out — advertising or otherwise making known to the public the willingness to provide transportation.
Transport of persons or property.
From place to place.
For compensation or hire.
Examples of Common Carriage:
Offering on-demand charter flights to anyone willing to pay.
Posting ads on social media for “$150 scenic flights.”
Maintaining a website with a price list for carrying passengers.
Commercial-level Distinction:
Common carriage = public availability + compensation → requires Part 119 operating certificate and usually falls under Part 135 (air taxi/charter).
Private Carriage: FAR 119.1
Private Carriage: FAR 119.1
Definition: FAR 110.2
The carriage of persons or property for hire that does not involve holding out to the general public — typically for a limited number of clients on a long-term or exclusive basis.
FAA Guidance:
“Private carriage” is limited to a small number of contracts (generally ≤ 3 to 5 principal clients).
The operator serves each under specific agreements, not general advertising.
The FAA scrutinizes arrangements that look like disguised common carriage.
Examples of Private Carriage:
A company hiring a pilot to fly its executives.
A contract pilot flying for two or three fixed corporate clients.
Ferrying aircraft under contract for a manufacturer or broker.
AC 120-12A is going to be key to your understanding Common Carriage and Private Carriage.
AC 120-12A.pdfHolding Out
Holding Out
Definition:
A representation to the public (express or implied) that an operator is willing to furnish air transportation to anyone who wants it.
Forms of Holding Out:
Advertising through any media (print, web, radio, social).
Word-of-mouth reputation that service is available to anyone.
Establishing a business presence (office, website, business card offering rides).
Using a platform (like FlyShare or group travel) to solicit passengers.
FAA’s View:
Holding out + carriage of persons/property + compensation = Common Carriage → requires certification under Part 119.
Even without active advertising, repeated or wide availability can still qualify as holding out.
Example:
A pilot offering flights for money to “anyone who calls” is holding out; a pilot flying only for one employer under contract is not.
Required Documents: FAR 61.3
Required Documents: FAR 61.3
Government Issued Photo ID
Passport
Driver's License
State ID
NOT Social Security Card
Pilot Certificate
This never expires, but must be kept current with a biannual flight review. (FAR 61.56)
Biannual flight reviews must be a minimum of 1 hour ground and flight training.
Can be done by a CFI or it will reset with each new license obtained.
Logbook: FAR 61.51
Used to show your currency (or required training time and aeronautical experience) for:
Certificate
Rating
Flight Review
A pilot logbook must include:
Total training time
Signature and ID number of the Instructor
The logged training time must be endorsed by the instructor
For inspections, a pilot must present their logbook, pilot certificate, medical certificate, and any other record required.
Medical Certificate: FAR 61.23
1st Class: ATP, Commercial, Private, Recreational, Sport, and CFI
2nd Class: Commercial, Private, Recreational, Sport, and CFI
3rd Class: Private, Recreational, Sport, and CFI
Medicals expire but follow a default flow...
Recent Flight Experience: FAR 61.57
Recent Flight Experience: FAR 61.57
To carry passengers: 3 takeoffs and landings in the same category, class, and type if required within the preceding 90 days.
Day landings can be touch and go.
Night landings must be full stop during the period of 1 hour after sunset-1 hour before sunrise. FAR 61.57(B)
Tailwheel landings must be full stop in both day and night.
Note: if there are two pilots that need to conduct landings for currency, only one can be in the aircraft at a time because they are considered passengers.
Currency: meet the legal requirements for flight.
Proficiency: ability to perform a correct and safe flight.
Category and Class of Airmen and Aircraft: FAR 1.DEF
Category and Class of Airmen and Aircraft: FAR 1.DEF
Complex Aircraft: flaps, retractable landing gear, constant speed propeller.
High Performance Aircraft: 200+ HP.
*Note: if not type rated in complex or high performance aircraft, you can log PIC time but not act as PIC.
Reference FAR 61.31
Preventative Maintenance: FAR 43, apx B
Preventative Maintenance: FAR 43, apx B
A private pilot may conduct simple repairs or replacement of regular components that do not require complex assembly or disassembly.
Examples:
Changing tires
Changing oil/filters
Replacing seatbelts
Replacing spark plugs
Replacing lights
Any preventative maintenance must be recorded in the maintenance records with a desrciption, date of completion, signature and certificate number of pilot who performed it. A person might hold at least a Private Pilot Certificate in order to do preventative maintenance.
Only the owner and operator can perform preventative maintenance.
Temporary Disqualifications: FAR 61.53
Temporary Disqualifications: FAR 61.53
No person who holds a medical certificate may act as PIC or other required crew member while that person:
Has a known medical condition that would make the person unable to meet the medical certificate requirements for the pilot operation
Is taking medication or receiving other treatments that result in the person being unable to meet the medical certificate requirement for the pilot operation.
S.O.D.A. Statement of Demonstrated Ability
Issued by the federal air surgeon to a person with a non-progressive disqualifying condition so they may act as a crewmember. This only applies to PPL privileges.
BasicMed: FAR 61.23c, 61.113i, 68
BasicMed: FAR 61.23c, 61.113i, 68
In the FAR/AIM, BasicMed is not explicitly described other than it's limitations and privileges.
For more information on BasicMed visit the FAA website.
Requirements:
Hold a US driver’s license
Held a medical certificate after July 14, 2006
A physical exam by a state licensed physician
Complete section 2 of CMEC (Comprehensive Medical Examination Checklist)
Take a medical education course
Keep the signed CMEC and BasicMed education course completion certificate in their logbook
Validation:
CMEC within 48 calendar months
Medical course training within 24 calendar months
Privileges:
To act as PIC by holding a valid US driver’s license instead of a medical certificate
Limitations:
May not fly for compensation or hire
VFR or IFR flight within the US
Aircraft capacity: max 7 occupants
Maximum takeoff weight of 12,500 lbs
Altitude at or below 18,000 ft
Airspeed no more than 250 kts
Applicability:
Pilots or crew members with PPL
Flight instructors
Pilot examiners
Definition of Night: FAR 1.1
Definition of Night: FAR 1.1
Night means the time between the end of evening civil twilight and the beginning of morning civil twilight, as published in the Air Almanac, converted to local time.
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