✈️ Task A – Pilot Qualifications
Objective:
To determine the applicant demonstrates satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skill associated with airman and medical certification, including privileges, limitations, recent flight experience, currency, and operating as pilot-in-command under Visual Flight Rules (VFR).
References:
14 CFR Parts 61, 68, 91 | AC 68-1 | FAA-H-8083-2 | FAA-H-8083-3 | FAA-H-8083-25
🧠 Knowledge Areas
📘 PA.I.A.K1 – Certification Requirements, Recent Flight Experience, and Recordkeeping
Eligibility Requirements (§61.103):
To apply for a private pilot certificate, the applicant must:
- Be at least 17 years of age
- Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language
- Hold a U.S. student, sport, or recreational pilot certificate
- Receive the appropriate ground and flight training endorsements from an authorized instructor
- Pass the FAA private pilot knowledge test and practical test (checkride)
- Hold at least a third-class medical certificate
Aeronautical Experience (§61.109):
Minimum flight experience must include:
- 3 hours of cross-country flight training
- 3 hours of night flight training (including 100 NM cross-country + 10 full-stop landings)
- 3 hours of instrument flight training
- 3 hours of flight training within 2 calendar months of the practical test
- 10 hours of solo flight time, including:
- 5 hours of solo cross-country
- 1 solo flight ≥150 NM total distance with full-stop landings at 3 points and one leg >50 NM
- 3 takeoffs and landings at a towered airport
Recent Flight Experience (§61.57):
To act as PIC carrying passengers:
- Within the preceding 90 days, the pilot must have completed 3 takeoffs and landings in an aircraft of the same category, class, and type (if type required).
- For night operations: 3 takeoffs and landings to a full stop between 1 hour after sunset and 1 hour before sunrise.
Recordkeeping (§61.51):
The pilot is responsible for maintaining a logbook with the following entries:
- Date and total time
- Departure and arrival locations
- Aircraft make, model, and registration
- Flight conditions (day/night, VFR/IFR)
- Type of pilot experience: PIC, solo, dual, simulator, etc.
- Instructor endorsements including name, certificate number, and expiration
📘 PA.I.A.K2 – Privileges and Limitations of a Private Pilot (§61.113)
Private pilots may not act as PIC for compensation or hire, with the following exceptions:
- Flying incidental to a business or employment, provided the flight does not carry passengers or property for compensation or hire
- Sharing the pro-rata share of flight expenses (fuel, oil, airport fees, rental fees) with passengers
- Acting as PIC for a charitable or nonprofit event under §91.146
- Conducting search and rescue operations under the direction of a public agency, with expense reimbursement
- Demonstrating aircraft to prospective buyers if the pilot is an aircraft salesman with at least 200 hours logged flight time
- Towing a glider or ultralight if endorsed under §61.69
- Conducting a production flight test in a light-sport aircraft
Note: A private pilot may carry as many passengers as the aircraft can legally accommodate, provided they are not paid for the flight.
📘 PA.I.A.K3 – Medical Certificates (Part 67, §61.23)
To exercise the privileges of a Private Pilot Certificate, you must hold at least a third-class medical certificate issued by an FAA-authorized Aviation Medical Examiner (AME).
🧾 Medical Certificate Classes & Purpose
| Class | Required For |
|---|---|
| First | ATP Pilot-in-Command (Part 121 airline ops) |
| Second | Commercial Pilot, ATP Second-in-Command |
| Third | Private, Recreational, and Student Pilots |
📅 Validity vs. Privileges – What’s the Difference?
- Validity is how long the certificate remains acceptable for FAA use
- Privileges refer to the level of operations you’re authorized to perform
👉 Once a medical certificate expires for its original class, it automatically downgrades to the lower class if time remains on that period.
| Age | Medical Class | Privileges Valid For | After That, You Can Exercise… | Total Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 40 | First | 12 months | Second-class (months 13–24), then Third-class (months 25–60) | 60 months |
| Second | 12 months | Third-class (months 13–60) | 60 months | |
| Third | 60 months | — | 60 months | |
| 40 and Over | First | 6 months | Second-class (months 7–12), then Third-class (months 13–24) | 24 months |
| Second | 12 months | Third-class (months 13–24) | 24 months | |
| Third | 24 months | — | 24 months |
🧑✈️ Real-World Scenarios
✈️ Example 1: Private Pilot with a First-Class Medical
- Age: 36
- Certificate: Private Pilot
- Medical Held: First-class
- Privilege Needed: Third-class
- ✅ Result: Although the First-class privileges expire after 12 months, the pilot is still legal for private operations (Third-class) for the full 60 months (5 years).
🧠 Tip: First-class medicals are not just for airline pilots. Many private pilots hold them for health assurance—but they only need third-class privileges to fly privately.
🛫 Example 2: ATP Pilot with Expired First-Class Privileges
- Age: 45
- Certificate: ATP
- Medical Held: First-class
- Last Exam: 14 months ago
- ❌ Result:
- First-class privileges expired at 6 months
- Second-class privileges expired at 12 months
- ATP cannot fly as PIC in airline or commercial operations
- ✅ However, they can still operate as a Private Pilot (Third-class privileges) until 24 months from the exam
🧠 Tip: Even an airline captain may still legally fly for fun under private pilot privileges when their first-class lapses—just not commercially.
⚠️ Temporary Disqualifications
Even with a valid medical certificate, you must not act as PIC if you are:
- Ill or under the influence of any medication impairing judgment
- Recently donated blood (within 72 hours)
- Completed scuba diving (within 24 hours)
- Experiencing sinus infections, fatigue, or any other limiting medical condition
📘 PA.I.A.K4 – Required Documents to Exercise Privileges (§61.3)
To operate as PIC, the following must be in the pilot’s possession and presented upon request by the FAA, NTSB, law enforcement, or TSA:
- Valid pilot certificate
- Current medical certificate
- Government-issued photo identification
Student pilots must additionally carry their logbook and endorsements.
📘 PA.I.A.K5 – BasicMed Privileges and Limitations (Part 68, §61.113(i))
To operate under BasicMed, the pilot must:
- Complete an FAA-approved medical education course every 24 months
- Undergo a physical exam with a state-licensed physician every 48 months
- Operate aircraft with:
- A maximum certificated takeoff weight of 12,500 lbs or less
- No more than 6 occupants onboard
- Maximum altitude of 18,000 ft MSL
- Maximum speed of 250 knots
- May not operate for compensation or hire
- Must carry the BasicMed certificate of course completion during flight
⚠️ Risk Management
📘 PA.I.A.R1 – Proficiency vs. Currency
Currency refers to meeting the legal minimum requirements to act as PIC (e.g., recent takeoffs/landings, flight review within 24 calendar months).
Proficiency means possessing the skill and confidence to safely perform flight operations.
A pilot may be current but not proficient. Additional training is encouraged before operating in unfamiliar or high-risk environments.
📘 PA.I.A.R2 – Operating Unfamiliar Aircraft or Avionics
Pilots transitioning to new aircraft must be familiar with:
- Aircraft systems: fuel, electrical, flight controls, avionics, etc.
- Aircraft limitations: CG range, crosswind limits, stall characteristics
- Performance data: takeoff, climb, cruise, descent, landing
- Use of glass cockpits and EFDs (risk of heads-down behavior)
Training should be conducted with a knowledgeable instructor and supported by thorough review of the AFM/POH.
🧪 Skill Demonstration
📘 PA.I.A.S1 – Application of PIC Requirements in Scenario
The applicant must correctly apply certification, experience, medical, and logbook requirements to a flight scenario. This includes determining legality and readiness to act as pilot-in-command under VFR conditions.