Logbook Entries and Certificate Endorsements

Materials: FARS book: §61.5 (Optional: Endorsement Examples from the FAA: Advisory Circular 61-65K)

Development:

Define:

• Pilot Certificate: the required documentation (card) certifying that a person has met all the qualifications mandated by the FAA to fly a specific kind of aircraft; required to operate as pilot in command of an aircraft (must also have a valid medical certificate, photo identification, and any applicable type ratings):
  1. Student pilot
  2. Sport pilot
  3. Recreational pilot
  4. Private pilot
  5. Commercial pilot
  6. Airline Transport Pilot
  7. Flight instructor
  8. Ground instructor
• Category: a specific genre of aircraft categorized by flying qualities
  1. Airplane
  2. Rotorcraft
  3. Glider
  4. Lighter-than-air
  5. Powered-lift
  6. Powered parachute
  7. Weight-shift-control aircraft
• Class: a more specific categorization by flying/landing qualities
  1. Airplane class ratings
     • Single-engine land
     • Multiengine land
     • Single-engine sea
     • Multiengine sea
  2. Rotorcraft class ratings
     • Helicopter
     • Gyroplane
  3. Lighter-than-air class ratings
     • Airship
     • Balloon
  4. Weight-shift-control aircraft class rating
     • Weight-shift-control aircraft land
     • Weight-shift-control aircraft sea
  5. Powered parachute class rating
     • Powered parachute land
     • Powered parachute sea
• Rating: a specific privilege or extension of privileges to a pilot certificate for a particular type of aircraft, or aircraft with specific qualities.
  1. Aircraft type ratings
     • Large aircraft other than lighter-than-air
     • Turbojet-powered airplanes
     • Other aircraft type rating specified by the Administrator through the aircraft type certification procedures
     • Second-in-command pilot type rating for aircraft that is certificated for operations with a minimum crew of at least two pilots
  2. Instrument ratings (on private and commercial pilot certificates only)
     • Instrument-Airplane
     • Instrument-Helicopter
     • Instrument-Powered-lift
• Endorsement: a written certification of proficiency, privileges, and/or limitations given by a Certified Flight/Ground Instructor.

Training requirements, privileges/limitations of pilot certificates and ratings, and required logbook entries:

Recreational Pilot Certificate

• Training requirements — §61.97 (Subpart D)
  1. Receive and log GROUND training or complete a home-study course on the aeronautical knowledge areas in §61.97(b)
  2. Receive and log GROUND and FLIGHT training on the areas of operation for the category and class rating sought as listed in §61.98(b)
  3. Receive and log at least 30 hours of flight time, including the requirements listed in §61.99(a)
• Privileges and limitations of recreational pilots — §61.101
  1. May carry no more than one passenger
  2. May not pay less than his/her equal share of the flight’s operating expenses
  3. May act as PIC on a flight within 50 nm of the departure airport IF he/she has—
     • Received ground and flight training for takeoff, departure, arrival, and landing procedures at the departure airport;
     • Received ground and flight training for the area, terrain, and aids to navigation that are in the vicinity of the departure airport;
     • Been found proficient to operate the aircraft at the departure airport and the area within 50 nm of that airport; and
     • Received a logbook endorsement, carried in the person’s possession in the aircraft, that permits flight within 50 nm of the departure airport.
  4. May act as PIC on a flight that exceeds 50 nm from the departure airport IF he/she has—
     • Received ground and flight training on the private pilot cross-country training requirements (Subpart E);
     • Been found proficient in cross-country flying; and
     • Received an endorsement, carried in the person’s possession in the aircraft, certifying the person has received the training and been found proficient in the private pilot cross-country training requirements (Subpart E).
  5. May act as PIC in Class B, C, or D airspace — or to, from, through, or at an airport with an operating control tower — IF he/she has received the additional training, been found proficient, and received the endorsement required by §61.101(d)
• May NOT act as PIC of an aircraft — §61.101(e), except as allowed under (d) above and (i) below
  • That is certified for more than four occupants, has more than one powerplant, has a powerplant of more than 180 hp (except rotorcraft), or has retractable landing gear;
  • That is classified as a multiengine airplane, powered-lift, glider, airship, balloon, powered parachute, or weight-shift-control aircraft;
  • Carrying a passenger or property for compensation or hire, or for compensation or hire, or in furtherance of a business;
  • Between sunset and sunrise — no night flying;
  • In Class A, B, C, or D airspace, at an airport in Class B, C, or D airspace, or to/from/through/at an airport with an operating control tower (see the (d) exception above);
  • Above 10,000 ft MSL or 2,000 ft AGL, whichever is higher;
  • When flight or surface visibility is less than 3 statute miles, or without visual reference to the surface;
  • Outside the United States unless authorized by the country where the flight is conducted;
  • To demonstrate an aircraft in flight to a prospective buyer;
  • In a charitable passenger-carrying airlift; or
  • While towing any object.
• May NOT serve as a required flight crewmember on an aircraft that requires more than one pilot, with a narrow exception for receiving airship flight training — §61.101(f)
• Must receive flight training and a logbook endorsement of proficiency before acting as PIC again if the pilot has logged fewer than 400 flight hours and has not logged PIC time in the preceding 180 days — §61.101(g)
• Solo limitations for obtaining additional certificates/ratings under instructor supervision — §61.101(i) and §61.101(j)
• THIS LIST IS NOT ALL-INCLUSIVE — see §61.101 for the complete, current text

Private Pilot Certificate

• Training requirements — see §61.105
• Privileges and limitations of private pilots — see §61.113 (covered in full on the Private Pilot Certificate lesson plan page)

Commercial Pilot Certificate

• Training requirements — see §61.125
• Privileges and limitations of commercial pilots — see §61.133 (covered in full on the Commercial Certificate lesson plan page) and §119.1(e)

Medical Certificates — §61.23

• First-class
• Second-class
• Third-class
• See the duration chart in §61.23(d)

Recent Pilot Flight Experience Requirements — §61.57

• You may not act as PIC of an aircraft carrying passengers unless, within the preceding 90 days, you have made—
  1. Three takeoffs and three landings;
  2. As the sole manipulator of the flight controls;
  3. In the same category, class, and type (if a type rating is required).
• To carry passengers at night, those takeoffs and landings must be done at night, to a full stop.

Conclusion: It is important to understand what you are working toward as a goal, and what the exact privileges your certificate gives you. As a flight instructor, it is important to keep students informed of their progress as well as knowing what the required endorsements are, where, and how to give them at the proper times.

References

• 14 CFR §61.5 — Certificates and documents required
• 14 CFR §61.97 — Recreational pilots: Aeronautical knowledge
• 14 CFR §61.98 — Recreational pilots: Flight proficiency
• 14 CFR §61.99 — Recreational pilots: Aeronautical experience
• 14 CFR §61.101 — Recreational pilot privileges and limitations
• 14 CFR §61.105 — Private pilot ground training
• 14 CFR §61.113 — Private pilot privileges and limitations: Pilot in command
• 14 CFR §61.125 — Commercial pilot: Aeronautical knowledge
• 14 CFR §61.133 — Commercial pilot privileges and limitations
• 14 CFR §119.1 — Applicability (operating certificate requirements and exceptions)
• 14 CFR §61.23 — Medical certificates: Requirement and duration
• 14 CFR §61.57 — Recent flight experience: Pilot in command
• FAA Advisory Circular 61-65K — Certification: Pilots and flight and ground instructors (endorsement examples)

checked 2026-09-10