FAA Requirements
Blue Sky Aviation offers advanced specialty courses for the following certificates:
Private Pilot Requirements
Airplane Single Engine Rating
Total Time: 40 hours minimum which consists of at least:
Dual: 20 hours minimum of flight training with an instructor on the Private Pilot areas of operation including:
3 hours of cross country flight training in a single engine airplane;
3 hours of night flight training in a single engine airplane, that includes at least:
a) 1 cross country flight of over 100 nm total distance; and
b) 10 T/O’s and 10 landings to a full stop with each involving a flight in the traffic pattern at an airport.
3 hours of flight training by reference to instruments in a single engine airplane; and
3 hours of flight training in a single engine airplane within the 60 days prior to the practical test.
Solo: 10 hours minimum of solo flying in a single engine airplane on the Private Pilot areas of operation including:
5 hours of solo cross country flying;
1 solo cross country flight of at least 150nm total distance with full stop landings at 3 points and one segment of at least 50nm between T/O and landings; and
3 T/O’s and landings to a full stop at an airport with an operating control tower.
Eligibility requirements: General.
To be eligible for a private pilot certificate, a person must:
(a) Be at least 17 years of age for a rating in other than a glider or balloon.
(b) Be at least 16 years of age for a rating in a glider or balloon.
(c) Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language. If the applicant is unable to meet one of these requirements due to medical reasons, then the Administrator may place such operating limitations on that applicant’s pilot certificate as are necessary for the safe operation of the aircraft.
(d) Receive a logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor who:
(1) Conducted the training or reviewed the person’s home study on the aeronautical knowledge areas listed in §61.105(b) of this part that apply to the aircraft rating sought; and
(2) Certified that the person is prepared for the required knowledge test.
(e) Pass the required knowledge test on the aeronautical knowledge areas listed in §61.105(b) of this part.
(f) Receive flight training and a logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor who:
(1) Conducted the training in the areas of operation listed in §61.107(b) of this part that apply to the aircraft rating sought; and
(2) Certified that the person is prepared for the required practical test.
(g) Meet the aeronautical experience requirements of this part that apply to the aircraft rating sought before applying for the practical test.
(h) Pass a practical test on the areas of operation listed in §61.107(b) of this part that apply to the aircraft rating sought.
(i) Comply with the appropriate sections of this part that apply to the aircraft category and class rating sought.
(j) Hold a U.S. student pilot certificate, sport pilot certificate, or recreational pilot certificate.
[Doc. No. 25910, 62 FR 16298, Apr. 4, 1997, as amended by Amdt. 61-124, 74 FR 42558, Aug. 21, 2009]
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Basic Requirements:
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Hold a Private Pilot Certificate and at least a Third Class medical
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Be able to read, write, speak and understand English
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Accumulate flight experience per FAR 61.65:
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Must have at least 50 hours of cross-country flight time as pilot in command, which can include solo cross-country time as a student pilot. Each cross-country must have a landing at an airport that is at least a straight-line distance of more than 50 NM from the original departure point.
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Must make at least one cross-country flight that is performed under IFR and transits a distance of at least 250 NM along airways or ATC-directed routing and includes an instrument approach at each airport so that a total of three different kinds of instrument approaches are performed.
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Also need a total of 40 hours of actual or simulated instrument time, including a minimum of 15 hours of instrument flight training from a Flight Instructor certified to teach the instrument rating. (CFI-I)
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Up to 10 hours of the instrument training may be accomplished in an approved flight simulator or flight training device if the training was provided by an authorized instructor.
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In the 2 calendar months prior to the practical test, the candidate needs to log 3 hours of instrument training in an airplane that is appropriate to the instrument-airplane rating from a CFI-I in preparation for the test.
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Receive and log training, as well as obtain a logbook endorsement from your CFI-I on the following areas of operation: preflight preparation, preflight procedures, air traffic control clearances and procedures, flight by reference to instruments, navigation systems, instrument approach procedures, emergency operations, and post-flight procedures.
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Instrument Pilot Requirements
Commercial Pilot Requirements
Commercial Pilot Certification Requirements
For a Single Engine Airplane Rating:
Total Time: 250 hours of flight time:
100 hours in powered aircraft,
50 hours must be in airplanes.
100 hours of pilot-in-command flight time--
50 hours in airplanes; and
50 hours in cross-country
10 hours must be in airplanes.
20 hours of Dual flight training--
10 hours of instrument training
5 hours must be in a single engine airplane
10 hours of training in a complex airplane;
1 cross-country of 2 hours in day VFR of more than 100 nm.;
1 cross-country of 2 hours in night VFR of more than 100 nm.;
3 hours of flight training within the preceding 60 days prior to the practical test.
10 hours of solo flight on the Commercial Pilot areas
1 cross-country flight of not less than 300 nm. with landings with a min of 3 points, one of which is more than 250 nm.; and
5 hours in night VFR with 10 takeoffs and 10 landings at a controlled airport.
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Multi-Engine Pilot
Requirements
For a Multi-engine Airplane Rating:
Total Time: 250 hours of flight time as a pilot that consists of at least:
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100 hours in powered aircraft, of which 50 hours must be in airplanes.
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100 hours of pilot-in-command flight time, that includes at least--
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50 hours in airplanes; and
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50 hours in cross-country flying of which at least 10 hours must be in airplanes.
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Dual: 20 hours of flight training on the Commercial Pilot areas of operation that includes at least--
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10 hours of instrument training of which at least 5 hours must be in a multi-engine airplane; (See Note 3)
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2. 10 hours of training in a complex multi-engine airplane or turbine powered multi-engine airplane;
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3. 1 cross-country of 2 hours in a multi-engine airplane in day VFR conditions of a total straight line distance of more than 100 nm. from the departure point;
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4. 1 cross-country of 2 hours in a multi-engine airplane in night VFR conditions of a total straight line distance of more than 100 nm. from the departure point;
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5. 3 hours of flight training in a multi-engine airplane within the preceding 60 days prior to the practical test.
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Solo or Performing PIC: 10 hours of solo flying or performing the duties as PIC with an instructor in a multi-engine airplane on the Commercial Pilot areas of operation, that includes at least--(see Notes 2 and 6)
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One cross-country flight of not less than 300 NM. with landings with a min of 3 points, one of which is a straight line distance of more than 250 NM.; and
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5 hours in night VFR conditions with 10 takeoffs and 10 landings at a controlled airport.
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Total Time: 250 hours of flight time as a pilot that consists of at least:
100 hours in powered aircraft, of which 50 hours must be in airplanes.
100 hours of pilot-in-command flight time, that includes at least--
50 hours in airplanes; and
50 hours in cross-country flying of which at least 10 hours must be in airplanes.
Dual: 20 hours of flight training on the Commercial Pilot areas of operation that includes at least--
10 hours of instrument training of which at least 5 hours must be in a multi-engine airplane; (See Note 3)
2. 10 hours of training in a complex multi-engine airplane or turbine powered multi-engine airplane;
3. 1 cross-country of 2 hours in a multi-engine airplane in day VFR conditions of a total straight line distance of more than 100 nm. from the departure point;
4. 1 cross-country of 2 hours in a multi-engine airplane in night VFR conditions of a total straight line distance of more than 100 nm. from the departure point;
5. 3 hours of flight training in a multi-engine airplane within the preceding 60 days prior to the practical test.
Solo or Performing PIC: 10 hours of solo flying or performing the duties as PIC with an instructor in a multi-engine airplane on the Commercial Pilot areas of operation, that includes at least--(see Notes 2 and 6)
One cross-country flight of not less than 300 mm. with landings with a min of 3 points, one of which is a straight line distance of more than 250 NM.; and
5 hours in night VFR conditions with 10 takeoffs and 10 landings at a controlled airport.
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Certified Flight Instructor Requirements
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[Doc. No. 25910, 62 FR 16298, Apr. 4, 1997; Amdt. 61-103, 62 FR 40907, July 30, 1997; Amdt. 61-124, 74 FR 42561, Aug. 21, 2009]
To be eligible for a flight instructor certificate or rating a person must:
(a) Be at least 18 years of age;
(b) Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language. If the applicant is unable to meet one of these requirements due to medical reasons, then the Administrator may place such operating limitations on that applicant's flight instructor certificate as are necessary;
(c) Hold either a commercial pilot certificate or airline transport pilot certificate with:
(1) An aircraft category and class rating that is appropriate to the flight instructor rating sought; and
(2) An instrument rating, or privileges on that person's pilot certificate that are appropriate to the flight instructor rating sought, if applying for—
(i) A flight instructor certificate with an airplane category and single-engine class rating;
(ii) A flight instructor certificate with an airplane category and multiengine class rating;
(iii) A flight instructor certificate with a powered-lift rating; or
(iv) A flight instructor certificate with an instrument rating.
(d) Receive a logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor on the fundamentals of instructing listed in § 61.185 of this part appropriate to the required knowledge test;
(e) Pass a knowledge test on the areas listed in § 61.185(a)(1) of this part, unless the applicant:
(1) Holds a flight instructor certificate or ground instructor certificate issued under this part;
(2) Holds a teacher's certificate issued by a State, county, city, or municipality that authorizes the person to teach at an educational level of the 7th grade or higher; or
(3) Is employed as a teacher at an accredited college or university.
(f) Pass a knowledge test on the aeronautical knowledge areas listed in § 61.185(a)(2) and (a)(3) of this part that are appropriate to the flight instructor rating sought;
(g) Receive a logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor on the areas of operation listed in § 61.187(b) of this part, appropriate to the flight instructor rating sought;
(h) Pass the required practical test that is appropriate to the flight instructor rating sought in an:
(1) Aircraft that is representative of the category and class of aircraft for the aircraft rating sought; or
(2) Flight simulator or approved flight training device that is representative of the category and class of aircraft for the rating sought, and used in accordance with a course at a training center certificated under part 142 of this chapter.
(i) Accomplish the following for a flight instructor certificate with an airplane or a glider rating:
(1) Receive a logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor indicating that the applicant is competent and possesses instructional proficiency in stall awareness, spin entry, spins, and spin recovery procedures after providing the applicant with flight training in those training areas in an airplane or glider, as appropriate, that is certificated for spins; and
(2) Demonstrate instructional proficiency in stall awareness, spin entry, spins, and spin recovery procedures. However, upon presentation of the endorsement specified in paragraph (i)(1) of this section an examiner may accept that endorsement as satisfactory evidence of instructional proficiency in stall awareness, spin entry, spins, and spin recovery procedures for the practical test, provided that the practical test is not a retest as a result of the applicant failing the previous test for deficiencies in the knowledge or skill of stall awareness, spin entry, spins, or spin recovery instructional procedures. If the retest is a result of deficiencies in the ability of an applicant to demonstrate knowledge or skill of stall awareness, spin entry, spins, or spin recovery instructional procedures, the examiner must test the person on stall awareness, spin entry, spins, and spin recovery instructional procedures in an airplane or glider, as appropriate, that is certificated for spins;
(j) Log at least 15 hours as pilot in command in the category and class of aircraft that is appropriate to the flight instructor rating sought; and
(k) Comply with the appropriate sections of this part that apply to the flight instructor rating sought.