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Certification: Pilots and Flight and Ground Instructors (AC 61-65H)

This advisory circular (AC) provides guidance for pilot and instructor applicants, pilots, flight instructors, ground instructors, and examiners on the certification standards, knowledge test procedures, and other requirements in Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 61.

  1. Purpose of This Advisory Circular (AC)
  2. Audience
  3. Safety Message
  4. Where You Can Find This AC
  5. What This AC Cancels
  6. Related Reading Material (current editions)
  7. Summary of Changes
  8. Pilot Training and Testing
  9. Knowledge Tests
  10. Completion of Ground Training or a Home Study Curriculum
  11. Verification of Identity, Age, and English Language Standard
  12. Practical Tests
  13. Light-Sport Aircraft (LSA) With a Single Seat
  14. Prerequisites for Practical Tests
  15. Student Pilot Certification
  16. Acceptance of a Student Pilot Application
  17. Student Pilot Certificate Eligibility
  18. Student Pilot Application Process: IACRA
  19. Student Pilot Application Process: Paper FAA Form 8710-1
  20. Pre-Solo Requirements and Privileges
  21. Sport Pilot Certification
  22. Recreational Pilot Certification
  23. Private Pilot Certification
  24. Commercial Pilot Certification
  25. ATP Certification
  26. Flight Instructors Other Than Flight Instructors With a Sport Pilot Rating
  27. Flight Instructors With a Sport Pilot Rating
  28. Gold Seal Flight Instructor Certificates Other Than Flight Instructors With a Sport Pilot Rating
  29. Gold Seal Flight Instructor Certificates With a Sport Pilot Rating
  30. Renewal of a Flight Instructor Certificate
  31. Expired Flight Instructor Certificate
  32. Instrument Rating
  33. Additional Aircraft Ratings (Other Than ATP)
  34. Additional Category/Class Ratings at the ATP Certification Level
  35. Other Instructor Endorsements
  36. Ground Instructor Certification
  37. Authorized Instructors
  38. Additional Training for Gliders
  39. Enhanced Flight Vision System (EFVS)
  40. AC Feedback Form

Get the most recent version from FAA.gov

The FAA Advisory Circular Certification: Pilots and Flight and Ground Instructors (AC 61-65H) contains information on topics covered in 14 CFR 61 — primarily certification standards and knowledge test procedures. The regulations in 14 CFR 61 are written in a legal format, making them difficult to decipher in a meaningful way.

The purpose of AC 61-65, as stated on the document's cover page, is to provide guidance. The intended audience includes:

  • Pilot applicants
  • Instructor applicants
  • Pilots
  • Flight instructors
  • Ground instructors
  • Examiners

The chapter headings in AC 61-65 correspond to topics in 14 CFR Part 61, so CFI candidates should become familiar with this Advisory Circular, while having the ability to look up a regulation in Part 61 if asked to do so during the CFI oral exam.

Practical Test Standards: Flight Instructor

II. Technical Subject Areas
Task J: 14 CFR and Publications

Objective: To determine that the applicant exhibits instructional knowledge of the elements related to logbook entries and certificate endorsements by describing:

II. Technical Subject Areas
Task M: Logbook Entries and Certificate Endorsements

Objective: To determine that the applicant exhibits instructional knowledge of the elements related to the Code of Federal Regulations and related publications by describing:

  1. Availability and method of revision of 14 CFR parts 1, 61, 91, and NTSB part 830 by describing:
    1. a. Purpose
    2. b. General content
  2. Availability of flight information publications, advisory circulars, practical test standards, pilot operating handbooks, and FAA-approved airplane flight manuals by describing:
    1. a. Availability
    2. b. Purpose
    3. c. General content

II. Technical Subject Areas
Task M: Logbook Entries and Certificate Endorsements

References

  1. 14 CFR part 61
  2. Pilot Certification (AC 61-65)

Objective: To determine that the applicant exhibits instructional knowledge of the elements related to logbook entries and certificate endorsements by describing:

  1. Required logbook entries for instruction given.
  2. Required student pilot certificate endorsements, including appropriate logbook entries.
  3. Preparation of a recommendation for a pilot practical test, including appropriate logbook entry for:
    1. Initial pilot certification.
    2. Additional pilot certification.
    3. Additional aircraft qualification.
  4. Required endorsement of a pilot logbook for the satisfactory completion of the required FAA flight review.
  5. Required flight instructor records.

Oral Exam Questions

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Robert Wederquist   CP-ASEL - AGI - IGI
Commercial Pilot • Instrument Pilot
Advanced Ground Instructor • Instrument Ground Instructor

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