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Displaying title 14, up to date as of 6/16/2025. Title 14 was last
amended 5/07/2025.
Title 14 —Aeronautics and Space
Chapter I —Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation
Subchapter D —Airmen
Part 61 —Certification: Pilots, Flight Instructors, and Ground Instructors
Subpart A —General
EDITORIAL NOTE ON PART 61
Editorial Note: Nomenclature changes to part 61 appear at FAA-2023-1275;
Amdt. 61-157, 89 FR 92483, Nov. 21, 2024.
§ 61.51 Pilot logbooks.
CROSS REFERENCE
Link to an amendment published at 89 FR 80050, Oct. 1, 2024.
(a) Training time and aeronautical experience. Each person must document and
record the following time in a manner acceptable to the Administrator:
(1) Training and aeronautical experience used to meet the requirements for a
certiNcate, rating, or Oight review of this part.
(2) The aeronautical experience required for meeting the recent Oight
experience requirements of this part.
(b) Logbook entries. For the purposes of meeting the requirements of paragraph (a)
of this section, each person must enter the following information for each Oight
or lesson logged:
(1) General—
(i) Date.
(ii) Total Oight time or lesson time.
(iii) Location where the aircraft departed and arrived, or for lessons in a full
Oight simulator or Oight training device, the location where the lesson
occurred.
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(iv) Type and identiNcation of aircraft, full Oight simulator, Oight training
device, or aviation training device, as appropriate.
(v) The name of a safety pilot, if required by § 91.109 of this chapter.
(2) Type of pilot experience or training—
(i) Solo.
(ii) Pilot in command.
(iii) Second in command.
(iv) Flight and ground training received from an authorized instructor.
(v) Training received in a full Oight simulator, Oight training device, or
aviation training device from an authorized instructor.
(3) Conditions of Oight—
(i) Day or night.
(ii) Actual instrument.
(iii) Simulated instrument conditions in Oight, a full Oight simulator, Oight
training device, or aviation training device.
(iv) Use of night vision goggles in an aircraft in Oight, in a full Oight
simulator, or in a Oight training device.
(c) Logging of pilot time. The pilot time described in this section may be used to:
(1) Apply for a certiNcate or rating issued under this part or a privilege
authorized under this part; or
(2) Satisfy the recent Oight experience requirements of this part.
(d) Logging of solo 8ight time. Except for a student pilot performing the duties of
pilot in command of an airship requiring more than one pilot Oight crewmember,
a pilot may log as solo Oight time only that Oight time when the pilot is the sole
occupant of the aircraft.
(e) Logging pilot-in-command 8ight time.
(1) A sport, recreational, private, commercial, or airline transport pilot may log
pilot in command Oight time for Oights-
(i) Except when logging Oight time under § 61.159(c), when the pilot is the
sole manipulator of the controls of an aircraft for which the pilot is
rated, or has sport pilot privileges for that category and class of aircraft,
if the aircraft class rating is appropriate;
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(ii) When the pilot is the sole occupant in the aircraft;
(iii) When the pilot, except for a holder of a sport or recreational pilot
certiNcate, acts as pilot in command of an aircraft for which more than
one pilot is required under the type certiNcation of the aircraft or the
regulations under which the Oight is conducted; or
(iv) When the pilot performs the duties of pilot in command while under the
supervision of a qualiNed pilot in command provided—
(A) The pilot performing the duties of pilot in command holds a
commercial or airline transport pilot certiNcate and aircraft rating
that is appropriate to the category and class of aircraft being Oown,
if a class rating is appropriate;
(B) The pilot performing the duties of pilot in command is undergoing
an approved pilot in command training program that includes
ground and Oight training on the following areas of operation—
(1) PreOight preparation;
(2) PreOight procedures;
(3) Takeoff and departure;
(4) In-Oight maneuvers;
(5) Instrument procedures;
(6) Landings and approaches to landings;
(7) Normal and abnormal procedures;
(8) Emergency procedures; and
(9) PostOight procedures;
(C) The supervising pilot in command holds—
(1) A commercial pilot certiNcate and Oight instructor certiNcate,
and aircraft rating that is appropriate to the category, class, and
type of aircraft being Oown, if a class or type rating is required;
or
(2) An airline transport pilot certiNcate and aircraft rating that is
appropriate to the category, class, and type of aircraft being
Oown, if a class or type rating is required; and
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(D) The supervising pilot in command logs the pilot in command
training in the pilot's logbook, certiNes the pilot in command training
in the pilot's logbook and attests to that certiNcation with his or her
signature, and Oight instructor certiNcate number.
(2) If rated to act as pilot in command of the aircraft, an airline transport pilot
may log all Oight time while acting as pilot in command of an operation
requiring an airline transport pilot certiNcate.
(3) A certiNcated Oight instructor may log pilot in command Oight time for all
Oight time while serving as the authorized instructor in an operation if the
instructor is rated to act as pilot in command of that aircraft.
(4) A student pilot may log pilot-in-command time only when the student pilot—
(i) Is the sole occupant of the aircraft or is performing the duties of pilot of
command of an airship requiring more than one pilot Oight
crewmember;
(ii) Has a solo Oight endorsement as required under § 61.87 of this part;
and
(iii) Is undergoing training for a pilot certiNcate or rating.
(5) A commercial pilot or airline transport pilot may log all Oight time while
acting as pilot in command of an operation in accordance with § 135.99(c)
of this chapter if the Oight is conducted in accordance with an approved
second-in-command professional development program that meets the
requirements of § 135.99(c) of this chapter.
(f) Logging second-in-command 8ight time. A person may log second-in-command
time only for that Oight time during which that person:
(1) Is qualiNed in accordance with the second-in-command requirements of §
61.55, and occupies a crewmember station in an aircraft that requires more
than one pilot by the aircraft's type certiNcate;
(2) Holds the appropriate category, class, and instrument rating (if a class or
instrument rating is required for the Oight) for the aircraft being Oown, and
more than one pilot is required under the type certiNcation of the aircraft or
the regulations under which the Oight is being conducted; or
(3) Serves as second-in-command in operations conducted in accordance with
§ 135.99(c) of this chapter when a second pilot is not required under the
type certiNcation of the aircraft or the regulations under which the Oight is
being conducted, provided the requirements in § 61.159(c) are satisNed; or
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(4) Is designated by a government entity as second-in-command when
operating in accordance with paragraph (j)(4) of this section, provided the
aircraft used is a large aircraft or turbo-jet powered airplane or holds or
originally held a type certiNcate that requires a second pilot provided that:
(i) Second-in-command time logged under this paragraph (f)(4) may not be
used to meet the aeronautical experience requirements for the private
or commercial pilot certiNcates or an instrument rating; and
(ii) An applicant for an airline transport pilot certiNcate who logs second in
command time under this paragraph (f)(4) in an aircraft that is not type
certiNcated for two pilots issued an airline transport pilot certiNcate with
the limitation “Holder does not meet the pilot in command aeronautical
experience requirements of ICAO,” as prescribed under Article 39 of the
Convention on International Civil Aviation if the applicant does not meet
the ICAO requirements contained in Annex 1 “Personnel Licensing” to
the Convention on International Civil Aviation. An applicant is entitled to
an airline transport pilot certiNcate without the ICAO limitation speciNed
under this paragraph (f)(4)(ii) when the applicant presents satisfactory
evidence of having met the ICAO requirements and otherwise meets the
aeronautical experience requirements of § 61.159 or § 61.161, as
applicable.
(g) Logging instrument time.
(1) A person may log instrument time only for that Oight time when the person
operates the aircraft solely by reference to instruments under actual or
simulated instrument Oight conditions.
(2) An authorized instructor may log instrument time when conducting
instrument Oight instruction in actual instrument Oight conditions.
(3) For the purposes of logging instrument time to meet the recent instrument
experience requirements of § 61.57(c) of this part, the following information
must be recorded in the person's logbook—
(i) The location and type of each instrument approach accomplished; and
(ii) The name of the safety pilot, if required.
(4) A person may use time in a full Oight simulator, Oight training device, or
aviation training device for acquiring instrument aeronautical experience for
a pilot certiNcate or rating provided an authorized instructor is present to
observe that time and signs the person's logbook or training record to verify
the time and the content of the training session.
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(5) A person may use time in a full Oight simulator, Oight training device, or
aviation training device for satisfying instrument recency experience
requirements provided a logbook or training record is maintained to specify
the training device, time, and the content.
(h) Logging training time.
(1) A person may log training time when that person receives training from an
authorized instructor in an aircraft, full Oight simulator, Oight training device,
or aviation training device.
(2) The training time must be logged in a logbook and must:
(i) Be endorsed in a legible manner by the authorized instructor; and
(ii) Include a description of the training given, the length of the training
lesson, and the authorized instructor's signature, certiNcate number, and
certiNcate expiration date or recent experience end date, consistent with
the requirements of § 61.197.
(i) Presentation of required documents.
(1) Persons must present their pilot certiNcate, medical certiNcate, logbook, or
any other record required by this part for inspection upon a reasonable
request by—
(i) The Administrator;
(ii) An authorized representative from the National Transportation Safety
Board; or
(iii) Any Federal, State, or local law enforcement o6cer.
(2) A student pilot must carry the following items in the aircraft on all solo
cross-country Oights as evidence of the required authorized instructor
clearances and endorsements—
(i) Pilot logbook;
(ii) Student pilot certiNcate; and
(iii) Any other record required by this section.
(3) A sport pilot must carry his or her logbook or other evidence of required
authorized instructor endorsements on all Oights.
(4) A recreational pilot must carry his or her logbook with the required
authorized instructor endorsements on all solo Oights—
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(i) That exceed 50 nautical miles from the airport at which training was
received;
(ii) Within airspace that requires communication with air tra6c control;
(iii) Conducted between sunset and sunrise; or
(iv) In an aircraft for which the pilot does not hold an appropriate category
or class rating.
(5) A Oight instructor with a sport pilot rating must carry his or her logbook or
other evidence of required authorized instructor endorsements on all Oights
when providing Oight training.
(j) Aircraft requirements for logging 8ight time. For a person to log Oight time, the
time must be acquired in an aircraft that is identiNed as an aircraft under §
61.5(b), and is—
(1) An aircraft of U.S. registry with either a standard or special airworthiness
certiNcate;
(2) An aircraft of foreign registry with an airworthiness certiNcate that is
approved by the aviation authority of a foreign country that is a Member
State to the Convention on International Civil Aviation Organization;
(3) A military aircraft under the direct operational control of the U.S. Armed
Forces; or
(4) An aircraft used to conduct a public aircraft operation under 49 U.S.C.
40102(a)(41) and 40125.
(k) Logging night vision goggle time.
(1) A person may log night vision goggle time only for the time the person uses
night vision goggles as the primary visual reference of the surface and
operates:
(i) An aircraft during a night vision goggle operation; or
(ii) A full Oight simulator or Oight training device with the lighting system
adjusted to represent the period beginning 1 hour after sunset and
ending 1 hour before sunrise.
(2) An authorized instructor may log night vision goggle time when that person
conducts training using night vision goggles as the primary visual reference
of the surface and operates:
(i) An aircraft during a night goggle operation; or
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(ii) A full Oight simulator or Oight training device with the lighting system
adjusted to represent the period beginning 1 hour after sunset and
ending 1 hour before sunrise.
(3) To log night vision goggle time to meet the recent night vision goggle
experience requirements under § 61.57(f), a person must log the
information required under § 61.51(b).
[Docket 25910, 62 FR 16298, Apr. 4, 1997; Amdt. 61-103, 62 FR 40897, July 30, 1997; Amdt.
61-104, 63 FR 20286, Apr. 23, 1998; Amdt. 61-110, 69 FR 44865, July 27, 2004; Amdt. 61-
124, 74 FR 42549, Aug. 21, 2009; Amdt. 61-128, 76 FR 54105, Aug. 31, 2011; Amdt. 61-142,
83 FR 30277, June 27, 2018; Docket FAA-2023-0825, Amdt. 61-155, 89 FR 80050, Oct. 1,
2024; Docket FAA-2023-1351, Amdt. 61-156, 89 FR 80339, Oct. 2, 2024; FAA-2023-1275,
Amdt. 61-157, 89 FR 92484, Nov. 21, 2024]
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