Federal Aviation Regulations
14 CFR § 61.105 — Aeronautical knowledge
Volume 2 · Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, 2025 annual edition. U.S. Government work — public domain (17 U.S.C. §105).
The regulation, in full
Sec. 61.105 Aeronautical knowledge.
(a) General. A person who is applying for a private pilot
certificate must receive and log ground training from an authorized
instructor or complete a home-study course on the aeronautical knowledge
areas of paragraph (b) of this section that apply to the aircraft
category and class rating sought.
(b) Aeronautical knowledge areas. (1) Applicable Federal Aviation
Regulations of this chapter that relate to private pilot privileges,
limitations, and flight operations;
(2) Accident reporting requirements of the National Transportation
Safety Board;
(3) Use of the applicable portions of the ``Aeronautical Information
Manual'' and FAA advisory circulars;
(4) Use of aeronautical charts for VFR navigation using pilotage,
dead reckoning, and navigation systems;
(5) Radio communication procedures;
(6) Recognition of critical weather situations from the ground and
in flight, windshear avoidance, and the procurement and use of
aeronautical weather reports and forecasts;
(7) Safe and efficient operation of aircraft, including collision
avoidance, and recognition and avoidance of wake turbulence;
(8) Effects of density altitude on takeoff and climb performance;
(9) Weight and balance computations;
(10) Principles of aerodynamics, powerplants, and aircraft systems;
(11) Stall awareness, spin entry, spins, and spin recovery
techniques for the airplane and glider category ratings;
(12) Aeronautical decision making and judgment; and
(13) Preflight action that includes--
(i) How to obtain information on runway lengths at airports of
intended use, data on takeoff and landing distances, weather reports and
forecasts, and fuel requirements; and
(ii) How to plan for alternatives if the planned flight cannot be
completed or delays are encountered.
[Docket 25910, 62 FR 16298, Apr. 4, 1997; Amdt. 61-103, 62 FR 40902,
July 30, 1997]What this means for the knowledge test
Our own study notes for this section — reviewed through our AI instructional-review system, not by a certificated flight instructor. Not an authoritative source.
A private pilot applicant must receive and log ground and flight training from an authorized instructor on the required aeronautical knowledge areas and areas of operation. The instructor provides endorsements certifying the applicant is prepared for solo flight, for the knowledge test, and for the practical test. Training is documented in the logbook, and endorsements are a required record of that preparation.
14 CFR 61.105 / 61.107
Lessons that cover § 61.105
Practice questions on § 61.105 (1)
What is the purpose of an instructor endorsement in a pilot’s logbook?
Answer It certifies the pilot is prepared for solo flight or a specific test
Instructor endorsements are signed logbook records certifying that the applicant is prepared for solo flight, the knowledge test, or the practical test.