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14 CFR § 61.51
Volume 2 · Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, 2025 edition.
Pilot logbooks
Sec. 61.51 Pilot logbooks.
(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 certificate, rating, or flight review of this part.
(2) The aeronautical experience required for meeting the recent
flight 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 flight or lesson logged:
(1) General--
(i) Date.
(ii) Total flight time or lesson time.
(iii) Location where the aircraft departed and arrived, or for
lessons in a full flight simulator or flight training device, the
location where the lesson occurred.
(iv) Type and identification of aircraft, full flight simulator,
flight training device, or aviation training device, as appropriate.
(v) The name of a safety pilot, if required by Sec. 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 flight simulator, flight training
device, or aviation training device from an authorized instructor.
(3) Conditions of flight--
(i) Day or night.
(ii) Actual instrument.
(iii) Simulated instrument conditions in flight, a full flight
simulator, flight training device, or aviation training device.
(iv) Use of night vision goggles in an aircraft in flight, in a full
flight simulator, or in a flight training device.
(c) Logging of pilot time. The pilot time described in this section
may be used to:
(1) Apply for a certificate or rating issued under this part or a
privilege authorized under this part; or
(2) Satisfy the recent flight experience requirements of this part.
(d) Logging of solo flight time. Except for a student pilot
performing the duties of pilot in command of an airship requiring more
than one pilot flight crewmember, a pilot may log as solo flight time
only that flight time when the pilot is the sole occupant of the
aircraft.
(e) Logging pilot-in-command flight time. (1) A sport, recreational,
private, commercial, or airline transport pilot may log pilot in command
flight time for flights-
(i) Except when logging flight time under Sec. 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;
(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 certificate, acts as pilot in command of an aircraft for which
more than one pilot is required under the type certification of the
aircraft or the regulations under which the flight is conducted; or
(iv) When the pilot performs the duties of pilot in command while
under the supervision of a qualified pilot in command provided--
(A) The pilot performing the duties of pilot in command holds a
commercial or airline transport pilot certificate and aircraft rating
that is appropriate to the category and class of aircraft being flown,
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 flight training on the following areas of operation--
(1) Preflight preparation;
(2) Preflight procedures;
(3) Takeoff and departure;
(4) In-flight maneuvers;
(5) Instrument procedures;
(6) Landings and approaches to landings;
(7) Normal and abnormal procedures;
(8) Emergency procedures; and
(9) Postflight procedures;
(C) The supervising pilot in command holds--
(1) A commercial pilot certificate and flight instructor
certificate, and aircraft rating that is appropriate to the category,
class, and type of aircraft being flown, if a class or type rating is
required; or
(2) An airline transport pilot certificate and aircraft rating that
is appropriate to the category, class, and type of aircraft being flown,
if a class or type rating is required; and
(D) The supervising pilot in command logs the pilot in command
training in the pilot's logbook, certifies the pilot in command training
in the pilot's logbook and attests to that certification with his or her
signature, and flight instructor certificate number.
(2) If rated to act as pilot in command of the aircraft, an airline
transport pilot may log all flight time while acting as pilot in command
of an operation requiring an airline transport pilot certificate.
(3) A certificated flight instructor may log pilot in command flight
time for all flight 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 flight
crewmember;
(ii) Has a solo flight endorsement as required under Sec. 61.87 of
this part; and
(iii) Is undergoing training for a pilot certificate or rating.
(5) A commercial pilot or airline transport pilot may log all flight
time while acting as pilot in command of an operation in accordance with
Sec. 135.99(c) of this chapter if the flight is conducted in accordance
with an approved second-in-command professional development program that
meets the requirements of Sec. 135.99(c) of this chapter.
(f) Logging second-in-command flight time. A person may log second-
in-command time only for that flight time during which that person:
(1) Is qualified in accordance with the second-in-command
requirements of
Sec. 61.55, and occupies a crewmember station in an aircraft that
requires more than one pilot by the aircraft's type certificate;
(2) Holds the appropriate category, class, and instrument rating (if
a class or instrument rating is required for the flight) for the
aircraft being flown, and more than one pilot is required under the type
certification of the aircraft or the regulations under which the flight
is being conducted;
(3) Serves as second-in-command in operations conducted in
accordance with Sec. 135.99(c) of this chapter when a second pilot is
not required under the type certification of the aircraft or the
regulations under which the flight is being conducted, provided the
requirements in Sec. 61.159(c) are satisfied; or
(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 certificate 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 certificates or an instrument rating; and
(ii) An applicant for an airline transport pilot certificate who
logs second in command time under this paragraph (f)(4) in an aircraft
that is not type certificated for two pilots issued an airline transport
pilot certificate 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
certificate without the ICAO limitation specified 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 Sec. 61.159 or Sec. 61.161, as applicable.
(g) Logging instrument time. (1) A person may log instrument time
only for that flight time when the person operates the aircraft solely
by reference to instruments under actual or simulated instrument flight
conditions.
(2) An authorized instructor may log instrument time when conducting
instrument flight instruction in actual instrument flight conditions.
(3) For the purposes of logging instrument time to meet the recent
instrument experience requirements of Sec. 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 flight simulator, flight
training device, or aviation training device for acquiring instrument
aeronautical experience for a pilot certificate 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.
(5) A person may use time in a full flight simulator, flight
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 flight simulator, flight 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, certificate
number, and certificate expiration date or recent experience end date,
consistent with the requirements of Sec. 61.197.
(i) Presentation of required documents. (1) Persons must present
their pilot certificate, medical certificate, 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 officer.
(2) A student pilot must carry the following items in the aircraft
on all solo cross-country flights as evidence of the required authorized
instructor clearances and endorsements--
(i) Pilot logbook;
(ii) Student pilot certificate; 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 flights.
(4) A recreational pilot must carry his or her logbook with the
required authorized instructor endorsements on all solo flights--
(i) That exceed 50 nautical miles from the airport at which training
was received;
(ii) Within airspace that requires communication with air traffic
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 flight instructor with a sport pilot rating must carry his or
her logbook or other evidence of required authorized instructor
endorsements on all flights when providing flight training.
(j) Aircraft requirements for logging flight time. For a person to
log flight time, the time must be acquired in an aircraft that is
identified as an aircraft under Sec. 61.5(b), and is--
(1) An aircraft of U.S. registry with either a standard or special
airworthiness certificate;
(2) An aircraft of foreign registry with an airworthiness
certificate 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 flight simulator or flight 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
(ii) A full flight simulator or flight 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 Sec. 61.57(f), a person must log
the information required under Sec. 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]
Effective Date Note: Amendments to Sec. 61.51 were published by
Docket FAA-2023-1351, Amdt. 61-156, 89 FR 80050, Oct. 1, 2024, effective
Mar. 1, 2027, and by Docket FAA-2023-1275, Amdt. 61-157, 89 FR 92484,
Nov. 21, 2024, effective Jan. 21, 2025.U.S. Government work — public domain (17 U.S.C. §105). Reproduced from the checksummed 2025 annual edition of Title 14; always confirm against the current eCFR.