Private-Pilot Privileges, Limitations, and Currency

Episode: 21
Version: 0.1.3

In this episode

Follow Elena as she checks whether she can take a friend on a daytime VFR trip with a possible late return.
Match the certificate, medical basis, flight review, and aircraft qualification to the specific flight.
Check the two passenger takeoff-and-landing recency rules against logbook evidence.
Apply the private-pilot expense-sharing limit to a proposed rental payment.
Separate legal currency from proficiency in the airplane and avionics Elena would actually use.

Study materials and visual aids

Private Pilot ACS Pilot Qualifications task — The knowledge, risk, and skill elements for this lesson.
14 CFR 61.3 pilot certificate and photo ID — Check subsection (a)(1)-(2) for the U.S. civil-aircraft document rule.
14 CFR 61.31 category, class, and type ratings — Read subsections (c)-(d) for the rating and PIC questions.
14 CFR 61.31 high-performance qualification — Read subsection (f) for the engine threshold, training, endorsement, and stated alternatives.
14 CFR 61.23 private-pilot medical requirement — Read subsection (a)(3) for the private-pilot medical basis.
FAA third-class medical certificate validity — Item 3 explains the remainder-of-month rule and the 24- or 60-calendar-month duration based on age at examination.
14 CFR 61.56 flight review — Read subsections (a) and (c)-(e) for review content, timing, and alternatives.
14 CFR 61.57 general passenger recency — Read subsection (a)(1)-(2) for takeoffs, landings, aircraft match, controls, and the tailwheel full-stop condition.
14 CFR 61.57 night passenger recency — Read subsection (b)(1) for the exact time period and full-stop condition.
14 CFR 61.51 pilot logbook records — Read subsections (a)-(b) for documenting recent experience.
14 CFR 61.113 private-pilot compensation limit — Read subsection (a) with its stated exceptions before analyzing a particular flight.
14 CFR 61.113 pro-rata expense sharing — Read subsection (c) for the pilot's share and eligible expense categories.
14 CFR 61.23 BasicMed qualification — Read subsection (c)(3) for the driver's-license, listed medical eligibility, course, and examination conditions.
14 CFR 61.113 BasicMed operating limits — Subsection (i) limits the aircraft to no more than seven authorized occupants and 12,500 pounds maximum takeoff weight, and the flight to no more than six passengers, no more than 18,000 feet MSL, no more than 250 knots indicated airspeed, and operations within the United States unless the other country authorizes them. Check the required logbook records there as well.
FAA BasicMed study overview — Follow the FAA's checklist, examination, course, and limitations links.

Fact-check and source material

Correction status

Source relevance review and human editorial approval are complete. Submit a source correction through the repository issue form or email [email protected]. Do not send credentials, private documents, or personal flight information.

Topic	Source type	Authoritative source	Locator	Review status
Private Pilot ACS Pilot Qualifications task	FAA standard	Private Pilot ACS Pilot Qualifications task	PA.I.A.K1-K5, R1-R2, S1, Task A Pilot Qualifications, printed p. 2 (PDF viewer p. 10)	Source relevance review complete
14 CFR 61.3 pilot certificate and photo ID	Regulation	14 CFR 61.3 pilot certificate and photo ID	61.3(a)(1)-(2), certificate or temporary authority and photo identification for U.S. civil aircraft	Source relevance review complete
14 CFR 61.31 category, class, and type ratings	Regulation	14 CFR 61.31 category, class, and type ratings	61.31(c)-(d), category, class, and type rating limitations and PIC requirements	Source relevance review complete
14 CFR 61.31 high-performance qualification	Regulation	14 CFR 61.31 high-performance qualification	61.31(f)(1)-(2), high-performance airplane definition, training, endorsement, and exceptions	Source relevance review complete
14 CFR 61.23 private-pilot medical requirement	Regulation	14 CFR 61.23 private-pilot medical requirement	61.23(a)(3), at least third-class medical for private-pilot privileges subject to 61.113(i)	Source relevance review complete
Third-class medical duration	FAA guidance	FAA third-class medical certificate validity	General Information - Validity of Medical Certificates, item 3	Source relevance review complete
14 CFR 61.56 flight review	Regulation	14 CFR 61.56 flight review	61.56(a), (c)-(e), flight-review content, recency, endorsement, and alternatives	Source relevance review complete
14 CFR 61.57 general passenger recency	Regulation	14 CFR 61.57 general passenger recency	61.57(a)(1)(i)-(ii), (a)(2), including the tailwheel full-stop condition	Source relevance review complete
14 CFR 61.57 night passenger recency	Regulation	14 CFR 61.57 night passenger recency	61.57(b)(1), night takeoff-and-full-stop-landing recency for carrying persons	Source relevance review complete
14 CFR 61.51 pilot logbook records	Regulation	14 CFR 61.51 pilot logbook records	61.51(a)(1)-(2), (b), documentation of flight-review and recent-experience records	Source relevance review complete
14 CFR 61.113 private-pilot compensation limit	Regulation	14 CFR 61.113 private-pilot compensation limit	61.113(a), private-pilot compensation or hire limit and stated exceptions	Source relevance review complete
14 CFR 61.113 pro-rata expense sharing	Regulation	14 CFR 61.113 pro-rata expense sharing	61.113(c), pilot pro-rata share and listed flight operating expenses	Source relevance review complete
14 CFR 61.23 BasicMed qualification	Regulation	14 CFR 61.23 BasicMed qualification	61.23(c)(3), U.S. driver's-license BasicMed qualification, course, examination, and listed medical eligibility conditions	Source relevance review complete
14 CFR 61.113 BasicMed operating limits	Regulation	14 CFR 61.113 BasicMed operating limits	61.113(i)(1)-(3), BasicMed aircraft, passenger, flight, and logbook conditions	Source relevance review complete
FAA BasicMed study overview	FAA guidance	FAA BasicMed study overview	When can I fly under BasicMed; What do I need to do; Aircraft Requirements; Operating Requirements	Source relevance review complete