FAA rules for pilot logbook endorsements and required entries in pistons

Mastering Your Pilot Logbook: Essential FAA Endorsements & Entries for Piston Aircraft

A pilot’s logbook is more than just a record of flight time; it’s a living testament to their aeronautical journey, a crucial document for legal compliance, and a vital tool for career progression. For pilots of single-engine and twin-piston aircraft, understanding the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations surrounding logbook endorsements and required entries is paramount. This guide delves into the specifics, ensuring you maintain a pristine record and remain a safe, compliant, and proficient aviator.

THE PILOT’S PLEDGE: ACCURACY AND COMPLIANCE

The FAA, through 14 CFR Part 61, meticulously outlines what must be documented in a pilot’s logbook.1 The core principle is that any training or aeronautical experience used to meet the requirements for a certificate, rating, or flight review must be logged.2 This ensures accountability and safety within the aviation community. For pilots, this translates into a commitment to accurate and complete record-keeping. Just as a mechanic meticulously logs every repair and inspection, a pilot’s logbook reflects their dedication to the craft.3 This consistency in record-keeping builds a strong foundation, not just for FAA compliance, but also for personal growth and future opportunities in aviation.

ESSENTIAL LOGBOOK ENTRIES FOR EVERY FLIGHT

For each flight or lesson that contributes to meeting FAA requirements, your logbook must contain specific information. This includes:

  • Date: The calendar date of the flight.
  • Total Flight Time: The total duration of the flight in hours and tenths of hours.
  • Aircraft Make and Model: The specific make and model of the aircraft flown (e.g., Cessna 172, Piper Seneca).
  • Aircraft Identification: The N-number (registration number) of the aircraft.
  • Location: The departure and arrival airports.
  • Type of Piloting Time: This is where it gets nuanced for piston aircraft pilots. You’ll log time as:
    • Pilot in Command (PIC): You can log PIC time when you are the sole occupant of the aircraft; are the sole manipulator of the controls of an aircraft for which you are rated or have privileges; or are acting as PIC where more than one pilot is required. Authorized instructors can also log PIC time while providing flight instruction. Student pilots can log PIC time when they are the sole occupant of the aircraft with a current solo endorsement.4
    • Dual Received: Time during which you receive flight training from an authorized instructor. This must include the instructor’s signature, certificate number, and expiration date, along with a description of the training given and its length.5
    • Cross-Country: Specific requirements apply for logging cross-country time based on the certificate or rating being pursued (e.g., typically a flight with a landing at an airport at least 50 nautical miles from the departure point for Private and Instrument ratings).
    • Night: Flight time conducted between 1 hour after sunset and 1 hour before sunrise.
    • Instrument (Actual or Simulated): Time flown solely by reference to instruments. If simulated, the name of the safety pilot, if required, must be recorded.

KEY ENDORSEMENTS FOR PISTON AIRCRAFT PILOTS

Endorsements are formal authorizations placed in your logbook by an authorized instructor, signifying that you have met specific training requirements. These are crucial for exercising various privileges in piston aircraft.

  • Student Pilot Endorsements: Before a student pilot can embark on their first solo flight, their instructor must provide several endorsements, including a general solo endorsement for the specific make and model of aircraft, and often additional endorsements for solo cross-country flights, solo flight at night, or solo flight to another airport within 25 NM. These endorsements ensure the student has demonstrated the necessary proficiency and knowledge to operate safely.
  • Private Pilot Certificate Endorsements: To earn a Private Pilot Certificate in a piston airplane, an applicant needs endorsements for the aeronautical knowledge test, flight proficiency for the practical test, and a review of any deficiencies from the knowledge test.
  • Instrument Rating Endorsements: For an Instrument Rating, pilots must have endorsements for ground training, preparedness for the knowledge test, flight training in instrument areas of operation, and preparedness for the practical test. Specific aeronautical experience, including cross-country time and actual or simulated instrument time, must also be logged.6
  • Complex Airplane Endorsement (14 CFR 61.31(e)): If your piston aircraft has retractable landing gear, flaps, and a controllable pitch propeller, you’ll need this endorsement to act as PIC. There’s no minimum flight time specified, but you must receive and log ground and flight training from an authorized instructor and be found proficient.
  • High-Performance Airplane Endorsement (14 CFR 61.31(f)): For piston aircraft with an engine of more than 200 horsepower, this endorsement is required to act as PIC.7 Similar to the complex endorsement, it involves ground and flight training and a proficiency determination by an instructor.
  • Tailwheel Airplane Endorsement (14 CFR 61.31(i)): Operating a tailwheel aircraft requires a specific endorsement, which involves training in certain maneuvers and procedures.8 This is a common endorsement for pilots of classic piston aircraft.
  • Flight Review Endorsement (14 CFR 61.56): Every 24 calendar months, a pilot must complete a flight review with an authorized instructor. This endorsement confirms satisfactory completion of the review, ensuring ongoing proficiency.
  • Instrument Proficiency Check Endorsement (14 CFR 61.57(d)):9 For instrument-rated pilots, an Instrument Proficiency Check (IPC) is required if instrument currency requirements haven’t been met. An endorsement from an authorized instructor or examiner signifies completion.

The role of an authorized instructor is paramount in the endorsement process. Their signature in your logbook is a public declaration of your readiness and competence. This principle of “Authority” is critical in aviation; when an instructor, a recognized authority by the FAA, endorses your logbook, it provides undeniable proof of your qualifications. Many pilots who have gone on to successful aviation careers will tell you that the diligence of their instructors in providing timely and accurate endorsements was key to their progress.

MAINTAINING CURRENCY AND MEETING RECENCY REQUIREMENTS

Beyond specific certificates and ratings, your logbook plays a vital role in demonstrating recent flight experience. For example, to carry passengers, a pilot must have made at least three takeoffs and three landings within the preceding 90 days in an aircraft of the same category, class, and type (if a type rating is required).10 For night passenger-carrying flights, these three takeoffs and landings must be full-stop landings performed during the period beginning 1 hour after sunset and ending 1 hour before sunrise.

THE AERO CENTER ADVANTAGE: 24/7 SUPPORT FOR PISTON AIRCRAFT

Maintaining a meticulously organized logbook and staying current with FAA regulations are crucial for safe and legal flight operations. Just as you prioritize your flight records, we at The Aero Center prioritize the health and reliability of your piston aircraft. We understand that airplane downtime can significantly impact your schedule and flying enjoyment. That’s why The Aero Center stands out as the only 24/7 maintenance center in California, Arizona, and Nevada. We are committed to getting your single-engine or twin-piston aircraft serviced efficiently, minimizing your time on the ground and maximizing your time in the air.

Our highly experienced mechanics are available around the clock to address your maintenance needs, from routine inspections to unexpected repairs. This unwavering dedication to availability and quality service ensures that your aircraft is always ready when you are, reflecting the same commitment to operational readiness that a well-kept logbook represents for a pilot. When you need immediate, reliable service for your piston aircraft, The Aero Center is the consistent choice for pilots across the region.

Footnotes
  1. FAA Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 61, Subpart B – Aircraft Ratings and Pilot Authorizations, § 61.51 Pilot logbooks.11 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-61/section-61.51
  2. FAA Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 61, Subpart A – General, § 61.31 Type rating requirements, additional training, and authorization requirements. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-61/section-61.31
  3. FAA Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 61, Subpart A – General, § 61.57 Recent flight experience: Pilot in command.12 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-61/section-61.57
  4. FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 61-65H – Certification: Pilots and Flight Instructors. https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/advisory_circulars/index.cfm/go/document.information/documentid/1038162

The Aero Center is located at William J. Fox Airfield KWJF | Lancaster, CA. Contact us at 209.885.6950 for questions or appointments.

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