Did you know your FAA private pilot certificate never expires? The Federal Aviation Administration regulations require private pilots remain proficient and current on their training. Failing to do so will result in not being allowed to act as Pilot-in-Command of an aircraft and carrying passengers. In a nutshell, it would no longer be legal for the pilot to operate an aircraft until certain requirements are met. If the pilot wishes to remain current, he or she must comply with the FAA regulations.
Generally, to remain current, a pilot must:
- Undergo a physical exam performed by a certificated Federal Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) to obtain a current airman medical certificate. Private pilots are required to have at minimum a third-class medical certificate to remain current. This exam typically includes a general physical, eye exam and a review of any known medical conditions or medications that you may take. A third-class medical certificate is good for three years for pilots under 40 years of age and is good for two years for those that are 40 years and older.
- Review the current FAA Air Traffic and general operating rules, which are known as Part 91 – General Operating and Flight Rules. You will find these rules and regulations online at https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/faa_regulations. They may also be found in a current edition of the Federal Aviation Regulations/Aeronautical Information Manual (FAR/AIM), which can normally be purchased through your flight school or online bookstores, as well as found online at https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/faa_regulations
- Get a biennial flight review from a certificated flight instructor (CFI). The flight review consists of a minimum of one hour of ground training and one hour of flight training. This training involves an oral discussion on the ground that covers Part 91 – General Operating and Flight Rules, as well as a series of flight maneuvers and emergency procedures performed in the aircraft. Your flight instructor will then write an endorsement in your logbook stating you have passed your flight review and you are qualified to act as pilot-in-command. This endorsement is good for 24 calendar months, which means that it remains good for two years and is due again by the last day of the month in which you initially took the flight review. As an example, a flight review taken on December 9, 2019 would be due by December 31, 2021.
If you stay on top of the requirements, you will not have to worry about losing your flying privileges.