Training and Qualification Requirements for Check Airmen and Flight Instructors

14 CFR Part 121 – Sections Relevant to OMB Control Number 2120-0600

§ 121.411   Qualifications: Check airmen (airplane) and check airmen (simulator).

(a) For the purposes of this section and §121.413:

(1) A check airman (airplane) is a person who is qualified, and permitted, to conduct flight checks or instruction in an airplane, in a flight simulator, or in a flight training device for a particular type airplane.

(2) A check airman (simulator) is a person who is qualified to conduct flight checks or instruction, but only in a flight simulator or in a flight training device for a particular type airplane.

(3) Check airmen (airplane) and check airmen (simulator) are those check airmen who perform the functions described in §121.401(a)(4).

(b) No certificate holder may use a person, nor may any person serve as a check airman (airplane) in a training program established under this subpart unless, with respect to the airplane type involved, that person—

(1) Holds the airman certificates and ratings required to serve as a pilot in command, a flight engineer, or a flight navigator, as applicable, in operations under this part;

(2) Has satisfactorily completed the appropriate training phases for the airplane, including recurrent training, that are required to serve as a pilot in command, flight engineer, or flight navigator, as applicable, in operations under this part;

(3) Has satisfactorily completed the appropriate proficiency or competency checks that are required to serve as a pilot in command, flight engineer, or flight navigator, as applicable, in operations under this part;

(4) Has satisfactorily completed the applicable training requirements of §121.413 including in-flight training and practice for initial and transition training;

(5) Holds at least a Class III medical certificate unless serving as a required crewmember, in which case holds a Class I or Class II medical certificate as appropriate;

(6) Has satisfied the recency of experience requirements of §121.439; and

(7) Has been approved by the Administrator for the check airman duties involved.

(c) No certificate holder may use a person nor may any person serve as a check airman (simulator) in a training program established under this subpart unless, with respect to the airplane type involved, that person meets the provisions of paragraph (b) of this section, or—

(1) Holds the airman certificates and ratings, except medical certificate, required to serve as a pilot in command, a flight engineer, or a flight navigator, as applicable, in operations under this part;

(2) Has satisfactorily completed the appropriate training phases for the airplane, including recurrent training, that are required to serve as a pilot in command, flight engineer, or flight navigator in operations under this part;

(3) Has satisfactorily completed the appropriate proficiency or competency checks that are required to serve as a pilot in command, flight engineer, or flight navigator in operations under this part;

(4) Has satisfactorily completed the applicable training requirements of §121.413; and

(5) Has been approved by the Administrator for the check airman (simulator) duties involved.

(d) Completion of the requirements in paragraphs (b) (2), (3), and (4) or (c) (2), (3), and (4) of this section, as applicable, shall be entered in the individual's training record maintained by the certificate holder.

(e) Check airmen who have reached their 65th birthday or who do not hold an appropriate medical certificate may function as check airmen, but may not serve as pilot flightcrew members in operations under this part.

(f) A check airman (simulator) must accomplish the following—

(1) Fly at least two flight segments as a required crewmember for the type airplane involved within the 12-month period preceding the performance of any check airman duty in a flight simulator; or

(2) Satisfactorily complete an approved line-observation program within the period prescribed by that program and that must precede the performance of any check airman duty in a flight simulator.

(g) The flight segments or line-observation program required in paragraph (f) of this section are considered to be completed in the month required if completed in the calendar month before or in the calendar month after the month in which it is due.

[Doc. No. 28471, 61 FR 30741, June 17, 1996, as amended by Amdt. 121–344, 74 FR 34235, July 15, 2009]

§ 121.412   Qualifications: Flight instructors (airplane) and flight instructors (simulator).

(a) For the purposes of this section and §121.414:

(1) A flight instructor (airplane) is a person who is qualified to instruct in an airplane, in a flight simulator, or in a flight training device for a particular type airplane.

(2) A flight instructor (simulator) is a person who is qualified to instruct, but only in a flight simulator, in a flight training device, or both, for a particular type airplane.

(3) Flight instructors (airplane) and flight instructors (simulator) are those instructors who perform the functions described in §121.401(a)(4).

(b) No certificate holder may use a person nor may any person serve as a flight instructor (airplane) in a training program established under this subpart unless, with respect to the airplane type involved, that person—

(1) Holds the airman certificates and rating required to serve as a pilot in command, a flight engineer, or a flight navigator, as applicable, in operations under this part;

(2) Has satisfactorily completed the appropriate training phases for the airplane, including recurrent training, that are required to serve as a pilot in command, flight engineer, or flight navigator, as applicable, in operations under this part;

(3) Has satisfactorily completed the appropriate proficiency or competency checks that are required to serve as a pilot in command, flight engineer, or flight navigator, as applicable, in operations under this part;

(4) Has satisfactorily completed the applicable training requirements of §121.414, including in-flight training and practice for initial and transition training;

(5) Holds at least a Class III medical certificate unless serving as a required crewmember, in which case holds a Class I or a Class II medical certificate as appropriate.

(6) Has satisfied the recency of experience requirements of §121.439.

(c) No certificate holder may use a person, nor may any person serve as a flight instructor (simulator) in a training program established under this subpart, unless, with respect to the airplane type involved, that person meets the provisions of paragraph (b) of this section, or—

(1) Holds the airman certificates and ratings, except medical certificate, required to serve as a pilot in command, a flight engineer, or a flight navigator, as applicable, in operations under this part except before March 19, 1997 that person need not hold a type rating for the airplane type involved provided that he or she only provides the instruction described in §§121.409(b) and 121.441;

(2) Has satisfactorily completed the appropriate training phases for the airplane, including recurrent training, that are required to serve as a pilot in command, flight engineer, or flight navigator, as applicable, in operations under this part;

(3) Has satisfactorily completed the appropriate proficiency or competency checks that are required to serve as a pilot in command, flight engineer, or flight navigator, as applicable, in operations under this part; and

(4) Has satisfactorily completed the applicable training requirements of §121.414.

(d) Completion of the requirements in paragraphs (b) (2), (3), and (4) or (c) (2), (3), and (4) of this section as applicable shall be entered in the individual's training record maintained by the certificate holder.

(e) Flight instructors who have reached their 65th birthday or who do not hold an appropriate medical certificate may function as flight instructors, but may not serve as pilot flightcrew members in operations under this part.

(f) A flight instructor (simulator) must accomplish the following—

(1) Fly at least two flight segments as a required crewmember for the type of airplane within the 12-month period preceding the performance of any flight instructor duty in a flight simulator (and must hold a Class I or Class II medical certificate as appropriate); or

(2) Satisfactorily complete an approved line-observation program within the period prescribed by that program preceding the performance of any flight instructor duty in a flight simulator.

(g) The flight segments or line-observation program required in paragraph (f) of this section is considered completed in the month required if completed in the calendar month before, or the calendar month after the month in which it is due.

[Doc. No. 28471, 61 FR 30742, June 17, 1996; 61 FR 34927, July 3, 1996; 62 FR 3739, Jan. 24, 1997; Amdt. 121–264, 62 FR 23120, Apr. 28, 1997; Amdt. 121–344, 74 FR 34235, July 15, 2009; Amdt. 121–355, 76 FR , June 16, 2011]