A pilot certificate, often called a license, does not carry an expiration date like a driver’s license, meaning the physical document itself remains valid indefinitely. However, a pilot’s legal authority to operate an aircraft, known as their privileges, is contingent upon meeting continuous regulatory requirements. Maintaining this authority demands proactive engagement with specific flight experience, recurrent training, and medical standards. The distinction between holding the certificate and exercising its privileges is fundamental to remaining a current and legal pilot.
The Difference Between Pilot Certificate and Pilot Privileges
A pilot certificate is a permanent document issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), signifying that a person has met the knowledge, experience, and skill requirements for a specific level of airmanship (e.g., Private or Commercial Pilot). This certificate remains valid unless officially surrendered, suspended, or revoked. The privileges of that certificate, however, are temporary and conditional. These privileges—the legal authority to act as Pilot in Command (PIC)—are only available when the pilot satisfies ongoing currency requirements outlined in the regulations. Failing to meet these requirements suspends the ability to fly legally, though it does not invalidate the physical certificate.
Mandatory Requirement: The Flight Review
The primary mechanism for maintaining basic proficiency is the Flight Review, which must be satisfactorily completed every 24 calendar months. This recurrent training event is administered by an authorized flight instructor and is mandatory for any pilot acting as Pilot in Command. The review consists of a minimum of one hour of ground training and one hour of flight training. Successfully completing a practical test for a new certificate or rating can substitute for the Flight Review requirement for the subsequent 24-month period.
Ensuring Recent Flight Experience
Pilots must meet a separate currency requirement to legally carry passengers. To act as PIC with passengers aboard, a pilot must have performed at least three takeoffs and three landings within the preceding 90 days. This experience must be logged in an aircraft of the same category, class, and type (if a type rating is required). The pilot must have been the sole manipulator of the flight controls during these operations.
A more restrictive requirement applies when carrying passengers at night, defined as the period beginning one hour after sunset and ending one hour before sunrise. For night currency, the three required landings must be made to a full stop. Failing to meet this 90-day experience rule only restricts the ability to carry passengers; it does not prevent the pilot from acting as PIC for a flight with no passengers.
Medical Certificate Requirements for Exercising Privileges
A valid FAA medical certificate is required to exercise the privileges of Private, Commercial, or Airline Transport Pilot certificates, though exceptions exist for gliders, balloons, or BasicMed operations. The medical certificate ensures the pilot meets the necessary physical and mental health standards for safe flight.
The duration of validity depends on the class of medical and the pilot’s age. A Third Class medical, required for private pilot privileges, is valid for 60 calendar months for pilots under age 40, and 24 calendar months for pilots aged 40 and over. Commercial Pilot privileges require at least a Second Class medical, valid for 12 calendar months regardless of age. If a higher-class medical expires, the certificate automatically reverts to the validity period of the next lower class.
Additional Currency Rules for Specialized Operations
Beyond the basic requirements for all pilots, specific rules exist for those operating under Instrument Flight Rules or for compensation. These additional requirements ensure competency in more complex or demanding operational environments.
Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) Currency
An instrument-rated pilot must meet requirements to act as Pilot in Command under IFR or in weather conditions less than VFR minimums. Within the preceding six calendar months, the pilot must have performed and logged six instrument approaches, holding procedures and tasks, and intercepted and tracked courses through electronic navigation systems (the “6 HITS” rule). If the pilot fails to meet this requirement initially, they enter a second six-calendar-month grace period. Currency can be regained during this period by meeting the 6 HITS requirements with a safety pilot or instructor.
Commercial Operations Currency
Pilots operating for compensation or hire must adhere to Commercial Pilot requirements, including holding a valid Second Class Medical Certificate to exercise privileges. Operating complex aircraft, such as those requiring a type rating or certified for more than one pilot, often involves recurrent training and proficiency checks. These checks typically satisfy the biennial Flight Review requirement and ensure a high standard of operational readiness.
Reactivating Lapsed Pilot Privileges
If a pilot allows privileges to lapse by failing to complete a Flight Review within the 24-calendar-month period, they cannot legally act as Pilot in Command. To regain privileges, the pilot must work with an authorized Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) to complete a satisfactory Flight Review. No re-testing of the original exams is necessary, as the pilot certificate remains valid.
If an instrument-rated pilot’s IFR currency lapses beyond the six-month grace period, they must complete an Instrument Proficiency Check (IPC) to re-establish currency. This check must be administered by a qualified instructor or examiner and covers the areas of operation contained in the instrument rating practical test. In all cases of lapsed currency, the pilot must successfully demonstrate current proficiency before resuming flight operations as PIC.