FAR Part 61 & 91
Know the numbers and the judgment behind them: currency, fuel, altitudes, and everyday operating rules.
Part 61: Certification & currency
Part 61 covers certificates, ratings, endorsements, and currency. Private privileges generally allow non-common-carriage flying with limits on compensation.
Passenger currency: 3 takeoffs and landings within 90 days in the same category/class (full stop at night for night passengers). Flight review: every 24 calendar months.
- Pilot certificate + photo ID
- Medical or BasicMed as applicable
- Current flight review
Part 91: Preflight & right-of-way
§91.103: become familiar with all available information for the flight, including weather, fuel, alternatives, runway lengths, and performance data.
Right-of-way (§91.113): distress aircraft first; converging, aircraft on the right; head-on, both alter right; overtaking, the aircraft being overtaken has right-of-way.
Minimum altitudes & fuel
Congested area: 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a 2,000-foot horizontal radius. Other than congested: 500 feet above the surface, except over open water or sparsely populated areas, where you may not operate closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure. Except takeoff or landing.
Fuel reserves (§91.151)
Day: destination + at least 30 minutes. Night: destination + at least 45 minutes. Both at normal cruising speed (§91.151).
Equipment & airspace
Know 91.205 day/night instruments, and that inoperative gear may require 91.213 procedures. Pair this guide with the airspace page for entry and cloud-clearance rules.
Practice questions
1. Day VFR fuel reserve beyond destination?
Show Answer
30 minutes at normal cruise.
2. Flight review interval?
Show Answer
Within the preceding 24 calendar months.
3. Minimum altitude over a congested area?
Show Answer
1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a 2,000-foot horizontal radius.