FAR 61.127 — Commercial Flight Proficiency
FAR 61.127 lists the flight proficiency areas of operation a commercial pilot applicant must train on, by aircraft category and class rating.
In Plain English
FAR 61.127 spells out the areas of operation you must receive and log ground and flight training on from an authorized instructor before taking your commercial pilot practical test. The specific list depends on the aircraft category and class you're seeking.
For a single-engine airplane commercial rating, you must train in:
- Preflight preparation
- Preflight procedures
- Airport and seaplane base operations
- Takeoffs, landings, and go-arounds
- Performance maneuvers
- Ground reference maneuvers
- Navigation
- Slow flight and stalls
- Emergency operations
- High-altitude operations
- Postflight procedures
The multiengine airplane list is nearly identical but adds multiengine operations and drops ground reference maneuvers. Rotorcraft (helicopter and gyroplane), powered-lift, glider, and lighter-than-air (airship and balloon) ratings each have their own tailored list — for example, helicopters and powered-lift add hovering maneuvers, and gliders include soaring techniques and performance speeds.
Why it matters: these areas of operation map directly to the Commercial Pilot ACS tasks your DPE will test. If your logbook doesn't show training in every applicable item, you're not eligible to take the checkride.
Regulation Text
14 CFR § 61.127§ 61.127 Flight proficiency.
(a)A person who applies for a commercial pilot certificate must receive and log ground and flight training from an authorized instructor on the areas of operation of this section that apply to the aircraft category and class rating sought.
(b)(1) For an airplane category rating with a single-engine class rating:
(i) Preflight preparation;
(ii) Preflight procedures;
(iii) Airport and seaplane base operations;
(iv) Takeoffs, landings, and go-arounds;
(v) Performance maneuvers;
(vi) Ground reference maneuvers;
(vii) Navigation;
(viii) Slow flight and stalls;
(ix) Emergency operations;
(x) High-altitude operations; and
(xi) Postflight procedures.
(2) For an airplane category rating with a multiengine class rating:
(i) Preflight preparation;
(ii) Preflight procedures;
(iii) Airport and seaplane base operations;
(iv) Takeoffs, landings, and go-arounds;
(v) Performance maneuvers;
(vi) Navigation;
(vii) Slow flight and stalls;
(viii) Emergency operations;
(ix) Multiengine operations;
(x) High-altitude operations; and
(xi) Postflight procedures.
(3) For a rotorcraft category rating with a helicopter class rating:
(i) Preflight preparation;
(ii) Preflight procedures;
(iii) Airport and heliport operations;
(iv) Hovering maneuvers;
(v) Takeoffs, landings, and go-arounds;
(vi) Performance maneuvers;
(vii) Navigation;
(viii) Emergency operations;
(ix) Special operations; and
(x) Postflight procedures.
(4) For a rotorcraft category rating with a gyroplane class rating:
(i) Preflight preparation;
(ii) Preflight procedures;
(iii) Airport operations;
(iv) Takeoffs, landings, and go-arounds;
(v) Performance maneuvers;
(vi) Ground reference maneuvers;
(vii) Navigation;
(viii) Flight at slow airspeeds;
(ix) Emergency operations; and
(x) Postflight procedures.
(5) For a powered-lift category rating:
(i) Preflight preparation;
(ii) Preflight procedures;
(iii) Airport and heliport operations;
(iv) Hovering maneuvers;
(v) Takeoffs, landings, and go-arounds;
(vi) Performance maneuvers;
(vii) Navigation;
(viii) Slow flight and stalls;
(ix) Emergency operations;
(x) High-altitude operations;
(xi) Special operations; and
(xii) Postflight procedures.
(6) For a glider category rating:
(i) Preflight preparation;
(ii) Preflight procedures;
(iii) Airport and gliderport operations;
(iv) Launches and landings;
(v) Performance speeds;
(vi) Soaring techniques;
(vii) Performance maneuvers;
(viii) Navigation;
(ix) Slow flight and stalls;
(x) Emergency operations; and
(xi) Postflight procedures.
(7) For a lighter-than-air category rating with an airship class rating:
(i) Fundamentals of instructing;
(ii) Technical subjects;
(iii) Preflight preparation;
(iv) Preflight lesson on a maneuver to be performed in flight;
(v) Preflight procedures;
(vi) Airport operations;
(vii) Takeoffs, landings, and go-arounds;
(viii) Performance maneuvers;
(ix) Navigation;
(x) Emergency operations; and
(xi) Postflight procedures.
(8) For a lighter-than-air category rating with a balloon class rating:
(i) Fundamentals of instructing;
(ii) Technical subjects;
(iii) Preflight preparation;
(iv) Preflight lesson on a maneuver to be performed in flight;
(v) Preflight procedures;
(vi) Airport operations;
(vii) Launches and landings;
(viii) Performance maneuvers;
(ix) Navigation;
(x) Emergency operations; and
(xi) Postflight procedures.
[Docket 25910, 62 FR 16298, Apr. 4, 1997, as amended by Amdt. 61-124, 74 FR 42558, Aug. 21, 2009]
Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1What areas of operation are you required to have training in for the commercial single-engine airplane rating?
Per FAR 61.127(b)(1), I must have ground and flight training in preflight preparation and procedures, airport/seaplane base operations, takeoffs/landings/go-arounds, performance maneuvers, ground reference maneuvers, navigation, slow flight and stalls, emergency operations, high-altitude operations, and postflight procedures.
Q2How does the required training for a commercial multiengine rating differ from the single-engine list?
FAR 61.127(b)(2) replaces ground reference maneuvers with multiengine operations; otherwise the multiengine list mirrors the single-engine areas of operation in FAR 61.127(b)(1).
Q3Who must provide the ground and flight training in these areas of operation, and must it be logged?
FAR 61.127(a) requires that a commercial applicant receive and log the ground and flight training from an authorized instructor in the areas of operation that apply to the category and class rating sought.
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Related Sections in Part 61