FAR 61.131 — Alaska Night Flying Exception
FAR 61.131 explains the Alaska exception to night flight training, the 'night flying prohibited' limitation, and how to remove it within 12 months.
FAR 61.131 carves out a narrow exception to the standard night flight training requirements found elsewhere in Part 61, Subpart E. It applies only to applicants who both receive flight training in and reside in the State of Alaska — recognizing that long periods of darkness or daylight in Alaska can make night training impractical at certain times of year.
If a qualifying Alaska applicant has not completed the night training requirements, the FAA may still issue the pilot certificate, but with restrictions:
- The certificate is issued with the limitation "night flying prohibited."
- The pilot must complete the appropriate night flight training within 12 calendar months of certificate issuance.
- If the pilot does not complete that training within 12 months, the certificate becomes invalid until the night training is finished.
To remove the limitation, the pilot must:
- Accomplish the required night flight training, and
- Present a logbook or training record endorsement from an authorized instructor to an examiner verifying the training.
Operationally, this matters because flying at night under this certificate is prohibited until the limitation is removed — even a single night flight as PIC would violate the certificate's terms.