In Plain English
FAR 61.2 governs when you can — and cannot — actually use the privileges of your airman credentials. The rule has two parts.
Paragraph (a) — Status of the credential. You may not exercise privileges if the underlying document is surrendered, suspended, revoked, or expired. This applies to:
- Your pilot certificate, rating, endorsement, or authorization issued under Part 61
- A flight instructor certificate
- A foreign pilot certificate used to fly a foreign-registered aircraft under § 61.3(b)
- A U.S. certificate issued under § 61.75 or authorization under § 61.77, if the foreign certificate it was based on is no longer valid
- A medical certificate issued under Part 67, per the duration rules in § 61.23(d)
- A driver's license used to satisfy Part 61 requirements (e.g., BasicMed or sport pilot)
Paragraph (b) — Currency and medical fitness. Even with valid paperwork, you must also meet the recent flight experience and medical requirements appropriate to the operation. Foreign license holders operating in the U.S. must meet the recency and medical rules of the country that issued their license.
Operationally: before every flight, confirm both that your documents are current AND that you are legally current to act as PIC for that specific operation.
Regulation Text
14 CFR § 61.2§ 61.2 Exercise of Privilege.
(a)No person may:
(1) Exercise privileges of a certificate, rating, endorsement, or authorization issued under this part if the certificate, rating or authorization is surrendered, suspended, revoked or expired.
(2) Exercise privileges of a flight instructor certificate if that flight instructor certificate is surrendered, suspended, revoked or expired.
(3) Exercise privileges of a foreign pilot certificate to operate an aircraft of foreign registry under § 61.3(b) if the certificate is surrendered, suspended, revoked or expired.
(4) Exercise privileges of a pilot certificate issued under § 61.75, or an authorization issued under § 61.77, if the foreign pilot certificate relied upon for the issuance of the U.S. pilot certificate or authorization is surrendered, suspended, revoked or expired.
(5) Exercise privileges of a medical certificate issued under part 67 to meet any requirements of part 61 if the medical certificate is surrendered, suspended, revoked or expired according to the duration standards set forth in § 61.23(d).
(6) Use an official government issued driver's license to meet any requirements of part 61 related to holding that driver's license, if the driver's license is surrendered, suspended, revoked or expired.
(b)No person may:
(1) Exercise privileges of an airman certificate, rating, endorsement, or authorization issued under this part unless that person meets the appropriate airman recent experience and medical requirements of this part, specific to the operation or activity.
(2) Exercise privileges of a foreign pilot license within the United States to conduct an operation described in § 61.3(b), unless that person meets the appropriate airman recent experience and medical requirements of the country that issued the license, specific to the operation.
[Docket FAA-2006-26661, 74 FR 42546, Aug. 21, 2009, as amended by Docket FAA-2023-0825, Amdt. 61-155, 89 FR 80049, Oct. 1, 2024]