FAR 61.89 — Student Pilot Limitations
FAR 61.89 sets the limits on student pilot solo flight: no passengers, no compensation, minimum visibility, and instructor endorsement requirements.
In Plain English
FAR 61.89 lists the things a student pilot cannot do when acting as pilot in command (PIC). These limits exist because you're still learning, so the FAA keeps the operating environment simple and visual.
As a student pilot acting as PIC, you may not:
- Carry a passenger or carry property for compensation or hire
- Fly for compensation or hire or in furtherance of a business
- Fly internationally (with a narrow Alaska-to-Yukon exception)
- Fly when flight or surface visibility is less than 3 SM by day or 5 SM by night
- Fly when you can't maintain visual reference to the surface
- Fly contrary to any limitations your instructor wrote in your logbook
You also can't serve as a required crewmember on aircraft requiring more than one pilot (with a narrow airship-training exception). Sport pilot students have extra limits: no night flight, altitude capped at 10,000 ft MSL or 2,000 ft AGL (whichever is higher), and no Class B/C/D operations without the §61.94 endorsement. A student may fly without a medical if they hold a valid U.S. driver's license and meet §61.23(c)(3) and §61.113(i) BasicMed-style conditions.
Regulation Text
14 CFR § 61.89§ 61.89 General limitations.
(a) A student pilot may not act as pilot in command of an aircraft:
(1) That is carrying a passenger;
(2) That is carrying property for compensation or hire;
(3) For compensation or hire;
(4) In furtherance of a business;
(5) On an international flight, except that a student pilot may make solo training flights from Haines, Gustavus, or Juneau, Alaska, to White Horse, Yukon, Canada, and return over the province of British Columbia;
(6) With a flight or surface visibility of less than 3 statute miles during daylight hours or 5 statute miles at night;
(7) When the flight cannot be made with visual reference to the surface; or
(8) In a manner contrary to any limitations placed in the pilot's logbook by an authorized instructor.
(b) A student pilot may not act as a required pilot flight crewmember on any aircraft for which more than one pilot is required by the type certificate of the aircraft or regulations under which the flight is conducted, except when receiving flight training from an authorized instructor on board an airship, and no person other than a required flight crewmember is carried on the aircraft.
(c) A student pilot seeking a sport pilot certificate must comply with the provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section and may not act as pilot in command—
(1) Of an aircraft other than an aircraft meeting the performance limits and design requirements of § 61.316;
(2) At night;
(3) At an altitude of more than 10,000 feet MSL or 2,000 feet AGL, whichever is higher;
(4) In Class B, C, and D airspace, at an airport located in Class B, C, or D airspace, and to, from, through, or on an airport having an operational control tower without having received the ground and flight training specified in § 61.94 and an endorsement from an authorized instructor;
(5) Of an aircraft without having received the applicable ground training, flight training, and instructor endorsements specified in § 61.327 (a) and (b).
(d) The holder of a student pilot certificate may act as pilot in command of an aircraft without holding a medical certificate issued under part 67 of this chapter provided the student pilot holds a valid U.S. driver's license, meets the requirements of § 61.23(c)(3), and the operation is conducted consistent with the requirements of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section and the conditions of § 61.113(i). Where the requirements of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section conflict with § 61.113(i), a student pilot must comply with paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section.
[Docket 25910, 62 FR 16298, Apr. 4, 1997, as amended by Amdt. 61-110, 69 FR 44867, July 27, 2004; Amdt. 61-125, 75 FR 5220, Feb. 1, 2010; Docket FAA-2016-9157, Amdt. 61-140, 82 FR 3165, Jan. 11, 2017; Docket FAA-2023-1377, Amdt. 61-159, 90 FR 35218, July 24, 2025]
Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1What are the minimum visibility requirements for solo student pilot operations?
Under FAR 61.89, a student pilot acting as PIC must have at least 3 statute miles of flight or surface visibility during the day and 5 statute miles at night, and must be able to maintain visual reference to the surface.
Q2Can you carry your friend along on a solo cross-country to build experience?
No. FAR 61.89(a)(1) prohibits a student pilot from acting as PIC of an aircraft carrying a passenger, regardless of whether any compensation is involved.
Q3If your instructor writes a limitation in your logbook, such as a maximum crosswind component, can you legally exceed it on a solo flight?
No. FAR 61.89(a)(8) specifically prohibits a student pilot from acting as PIC in a manner contrary to any limitations placed in the logbook by an authorized instructor.
Studying for a checkride?
Related Sections in Part 61