FAR 91.1101 — Pilot Ground Training
FAR 91.1101 sets initial, transition, and upgrade ground training topics for fractional ownership pilots, covering weather, systems, procedures, and icing.
In Plain English
FAR 91.1101 lists the minimum ground training topics a fractional ownership program manager must cover when a pilot is in initial, transition, or upgrade training. It's split into general subjects every pilot needs and aircraft-specific knowledge for each type flown.
General subjects include:
- The program manager's flight locating procedures
- Weight and balance and runway takeoff/landing limitations
- Meteorology — fronts, icing, fog, thunderstorms, windshear, and high-altitude weather as appropriate
- ATC systems, procedures, and phraseology
- Navigation and navaids, including instrument approaches
- Normal and emergency communications
- Visual cues at and below DA/MDA
Aircraft-specific training must cover a general description, performance, engines/propellers, major components and systems (normal, abnormal, and emergency ops), severe weather recognition and escape (including low-altitude windshear), thunderstorm and icing operations, ground icing procedures with holdover times if takeoffs in those conditions are authorized, operating limitations, fuel planning, every normal and emergency procedure, and the approved AFM.
This matters because it standardizes the knowledge base behind safe Subpart K operations.
Regulation Text
14 CFR § 91.1101§ 91.1101 Pilots: Initial, transition, and upgrade ground training.
Initial, transition, and upgrade ground training for pilots must include instruction in at least the following, as applicable to their duties:
(a) General subjects—
(1) The program manager's flight locating procedures;
(2) Principles and methods for determining weight and balance, and runway limitations for takeoff and landing;
(3) Enough meteorology to ensure a practical knowledge of weather phenomena, including the principles of frontal systems, icing, fog, thunderstorms, windshear and, if appropriate, high altitude weather situations;
(4) Air traffic control systems, procedures, and phraseology;
(5) Navigation and the use of navigational aids, including instrument approach procedures;
(6) Normal and emergency communication procedures;
(7) Visual cues before and during descent below Decision Altitude or MDA; and
(8) Other instructions necessary to ensure the pilot's competence.
(b) For each aircraft type—
(1) A general description;
(2) Performance characteristics;
(3) Engines and propellers;
(4) Major components;
(5) Major aircraft systems (that is, flight controls, electrical, and hydraulic), other systems, as appropriate, principles of normal, abnormal, and emergency operations, appropriate procedures and limitations;
(6) Knowledge and procedures for—
(i) Recognizing and avoiding severe weather situations;
(ii) Escaping from severe weather situations, in case of inadvertent encounters, including low-altitude windshear (except that rotorcraft pilots are not required to be trained in escaping from low-altitude windshear);
(iii) Operating in or near thunderstorms (including best penetration altitudes), turbulent air (including clear air turbulence), inflight icing, hail, and other potentially hazardous meteorological conditions; and
(iv) Operating airplanes during ground icing conditions, (that is, any time conditions are such that frost, ice, or snow may reasonably be expected to adhere to the aircraft), if the program manager expects to authorize takeoffs in ground icing conditions, including:
(A) The use of holdover times when using deicing/anti-icing fluids;
(B) Airplane deicing/anti-icing procedures, including inspection and check procedures and responsibilities;
(C) Communications;
(D) Airplane surface contamination (that is, adherence of frost, ice, or snow) and critical area identification, and knowledge of how contamination adversely affects airplane performance and flight characteristics;
(E) Types and characteristics of deicing/anti-icing fluids, if used by the program manager;
(F) Cold weather preflight inspection procedures;
(G) Techniques for recognizing contamination on the airplane;
(7) Operating limitations;
(8) Fuel consumption and cruise control;
(9) Flight planning;
(10) Each normal and emergency procedure; and
(11) The approved Aircraft Flight Manual or equivalent.
Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1Under FAR 91.1101, what general subjects must initial ground training cover for a fractional program pilot?
Per FAR 91.1101(a), training must include the program manager's flight locating procedures, weight and balance and runway limits, meteorology, ATC procedures and phraseology, navigation and navaids including instrument approaches, normal and emergency communications, and visual cues at or below DA/MDA.
Q2When is ground icing training specifically required under FAR 91.1101, and what must it include?
FAR 91.1101(b)(6)(iv) requires ground icing training whenever the program manager expects to authorize takeoffs in ground icing conditions, and it must cover holdover times, deicing/anti-icing procedures, communications, surface contamination effects, fluid types, cold weather preflight, and techniques for recognizing contamination.
Q3What aircraft-specific items does FAR 91.1101 require during transition training to a new type?
Under FAR 91.1101(b), transition training for each type must cover a general description, performance, engines and propellers, major components and systems with normal/abnormal/emergency procedures, severe weather avoidance and escape, operating limitations, fuel and cruise control, flight planning, every normal and emergency procedure, and the approved AFM.
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Related Sections in Part 91