FAR 91.529 — Flight Engineer Requirements
FAR 91.529 explains when a flight engineer is required on large airplanes and the recency requirements for serving as one. Study guide for pilot students.
In Plain English
FAR 91.529 specifies when an airplane must have a flight engineer as a required flight crewmember and the recency rules that flight engineer must meet.
A flight engineer with a current certificate is required on:
- Airplanes type certificated before January 2, 1964 with a maximum certificated takeoff weight of more than 80,000 pounds.
- Airplanes type certificated after January 1, 1964 for which a flight engineer is required by the type certification requirements.
To legally serve as a required flight engineer, within the preceding 6 calendar months the person must have either:
- Logged at least 50 hours of flight time as a flight engineer on that type airplane, or
- Been checked by the Administrator on that type airplane and found familiar and competent with current information and operating procedures.
This matters operationally because crew composition is tied to the airplane's certification basis — flying a qualifying large airplane without a current, qualified flight engineer is a regulatory violation, regardless of the pilots' qualifications.
Regulation Text
14 CFR § 91.529§ 91.529 Flight engineer requirements.
(a) No person may operate the following airplanes without a flight crewmember holding a current flight engineer certificate:
(1) An airplane for which a type certificate was issued before January 2, 1964, having a maximum certificated takeoff weight of more than 80,000 pounds.
(2) An airplane type certificated after January 1, 1964, for which a flight engineer is required by the type certification requirements.
(b) No person may serve as a required flight engineer on an airplane unless, within the preceding 6 calendar months, that person has had at least 50 hours of flight time as a flight engineer on that type airplane or has been checked by the Administrator on that type airplane and is found to be familiar and competent with all essential current information and operating procedures.
Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1When is a flight engineer required as a flight crewmember under Part 91?
Per FAR 91.529, a flight engineer is required on airplanes type certificated before January 2, 1964 with a max certificated takeoff weight over 80,000 pounds, and on airplanes type certificated after January 1, 1964 if their type certification requires one.
Q2What recent experience must a person have to serve as a required flight engineer?
FAR 91.529(b) requires that within the preceding 6 calendar months the person has logged at least 50 hours of flight time as a flight engineer on that type airplane, or has been checked by the Administrator on that type and found familiar and competent with current information and operating procedures.
Q3If a flight engineer hasn't flown in over 6 months, how can they regain currency to serve again?
Under FAR 91.529(b), if the 50 hours of flight time in the preceding 6 calendar months isn't met, the flight engineer must be checked by the Administrator on that type airplane and found familiar and competent with essential current information and operating procedures.
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Related Sections in Part 91