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This Subpart prescribes the requirements for the issue of a private pilot licence and the privileges, limitations, and currency requirements of the pilot licence.
(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c), to be eligible for the issue of a private pilot licence a person must—
(1) be at least 17 years of age; and
(2) hold—
(i) at least a current class 2 medical certificate issued under the Act; or
(ii) a current medical certificate referred to in rule 61.35(a)(1)(ia); and
(3) have the minimum of—
(i) 50 hours flight time experience as a pilot in the appropriate category of aircraft comprising solo flight time, dual flight time, instrument time, and cross-country flight time acceptable to the Director; or
(ii) if the person is not seeking to exercise private pilot privileges on a cross-country flight, 40 hours flight time experience as a pilot in the appropriate category of aircraft comprising solo flight time, instrument time, and dual flight time acceptable to the Director; and
(4) if the person seeks to exercise private pilot privileges during the night, have night flight experience acceptable to the Director; and
(4a) in addition to paragraph (4), have appropriate night flight using NVIS experience as specified in a notice under rule 91.273 if the person seeks to exercise private pilot privileges during the night using NVIS; and
(5) have flight training on the carriage of sling loads acceptable to the Director if the person seeks to exercise private pilot (helicopter) privileges in the carriage of sling loads; and
(6) have a valid written examination credit, or approved equivalent, that covers the following private pilot licence subject areas:
(i) air law;
(ii) air navigation and flight planning;
(iii) meteorology;
(iv) aircraft technical knowledge (Aeroplane or Helicopter), as appropriate;
(v) human factors;
(vi) flight radiotelephony; and
(7) have successfully demonstrated the following to a flight examiner in a flight test:
(i) knowledge in the ground examination subjects specified in paragraph (6), including those detailed in the examination knowledge deficiency reports;
(ii) knowledge of the privileges and limitations of a private pilot licence;
(iii) technical and operational knowledge relevant to the aircraft type to be used in the flight test;
(iv) competence to operate the aircraft within its performance capabilities and limitations in accordance with the aircraft flight manual in all normal, abnormal, and emergency conditions and procedures while exercising appropriate levels of judgement and command;
(v) competence in radiotelephony (RTF) procedures and phraseology;
(vi) control of the aircraft always in a manner that ensures the successful outcome of a procedure or manoeuvre is never in doubt; and
(8) if applicable, comply with all the requirements of a notice issued under Subpart I.
(b) Under section 75 of the Act, a person who holds a current pilot licence and associated medical certificate issued by an ICAO Contracting State may have the licence and medical certificate recognised by the Director for the purpose of the Director issuing a private pilot licence to the person, for the same category of aircraft.
(c) A person who holds a current glider pilot certificate issued by a gliding organisation under delegated authority from the Director is eligible for the issue of a private pilot licence (Glider) if the person—
(1) is at least 17 years of age; and
(2) holds a flight radiotelephony examination credit; and
(3) holds at least a current class 2 medical certificate issued under the Act.
(d) Qualifications held by a member of the New Zealand Defence Force who is in current flying practice as a first or second pilot may be accepted by the Director as meeting the requirements in—
(1) paragraph (a)(6), if the person has passed the appropriate air law examination in the 5 years before applying for the issue of the private pilot licence; and
(2) paragraph (a)(7).
(a) Subject to paragraphs (b) and (bb), the holder of a current private pilot licence may—
(1) act as pilot-in-command of an aircraft of the category for which the pilot licence is granted and for which the pilot holds an aircraft type rating, and may carry passengers in the aircraft; and
(2) act as a co-pilot of an aircraft of the category for which the pilot licence is granted and for which the pilot holds an aircraft type rating, and which is required to be operated with a co-pilot.
(b) The holder of a private pilot licence must not act as pilot-in-command or as co-pilot of an aircraft—
(1) for remuneration; or
(2) if the aircraft is being operated for hire or reward; or
(3) if the aircraft is—
(i) being operated at night or being operated using NVIS; or
(ii) being operated on a cross-country flight; or
(iii) a helicopter carrying a sling load— unless an appropriately qualified flight instructor has certified in the holder's logbook that the holder has satisfactorily completed the flight training required to perform that activity; or
(4) if applicable, unless the holder has complied with all the requirements of a notice issued under Subpart I.
(bb) The holder of a private pilot licence who only holds a current medical certificate referred to in rule 61.35(a)(1)(ia) must not act as pilot-incommand or co-pilot –
(1) of any aircraft with a MCTOW exceeding 2, 730 kg:
(2) of any pressurised aircraft exceeding 25, 000 feet AMSL:
(3) of an aircraft –
(i) operating outside of New Zealand, unless a foreign country permits the holder of the private pilot licence to operate in that country:
(ii) operating under IFR:
(iii) operating into or out of a controlled aerodrome unless the holder maintains radio contact with the appropriate ATS unit at all times:
(iv) performing an agricultural aircraft operation:
(v) performing a banner tow operation below 500 feet AGL:
(vi) performing a drogue tow operation below 500 feet AGL:
(vii) performing a parachute drop operation exceeding 10, 000 feet AMSL:
(viii) while exercising the privileges of an aerobatics rating:
(ix) despite paragraph (a)(1), carrying more than 5 passengers;
(x) that is being operated at night exceeding 25 NM of a lit aerodrome.
(bd) Despite paragraph (bb)(3)(iii), the holder of a private pilot licence who only holds a current medical certificate referred to in rule 61.35(a)(1)(ia) is not required to have radio contact with the appropriate ATS unit at all times if the person has already successfully passed a colour deficiency screening test that is acceptable to the Director, and the flight has been approved by the ATS Unit.
(bf) Despite paragraphs (a)(1) and (bb)(3)(ix), the holder of a private pilot licence who only holds a medical certificate referred to in rule 61.35(a)(1)(ia) must not carry a passenger while performing an aerobatic manoeuvre.
(c) Despite paragraph (b)(2), the holder of a current private pilot licence may act, but not for remuneration, as pilot-in-command or as a co- pilot of an aircraft that is operated for hire or reward to tow a glider in flight, but only if the operation is under the direct control of a gliding organisation, or under the authority of an adventure aviation operator certificate issued by the Director under the Act and Part 115.
A holder of a private pilot licence is required to comply with the requirements of rules 61.35 (Medical requirements), 61.37 (Recent flight experience) and 61.39 (Biennial flight review) before exercising the privileges of the holder’s private pilot licence.
(a) A holder of a valid recreational pilot licence for an aeroplane or a helicopter that was issued under the Act and this Part immediately before 5 April 2021–
(1) is deemed to have been issued a private pilot licence referred to in rule 61.35(a)(1)(ia); and
(2) is deemed to hold a medical certificate referred to in rule 61.35(a)(1)(ia).
(b) The holder of a deemed private pilot licence—
(1) may exercise the privileges prescribed for the private pilot licence; and
(2) must comply with the limitations and meet the currency requirements for the private pilot licence.
