Download the PDF consolidation of Part 61 [PDF 497 KB]
(a) To be eligible for the issue of an airline flight examiner rating, a person must—
(1) in the case of operations in accordance with Part 125 and Part 135, hold at least an appropriate commercial pilot licence; and
(2) in the case of operations in accordance with Part 121, hold an airline transport pilot licence (Aeroplane); and
(3) hold a current Category A, B, or D flight instructor rating; and
(4) have flight experience acceptable to the Director; and
(5) successfully demonstrate to the Director the ability to perform the duties of an airline flight examiner; and
(6) successfully complete an approved flight examiner training course in the 12 months prior to applying for an airline flight examiner rating, or such other period acceptable to the Director.
(b) To be eligible for the issue of a general aviation flight examiner rating, a person must—
(1) hold an appropriate Category A flight instructor rating; and
(2) have flight experience acceptable to the Director;
(3) successfully demonstrate to the Director the ability to perform the duties of a general aviation flight examiner; and
(4) complete an approved flight examiner training course in the 12 months prior to applying for a general aviation flight examiner rating or such other period acceptable to the Director.
(c) To be eligible for the issue of an agricultural flight examiner rating, a person must—
(1) hold at least an appropriate current commercial pilot licence; and
(2) hold an appropriate current Category E flight instructor rating; and
(3) have flight time experience that is acceptable to the Director, including:
(i) total flight time:
(ii) pilot-in-command flight time:
(iii) if applicable, aerial topdressing flight time:
(iv) if applicable, aerial spraying flight time:
(v) if applicable, aerial VTA flight time:
(vi) flight instruction time; and
(4) successfully demonstrate to the Director the person’s ability to perform the functions of an agricultural flight examiner; and
(5) complete an approved flight examiner training course in the 12 months prior to applying for an agricultural flight examiner rating, or such other period acceptable to the Director.
If the Director is satisfied that an applicant for a flight examiner rating has met the applicable requirements of rule 61.901, the Director may issue the rating by endorsing the applicant’s pilot licence with the applicable flight examiner rating and endorsing the pilot’s logbook with the applicable flight examiner authorisation.
(a) Subject to paragraph (d), the holder of a current airline flight examiner rating may conduct those flight tests for which authorisation has been granted by the Director for the issue of pilot licences or for the issue or renewal of ratings, required by this Part, or for operational competency assessments, within an organisation operating under—
(1) an aviation training organisation certificate issued under Part 141 if the certificate authorises the holder to conduct those flight tests; or
(2) an air operator certificate issued under Part 119 if the certificate authorises the holder to conduct those flight tests.
(b) Subject to paragraph (d), the holder of a current general aviation flight examiner rating may conduct those flight tests for which authorisation has been granted by the Director for the issue of pilot licences or for the issue or renewal of ratings, required by this Part, or for operational competency assessments for a helicopter, and for aeroplanes having a certified passenger seating capacity, excluding any required crew seat, of 9 seats or less, within an organisation—
(1) operating under an aviation training organisation certificate issued in accordance with Part 141 if the certificate authorises the holder to conduct those flight tests; or
(2) operating under an air operator certificate issued in accordance with Part 119 if the certificate authorises the holder to conduct those flight tests; or
(3) that employs, contracts, or engages a person who holds a delegation from the Director to conduct those flight tests.
(ba) Subject to paragraph (d), the holder of a current agricultural flight examiner rating may conduct those flight tests for which authorisation has been granted by the Director for the issue or renewal of ratings required by this Part, or for operational competency assessments, within an organisation—
(1) operating under an aviation training organisation certificate issued under Part 141 that authorises the holder to conduct those flight tests; or
(2) operating under an agricultural aircraft operator certificate issued under Part 137 that authorises the holder to conduct those flight tests; or
(3) that employs, contracts, or engages a person who holds a delegation from the Director to conduct those flight tests.
(c) Subject to paragraph (d), the holder of a current restricted flight examiner rating may exercise the privileges for which authorisation has been granted by the Director within an organisation operating under an aviation training organisation certificate issued under Part 141 that authorises the conduct of flight tests.
(d) In order to exercise the privileges of any flight examiner rating, the holder must hold an appropriate current flight instructor rating with an aircraft type rating for the aircraft in use.
(e) Notwithstanding paragraph (d), the holder of a flight examiner rating is not required to hold a current medical certificate or be current on type if the holder is not acting as a required crew member.
(a) The holder of a flight examiner rating must not exercise the privileges of the rating unless, within the immediately preceding 24 months, the flight examiner has successfully demonstrated to the Director competence to exercise the privileges of the rating.
(b) For the holder of an airline flight examiner rating, the demonstration of competence required by paragraph (a) must include an approved synthetic flight trainer segment or flight segment, or both if required by the Director—
(1) on the heaviest aircraft type (MCTOW) on which the flight examiner will examine, or on such other aircraft as the Director may require; and
(2) in accordance with the requirements in Part 121, 125, or 135 as appropriate to the privileges being sought.
(c) A pilot who successfully completes the demonstration required by paragraph (a) within 60 days before the date on which it is required is deemed to have completed the demonstration on the required date.
(a) Part 61 which came into force on 5 November 1992 and its amendments 1 to 10 are revoked and replaced by this Part 61 Re-issue.
(b) To avoid doubt the following continue to have force if done before the commencement of this Part 61 Re-issue on 15 April 2016:
(1) All licences, ratings and other aviation documents issued under Part 61 prior to 15 April 2016:
(2) All privileges and limitations exercised by aviation document holders under Part 61 prior to 15 April 2016:
(3) All written examination or test results and credits granted under Part 61 prior to 15 April 2016:
(4) All flight test results granted under Part 61 prior to 15 April 2016:
(5) All entries crediting flight time in pilot logbooks granted under Part 61 prior to 15 April 2016:
(6) All recent flight experience and flight reviews recorded under Part 61 prior to 15 April 2016:
(7) All forms applied for or issued under Part 61 prior to 15 April 2016.
Before conducting a flight test for which authorisation has been granted by the Director for the issue of pilot licences or for the issue or renewal of ratings, an appropriately qualified flight examiner must:
(1) consider whether the Director has issued requirements in a notice under Subpart I in respect of an aircraft for which the licence or type rating is to be issued; and
(2) if the Director has issued a notice under Subpart I, apply and test the additional training required before issuing the rating.
