Endorsements, Endorsements, Endorsements

        Endorsements can be confusing for CFI applicants, the FAR requirements for sending students to solo, cross country, written tests, practical tests are all over the place. The purpose of this article is to sort out these requirements in simple terms. The current article at Boldmethod is outdated since the regulation change on April 1st, 2016, this article aims to be a replacement reading. 

     The regulation changed on April 1st, 2016 making the issuing authority of the student pilot certificate from AME to an FSDO, DPE, Part 141 flight school, or a flight instructor. And that the student pilot certificate will no longer be in paper form, it is now plastic just like any other pilot certificate.  

    So, let's begin. What endorsement do you need to send your student solo? It depends on the types of solo. So how many different types of solo are there? 

    Generally speaking, there are two. Local/Pattern solo and Cross-Country solo. And that Cross-Country solo is further divided into three categories by distance traveled. 

     Before you even begin considering endorsing anything, you have to make sure these requirements are met:

1. An aeronautical knowledge test must be administered to the student. "A student pilot must demonstrate satisfactory aeronautical knowledge on a knowledge test..."(61.87 (b)). And review all incorrect answers with the student(61.87 (b)(2)(ii)). 

*Basically you have to give out a knowledge test. Refer to 61.87(b)(1) for the content requirements of the knowledge test. 

2. Flight training requirements are met. This corresponds to the requirements of endorsement A.4. 

*Refer to 61.87(c) and 61.87(d) for the content requirements of the flight training. There is a list of it, and the instructor has to determine if those maneuvers and procedures are good enough for solo flights. 

Pattern/local solo(61.87)

Now Endorsements,

Pre-solo written exam(optional), you have to administer the exam and keep a record of it, but you don't have to provide the endorsement. Since you are required to keep a record of the exam anyway(61.189), you might as well just give the endorsement.

A.3 Pre-solo aeronautical knowledge: 61.87(b)

I certify that [First name, MI, Last name] has satisfactorily completed the pre-solo knowledge test of § 61.87(b) for the [make and model] aircraft.

The following two endorsements are mandatory before your student can go solo.  

This endorsement indicates that you have determined your student's flight training in that make and model is sufficient for solo. This endorsement doesn't expire. 

A.4 Pre-solo flight training: 61.89(c)(1) and (2)

I certify that [First name, MI, Last name] has received and logged pre-solo flight training for the maneuvers and procedures that are appropriate to the [make and model] aircraft. I have determined [he or she] has demonstrated satisfactory proficiency and safety on the maneuvers and procedures required by § 61.87 in this or similar make and model of aircraft to be flown

This endorsement gives your student the right to solo(whether Local or Crosscountry!)in that make and model. It's only valid for 90 days. 

A.6 Solo flight(first 90 calendar-day period): 61.87(n).

I certify that [First name, MI, Last name] has received the required training to qualify for solo flying. I have determined [he or she] meets the applicable requirements of § 61.87(n) and is proficient to make solo flights in [make and model].

What if your student wants to go solo after A.6 expires? 

You need to make an additional endorsement as follows.

A.7 Solo flight(each additional 90 calendar-day period): 61.87(p). 

I certify that [First name, MI, Last name] has received the required training to qualify for solo flying. I have determined that [he or she] meets the applicable requirements of § 61.87(p) and is proficient to make solo flights in [make and model].

The above A.6 and A.7 endorsements come right out of the AC 61-65H. The only difference in the text is that A.7 has an additional "that" in there. So they are really just saying the same things. Also: the instructor giving the A.7 endorsement needs to again determine the student is proficient in some maneuvers and procedures as prescribed in 61.87(p). 

Always remember to add limitations to the bottom of the endorsements. For example: 

Limitations: 25kts total wind, 10kts crosswind.

Also always remember to include date, name(Printed), CFI certificate #, and expiration date. So a completed A.7 endorsement would look like this:

A.7 Solo flight(each additional 90 calendar-day period): 61.87(p). 

I certify that [First name, MI, Last name] has received the required training to qualify for solo flying. I have determined that [he or she] meets the applicable requirements of § 61.87(p) and is proficient to make solo flights in [make and model].

Limitations: 25kts total wind, 10kts crosswind.

"signature" [05/04/21] J. J. Jones 987654321CFI Exp. 12-31-22

Cross-Country Solo (61.93)

Cross-Country definition: Cross-Country time means a flight that is conducted between two different airports which involve the use of dead reckoning, pilotage, electronic navigation aids, radio aids, or other navigation systems to navigate to the landing point. 61.1(b)

So technically, flying from an airport to another one by only 1 mile apart is considered a cross-country flight if that flight somehow involves the use of dead reckoning, pilotage, electronic navigation aids, radio aids, or other navigation systems. 

However, if the flights are for the purpose of meeting aeronautical experience requirements for most certificates or ratings, the cross-country flight has to be greater than 50nm in order to count towards cross-country time. 

If Cross-Country solo flights are more than 50nm, the student will need a route endorsement every time he/she flys. 61.93(c)

A route endorsement that looks like this:

A.10 Solo cross-country flight: 61.93(c)(3)

I have reviewed the cross-country planning of [First name, MI, Last name]. I find the planning and preparation to be correct to make the solo flight from [origination airport] to [origination airport] via [route of flight] with landings at [names of the airports] in a [make and model] aircraft on [date]. [List any applicable conditions or limitations.]

On top of A.10, you will also need an A.9 endorsement, stating that your student has received the required solo cross-country training. This one doesn't expire. (61.93) Solo cross-country flight: § 61.93(c)(1) and (2).

A.9 Solo cross-country flight: § 61.93(c)(1) and (2).

I certify that [First name, MI, Last name] has received the required solo cross-country

training. I find [he or she] has met the applicable requirements of § 61.93, and is

proficient to make solo cross-country flights in a [make and model] aircraft, [aircraft

category].

If the solo flight is shorter than 50nm but greater than 25nm, the student then wouldn't need a route endorsement but still require a list of cross-country training(Same for flights more than 50nm)(61.93(e)). In this range, the student is able to fly repetitive solo flights without being route endorsed every time. This one doesn't expire. 

The endorsement for such cross-country looks like this(Plus A.9 because it's over 25nm):

A.11 Repeated solo cross-country flights not more than 50 NM from the point of departure: § 61.93(b)(2)

I certify that [First name, MI, Last name] has received the required training in both directions between and at both [airport names]. I have determined that [he or she] is proficient of § 61.93(b)(2) to conduct repeated solo cross-country flights over that route, subject to the following conditions: [List any applicable conditions or limitations.]

If the solo flight is smaller than 25nm, the student then wouldn't need to receive that list of cross-country training(61.93(e)). The FAR doesn't think it's far enough to require cross-country training. This one doesn't expire. 

The endorsement, therefore, looks like this:

A.8 Solo takeoffs and landings at another airport within 25 nautical miles (NM): § 61.93(b)(1).

I certify that [First name, MI, Last name] has received the required training of § 61.93(b)(1). I have determined that [he or she] is proficient to practice solo takeoffs and landings at [airport name]. The takeoffs and landings at [airport name] are subject to the following conditions: [List any applicable conditions or limitations.]

A few more things to remember.

All solo cross-country endorsements are made on the premises of all Local/Pattern solo requirements(61.87).

Although endorsement A.11 and A.8 grants students the right to solo, they have to receive dual instruction on:

     1. Both directions over the route

     2. Entering the exiting the traffic pattern

     3. Takeoffs and landings at the other airport 

     (61.93(b)(1)(2)) 

Although endorsement A.8 grants students the right to solo within 25nm, students are only allowed to fly there to do take-offs and landings for practice purposes. (61.93(b)(1)(v))

Endorsement A.11 lets students solo without a purpose restriction like A.8, but the students are restricted to the student pilot certificate limitations. This endorsement is rarely used. 

All endorsements are made on students' logbooks now since April 2016.

So in Short: 

Pattern/Local Solo: A.3(Optional) + A.4 + A.6 + A.7(Depends on if needed) 

Cross-country Solo:

< 25nm: A.8 

25nm - 50nm: A.9 + A.11

>50nm: A.9 + A.10