14 CFR 61.109(a) Private Pilot Logbook Checklist: Airplane Single-Engine
Before a private pilot (ASEL) checkride, your logbook has to show the aeronautical experience in 14 CFR 61.109(a). Here's every line item, what counts toward it, and how to check it yourself.
The checklist (61.109(a))
Source: 14 CFR 61.109(a), current eCFR.
| # | Requirement | Reg | Where to look in your logbook |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 40 hours total flight time | 61.109(a) | Grand total, airplane |
| 2 | 20 hours flight training from an authorized instructor | 61.109(a) | "Dual received" column |
| 3 | 10 hours solo flight training | 61.109(a) | "Solo" column |
| 4 | 3 hours cross-country flight training in a single-engine airplane | 61.109(a)(1) | Dual + cross-country |
| 5 | 3 hours night flight training in a single-engine airplane | 61.109(a)(2) | Dual + night |
| 5a | including one night cross-country flight of over 100 NM total distance | 61.109(a)(2)(i) | Route + distance in remarks |
| 5b | including 10 takeoffs and 10 landings to a full stop at night, each with a flight in the traffic pattern | 61.109(a)(2)(ii) | Night landings column |
| 6 | 3 hours flight training solely by reference to instruments | 61.109(a)(3) | Simulated instrument (hood) column |
| 7 | 3 hours practical-test-prep training with an instructor, within the preceding 2 calendar months of the test month | 61.109(a)(4) | Dated dual entries |
| 8 | 10 hours solo in a single-engine airplane, including: | 61.109(a)(5) | Solo column |
| 8a | 5 hours solo cross-country | 61.109(a)(5)(i) | Solo + XC |
| 8b | one solo XC of 150 NM total, full-stop landings at three points, one leg more than 50 NM straight-line | 61.109(a)(5)(ii) | Route, remarks |
| 8c | 3 takeoffs and 3 full-stop landings at an airport with an operating control tower, solo | 61.109(a)(5)(iii) | Airport IDs, landings |
What counts as "cross-country" here
For private pilot airplane aeronautical experience, cross-country time has to include a landing at a point more than 50 NM straight-line from the original departure point, navigated by pilotage, dead reckoning, or navigation systems (14 CFR 61.1, "Cross-country time" (ii)). A flight to an airport 40 NM away doesn't count toward 61.109(a) cross-country time, even if you logged it as XC.
Simulator credit
At most 2.5 hours of instructor-given training in a full flight simulator or FTD representing the aircraft can count toward the training time in 61.109. The limit is 5 hours in a Part 142 course (14 CFR 61.109(k)).
Endorsements to check while you're in there
These are the AC 61-65K sample endorsements a private airplane applicant typically needs (AC 61-65K, Appendix A). Your instructor decides which ones apply to you.
- A.1: practical test prerequisites, 61.39(a)(6)(i) and (ii)
- A.2: review of knowledge-test deficiencies, 61.39(a)(6)(iii)
- A.3 / A.4: pre-solo aeronautical knowledge and pre-solo flight training, 61.87(b), (c)
- A.6 / A.7: solo flight (first and each additional 90-calendar-day period), 61.87(n), (p)
- A.9 / A.10: solo cross-country, 61.93(c)
- A.36: aeronautical knowledge test, 61.35(a)(1), 61.103(d), 61.105
- A.37: flight proficiency/practical test, 61.103(f), 61.107(b), 61.109
- Plus Class B (A.12/A.13), A.8, or A.11 if your training used them.
Worked example (made-up logbook, for illustration only)
Example student: 41.2 total, 22.0 dual, 12.1 solo. Night dual 3.1 hours with 8 full-stop night landings, and a night XC of 107 NM.
- Total, dual, and solo: met.
- Night landings: 8 of 10, not met (61.109(a)(2)(ii)). Two more full-stop night landings in the pattern are needed.
- Night XC 107 NM: over 100 NM, met (61.109(a)(2)(i)).
- Long solo XC: 162 NM with three full-stop landings, longest leg 61 NM. Met (61.109(a)(5)(ii)).
- Checkride-prep dual: the last 3.0 hours were flown 3 calendar months before the planned test month, so not met (61.109(a)(4)). Schedule 3 more hours inside the window.
Self-check routine
- Re-add each page's columns, then compare the page totals you carried forward.
- For every XC claimed toward 61.109, write down the farthest landing point's straight-line distance.
- Highlight the night landings and count them separately. Don't infer them from night hours.
- Confirm the dates of your last 3 hours of prep dual against the test month.
- List every endorsement and match it to AC 61-65K.
Want a second set of eyes on your logbook? Cleared 2 Checkride reads photos of your paper logbook, totals every page, and checks each 61.109(a) item and the AC 61-65K endorsement checklist. You get a green/yellow/red report with the regulation cited, your hour totals, and a CSV export. Look at the sample report on cleared2checkride.com first. A check costs $24.99, and a re-check after fixes is included. It's a prep aid: your instructor and examiner make the final call.