FAA compliance information

To be in compliance, the pilot must have the following items in his or her possession and must present them upon request by an FAA or law enforcement official.

• FAA pilot certificate.

• Government issued photo identification. This is commonly a state driver’s license, but other government issued photo identification is acceptable.

• Proof of appropriate medical certification. For a sport pilot or sport pilot student, this could be an FAA medical certificate or a valid state driver’s license.

• A student pilot must have his or her logbook on cross country flights, and a sport pilot must have either his or her logbook with the appropriate sport pilot endorsements or a record of the endorsements. Recreational pilots must also have proof of endorsement for extended cross-country flying and tower controlled airspace training if they had received those endorsements.

• Private and higher-rated pilots are not required to carry logbooks with them, and that’s probably a pretty good idea. However the FAA inspector may ask you to present some sort of proof of appropriate endorsements, such as a flight review, within a reasonable period of time.

The aircraft must also have certain papers to be legal to operate.

• The airworthiness certificate must be onboard and must be displayed so that it is visible in the cockpit.

• The registration certificate has be onboard the aircraft and the address and ownership information on record with the FAA must be accurate and up-to-date. Remember, the registration certificate must be renewed every 3 years.

• The operating limitations must be onboard the aircraft. This could be part of the aircraft operating handbook or it could be a separate document, such as with experimental aircraft, and may include placards.