Aeronautical knowledge

This regulation specifies the ground training topics you must complete before earning a recreational pilot certificate. You can satisfy this requirement either through instruction from an authorized instructor or by completing a home-study course.

The required knowledge areas cover essential topics for safe recreational flying, including:

• FAA regulations governing recreational pilot privileges and limitations
• How to report accidents to the NTSB
• Using aeronautical charts, the AIM, and advisory circulars
• VFR navigation and weather interpretation
• Aircraft performance, including density altitude effects and weight-and-balance calculations
• Aerodynamics and aircraft systems
• Collision avoidance and wake turbulence recognition
• Stall and spin awareness (for airplane single-engine ratings)
• Aeronautical decision-making
• Preflight planning, including obtaining airport data, weather information, and planning alternatives

Your instructor must document this training in your logbook. This ground knowledge forms the foundation for the recreational pilot knowledge test and your practical flying skills.

*This is a plain-English summary for study only. The official 14 CFR text on this page is controlling — always read the current regulation and consult a CFI.*