📘14 CFR §61.83 — Eligibility Requirements for Student Pilots

✏️ Plain-English Summary:

Before someone can solo as a student pilot, they must meet a few basic requirements — including age, language ability, and being eligible for a pilot certificate in the U.S.

✅ Key PPL Takeaways:

✅ Minimum Age:

• 16 years old to fly airplanes, gliders, or rotorcraft

• 14 years old for gliders and balloons

✅ Language Requirement:

• Must be able to read, speak, write, and understand English

✅ Legal Eligibility:

• Must not be disqualified under U.S. law from receiving a pilot certificate

✈️ Real-World Scenario:

You're 15 and want to start flying a DA20. Can you start flight training? ✅ Yes! Can you solo? ❌ Not yet — you'll need to be 16 years old to solo a powered aircraft.

If you’re 14 and want to fly a glider solo? ✅ Legal — that’s the minimum age for gliders/balloons.

🎓 CFI Teaching Tip:

When introducing student pilot endorsements and solo eligibility, start by checking §61.83 boxes:

1. Age?

2. Language?

3. Legal to hold a certificate?

Then move on to endorsements under §61.87 — the actual solo training and signoffs.

📚 References:

• FAR §61.83 — Student Pilot: Eligibility Requirements

• FAR §61.87 — Solo Requirements for Student Pilots

• FAA Student Pilot Guide (FAA-H-8083-27A)