Appendix F to Part 121—Proficiency Check Requirements

(a) The maneuvers and procedures required by § 121.441 for pilot proficiency checks are set forth in this appendix. Except for the equipment examination, these maneuvers and procedures must be performed inflight. Certain maneuvers and procedures may be performed in an FFS or an FTD as indicated by the appropriate symbol in the respective column opposite the maneuver or procedure.

(b) Whenever a maneuver or procedure is authorized to be performed in an FTD, it may be performed in an FFS.

(c) A Level B or higher FFS may be used instead of the airplane to satisfy the inflight requirements if the FFS is approved under § 121.407 and is used as part of an approved program that meets the requirements for an Advanced Simulation Training Program in Appendix H of this part.

(d) For the purpose of this appendix, the following symbols mean—

B = Both Pilot in Command (PIC) and Second in Command (SIC).

W = May be waived for both PIC and SIC, except during a proficiency check conducted to qualify a PIC after completing an upgrade training curriculum in accordance with §§ 121.420 and 121.426.

* = A symbol and asterisk (B* or W*) indicates that a particular condition is specified in the maneuvers and procedures column.

# = When a maneuver is preceded by this symbol it indicates the maneuver may be required in the airplane at the discretion of the person conducting the check.

(e) Throughout the maneuvers and procedures prescribed in this appendix, good judgment commensurate with a high level of safety must be demonstrated. In determining whether such judgment has been shown, the person conducting the check considers adherence to approved procedures, actions based on analysis of situations for which there is no prescribed procedure or recommended practice, and qualities of prudence and care in selecting a course of action.

Maneuvers/procedures Required Permitted
Simulated instrument conditions Inflight FFS FTD Waiver
provisions of
§ 121.441(d)
The procedures and maneuvers set forth in this appendix must be performed in a manner that satisfactorily demonstrates knowledge and skill with respect to —
(1) The airplane, its systems and components;
(2) Proper control of airspeed, configuration, direction, altitude, and attitude in accordance with procedures and limitations contained in the approved Airplane Flight Manual, the certificate holder's operations manual, checklists, or other approved material appropriate to the airplane type; and
(3) Compliance with approach, ATC, or other applicable procedures.
I. Preflight:
(a) Equipment examination (oral or written). As part of the proficiency check the equipment examination must be closely coordinated with, and related to, the flight maneuvers portion but may not be given during the flight maneuvers portion. The equipment examination must cover—
(1) Subjects requiring a practical knowledge of the airplane, its powerplants, systems, components, operational and performance factors;
(2) Normal, abnormal, and emergency procedures, and the operations and limitations relating thereto; and
(3) The appropriate provisions of the approved Airplane Flight Manual
The person conducting the check may accept, as equal to this equipment examination, an equipment examination given to the pilot in the certificate holder's ground training within the preceding 6 calendar months
(b) Preflight inspection. The pilot must—
(1) Conduct an actual visual inspection of the exterior and interior of the airplane, locating each item and explaining briefly the purpose for inspecting it. The visual inspection may be conducted using an approved pictorial means that realistically portrays the location and detail of visual inspection items and provides for the portrayal of normal and abnormal conditions. If a flight engineer is a required flightcrew member for the particular type airplane, the visual inspection may be waived under § 121.441(d)BW*
(2) Demonstrate the use of the prestart checklist, appropriate control system checks, starting procedures, radio and electronic equipment checks, and the selection of proper navigation and communications radio facilities and frequencies prior to flightB
(c) Taxiing. This maneuver includes the following: (1) Taxiing, sailing, or docking procedures in compliance with instructions issued by ATC or by the person conducting the check. (2) Use of airport diagram (surface movement chart). (3) Obtaining appropriate clearance before crossing or entering active runways. (4) Observation of all surface movement guidance control markings and lighting. SIC proficiency checks for a type rating must include taxiing. However, other SIC proficiency checks need only include taxiing to the extent practical from the seat position assigned to the SICB
(d) Pre-takeoff procedures that include powerplant checks, receipt of takeoff clearance and confirmation of aircraft location, and FMS entry (if appropriate), for departure runway prior to crossing hold short line for takeoffB
II. Takeoff:
Takeoffs must include the types listed below, but more than one type may be combined where appropriate:
(a) Normal. One normal takeoff which, for the purpose of this maneuver, begins when the airplane is taxied into position on the runway to be usedB*
(b) Instrument. One takeoff with instrument conditions simulated at or before reaching an altitude of 100′ above the airport elevationBB*
(c) Crosswind. One crosswind takeoff with gusts, if practicable, under the existing meteorological, airport, and traffic conditionsB*
#(d) Powerplant failure. One takeoff with a simulated failure of the most critical powerplant—B
(1) At a point after V1 and before V2 that in the judgment of the person conducting the check is appropriate to the airplane type under the prevailing conditions;B
(2) At a point as close as possible after V1 when V1 and V2 or V1 and Vr are identical; orB
(3) At the appropriate speed for nontransport category airplanesB
(e) Rejected. A rejected takeoff may be performed in an airplane during a normal takeoff run after reaching a reasonable speed determined by giving due consideration to aircraft characteristics, runway length, surface conditions, wind direction and velocity, brake heat energy, and any other pertinent factors that may adversely affect safety or the airplaneB*W
III. Instrument procedures:
(a) Area departure and area arrival. During each of these maneuvers the pilot must—BBW*
(1) Adhere to actual or simulated ATC clearances (including assigned radials); andBB
(2) Properly use available navigation facilitiesBB
Either area arrival or area departure, but not both, may be waived under § 121.441(d).
(b) Holding. This maneuver includes entering, maintaining, and leaving holding patterns. It may be performed in connection with either area departure or area arrivalBBW
(c) ILS and other instrument approaches. There must be the following:
(1) At least one normal ILS approachBB
(2) At least one manually controlled ILS approach with a simulated failure of one powerplant. The simulated failure should occur before initiating the final approach course and must continue to touchdown or through the missed approach procedureBB
(3) At least one nonprecision approach procedure using a type of nonprecision approach procedure that the certificate holder is approved to useBB
(4) At least one nonprecision approach procedure using a different type of nonprecision approach procedure than performed under subparagraph (3) of this paragraph that the certificate holder is approved to useBB
(5) For each type of EFVS operation the certificate holder is authorized to conduct, at least one instrument approach must be made using an EFVSBB*
Each instrument approach must be performed according to any procedures and limitations approved for the approach procedure used. The instrument approach begins when the airplane is over the initial approach fix for the approach procedure being used (or turned over to the final approach controller in the case of GCA approach) and ends when the airplane touches down on the runway or when transition to a missed approach configuration is completed. Instrument conditions need not be simulated below 100′ above touchdown zone elevation.
(d) Circling approaches. If the certificate holder is approved for circling minimums below 1000-3 (ceiling and visibility), at least one circling approach must be made under the following conditions—B*W*
(1) The portion of the approach to the authorized minimum circling approach altitude must be made under simulated instrument conditionsBB*
(2) The approach must be made to the authorized minimum circling approach altitude followed by a change in heading and the necessary maneuvering (by visual reference) to maintain a flight path that permits a normal landing on a runway at least 90° from the final approach course of the simulated instrument portion of the approachB*
(3) The circling approach must be performed without excessive maneuvering, and without exceeding the normal operating limits of the airplane. The angle of bank should not exceed 30°B*
If local conditions beyond the control of the pilot prohibit the maneuver or prevent it from being performed as required, it may be waived as provided in § 121.441(d). However, the maneuver may not be waived under this provision for two successive proficiency checks. Except for a SIC proficiency check for a type rating, the circling approach maneuver is not required for a SIC if the certificate holder's manual prohibits a SIC from performing a circling approach in operations under this part.
(e) Missed approach.
(1) At least one missed approach from an ILS approachB*
(2) At least one additional missed approach for SIC proficiency checks for a type rating and for all PIC proficiency checksB*
A complete approved missed approach procedure must be accomplished at least once. At the discretion of the person conducting the check a simulated powerplant failure may be required during any of the missed approaches. These maneuvers may be performed either independently or in conjunction with maneuvers required under Sections III or V of this appendix. At least one missed approach must be performed inflight.
IV. Inflight Maneuvers:
(a) Steep turns. For SIC proficiency checks for a type rating and for all PIC proficiency checks, at least one steep turn in each direction must be performed. Each steep turn must involve a bank angle of 45° with a heading change of at least 180° but not more than 360°BBW
(b) Stall Prevention. For the purpose of this maneuver the approved recovery procedure must be initiated at the first indication of an impending stall (buffet, stick shaker, aural warning). Except as provided below there must be at least three stall prevention recoveries as follows:BBW*
(1) Takeoff configuration (except where the airplane uses only a zero-flap takeoff configuration)BB
(2) Clean configurationBB
(3) Landing configurationBB
At the discretion of the person conducting the check, one stall prevention recovery must be performed in one of the above configurations while in a turn with the bank angle between 15° and 30°. Two out of the three stall prevention recoveries required by this paragraph may be waived.
If the certificate holder is authorized to dispatch or flight release the airplane with a stall warning device inoperative the device may not be used during this maneuver.
(c) Specific flight characteristics. Recovery from specific flight characteristics that are peculiar to the airplane typeBW
(d) Powerplant failures. In addition to specific requirements for maneuvers with simulated powerplant failures, the person conducting the check may require a simulated powerplant failure at any time during the checkB
V. Landings and Approaches to Landings:
Notwithstanding the authorizations for combining and waiving maneuvers and for the use of an FFS, at least two actual landings (one to a full stop) must be made for all PIC proficiency checks, all initial SIC proficiency checks, and all SIC proficiency checks for a type rating
Landings and approaches to landings must include the types listed below, but more than one type may be combined where appropriate:
(a) Normal landingB
(b) Landing in sequence from an ILS instrument approach except that if circumstances beyond the control of the pilot prevent an actual landing, the person conducting the check may accept an approach to a point where in his judgment a landing to a full stop could have been madeB*
(c) Crosswind landing with gusts, if practicable under existing meteorological, airport, and traffic conditionsB*
(d) Maneuvering to a landing with simulated powerplant failure as follows:
(1) In the case of 3-engine airplanes, maneuvering to a landing with an approved procedure that approximates the loss of two powerplants (center and one outboard engine); orB*
(2) In the case of other multiengine airplanes, maneuvering to a landing with a simulated failure of 50 percent of available powerplants, with the simulated loss of power on one side of the airplaneB*
Notwithstanding the requirements of subparagraphs (d)(1) and (2) of this paragraph, for an SIC proficiency check, except for an SIC proficiency check for a type rating, the simulated loss of power may be only the most critical powerplant. In addition, a PIC may omit the maneuver required by subparagraph (d)(1) or (d)(2) of this paragraph during a required proficiency check or FFS course of training if the PIC satisfactorily performed that maneuver during the preceding proficiency check, or during the preceding approved FFS course of training under the observation of a check pilot, whichever was completed later.
(e) Except as provided in paragraph (f) of this section, if the certificate holder is approved for circling minimums below 1000-3 (ceiling and visibility), a landing under simulated circling approach conditions. However, when performed in an airplane, if circumstances beyond the control of the pilot prevent a landing, the person conducting the check may accept an approach to a point where, in his judgment, a landing to a full stop could have been madeB*
#(f) A rejected landing, including a normal missed approach procedure, that is rejected approximately 50′ over the runway and approximately over the runway threshold. This maneuver may be combined with instrument, circling, or missed approach procedures, but instrument conditions need not be simulated below 100 feet above the runwayB
(g) If the certificate holder is authorized to conduct EFVS operations to touchdown and rollout, at least one instrument approach to a landing must be made using an EFVS, including the use of enhanced flight vision from 100 feet above the touchdown zone elevation to touchdown and rolloutBB*
(h) If the certificate holder is authorized to conduct EFVS operations to 100 feet above the touchdown zone elevation, at least one instrument approach to a landing must be made using an EFVS, including the transition from enhanced flight vision to natural vision at 100 feet above the touchdown zone elevationBB*
VI. Normal and Abnormal Procedures:
Each pilot must demonstrate the proper use of as many of the systems and devices listed below as the person conducting the check finds are necessary to determine that the person being checked has a practical knowledge of the use of the systems and devices appropriate to the airplane type:
(a) Anti-icing and deicing systemsB
(b) Autopilot systemsB
(c) Automatic or other approach aid systemsB
(d) Stall warning devices, stall avoidance devices, and stability augmentation devicesB
(e) Airborne radar devicesB
(f) Any other systems, devices, or aids availableB
(g) Hydraulic and electrical system failures and malfunctionsB
(h) Landing gear and flap systems failure or malfunctionB
(i) Failure of navigation or communications equipmentB
VII. Emergency Procedures:
Each pilot must demonstrate the proper emergency procedures for as many of the emergency situations listed below as the person conducting the check finds are necessary to determine that the person being checked has an adequate knowledge of, and ability to perform, such procedure:
(a) Fire in flightB
(b) Smoke controlB
(c) Rapid decompressionB
(d) Emergency descentB
(e) Any other emergency procedures outlined in the approved Airplane Flight ManualB
[Amdt. 121-382, 85 FR 10929, Feb. 25, 2020, as amended by Docket FAA-2019-0360, Amdt. 121-392, 89 FR 51429, June 18, 2024; Amdt. 121-392A, 89 FR 57730, July 16, 2024]