---
kind: "section"
citation: "14 C.F.R. § 61.125"
title: "14"
number: "61.125"
heading: "Aeronautical knowledge."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/14/61.125"
---

# §61.125. Aeronautical knowledge.

- (a) **General.** A person who applies for a commercial pilot certificate must receive and log ground training from an authorized instructor, or complete a home-study course, on the aeronautical knowledge areas of [paragraph (b)](#b) of this section that apply to the aircraft category and class rating sought.
- (b) **Aeronautical knowledge areas.**
  - (1) Applicable Federal Aviation Regulations of this chapter that relate to commercial pilot privileges, limitations, and flight operations;
  - (2) Accident reporting requirements of the National Transportation Safety Board;
  - (3) Basic aerodynamics and the principles of flight;
  - (4) Meteorology to include recognition of critical weather situations, windshear recognition and avoidance, and the use of aeronautical weather reports and forecasts;
  - (5) Safe and efficient operation of aircraft;
  - (6) Weight and balance computations;
  - (7) Use of performance charts;
  - (8) Significance and effects of exceeding aircraft performance limitations;
  - (9) Use of aeronautical charts and a magnetic compass for pilotage and dead reckoning;
  - (10) Use of air navigation facilities;
  - (11) Aeronautical decision making and judgment;
  - (12) Principles and functions of aircraft systems;
  - (13) Maneuvers, procedures, and emergency operations appropriate to the aircraft;
  - (14) Night and high-altitude operations;
  - (15) Procedures for operating within the National Airspace System; and
  - (16) **Procedures for flight and ground training for lighter-than-air ratings.**

## Notes

### Authority

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 40113, 44701-44703, 44707, 44709-44711, 44729, 44903, 45102-45103, 45301-45302.

### Source

Source: Docket 25910, 62 FR 16298, Apr. 4, 1997, unless otherwise noted.