14 CFR § 61.331 - How do I obtain privileges to operate an aircraft with retractable landing gear or an airplane with a manual controllable pitch propeller?

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t14/s61.331"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "14 CFR § 61.331 - How do I obtain privileges to operate an aircraft with retractable landing gear or an airplane with a manual controllable pitch propeller?"
title_number: 14
title_name: "Aeronautics and Space"
section_number: "61.331"
section_name: "How do I obtain privileges to operate an aircraft with retractable landing gear or an airplane with a manual controllable pitch propeller?"
chapter_name: "FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION"
subchapter_number: "D"
subchapter_name: "AIRMEN"
part_number: "61"
part_name: "CERTIFICATION: PILOTS, FLIGHT INSTRUCTORS, AND GROUND INSTRUCTORS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "49 U.S.C. 106(f), 40113, 44701-44703, 44707, 44709-44711, 44729, 44903, 45102-45103, 45301-45302."
regulatory_source: "Docket 25910, 62 FR 16298, Apr. 4, 1997, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "61"
---


# 61.331 How do I obtain privileges to operate an aircraft with retractable landing gear or an airplane with a manual controllable pitch propeller?

(a) If you hold a sport pilot certificate and seek privileges to operate an aircraft with retractable landing gear, you must either—

(1) Satisfy the training and endorsement requirements specified in § 61.31(e), or

(2) Receive and log ground and flight training from an authorized instructor in an aircraft that has retractable landing gear and receive an endorsement from the instructor certifying that you are proficient to operate the aircraft.

(b) If you hold a sport pilot certificate and seek privileges to operate an airplane with a manual controllable pitch propeller, you must either—

(1) Satisfy the training and endorsement requirements specified in § 61.31(e), or

(2) Receive and log ground and flight training from an authorized instructor in an airplane that has a manual controllable pitch propeller and receive an endorsement from the instructor certifying that you are proficient to operate the airplane.

(c) The training and endorsement required by paragraph (a) of this section is not required for pilots seeking to operate aircraft intended for operation on water with retractable landing gear if the person logged pilot-in-command time in such an aircraft before October 22, 2025.

[Docket FAA-2023-1377, Amdt. 61-159, 90 FR 35215, July 24, 2025]