FAA Flight Instructor Airplane (FIA)Regulations (14 CFR 61/91)Medium
A student pilot training at a nontowered airport wants to conduct a solo cross-country flight that terminates at an airport located within Class B airspace and listed in 14 CFR 91.131(b)(1). According to 14 CFR 61.95, what must the student obtain before this solo flight?
- AA private pilot certificate, since student pilots may never enter Class B airspace
- BOnly a solo cross-country endorsement under 61.93; Class B airspace requires no additional endorsement
- CVerbal permission from ATC in lieu of any logbook endorsement
- DAn endorsement for solo flight in Class B airspace, plus a separate endorsement for landing at that specific airport
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. An endorsement for solo flight in Class B airspace, plus a separate endorsement for landing at that specific airport
14 CFR 61.95 requires a student pilot to receive training and an instructor endorsement for solo operations in Class B airspace, and if the airport is one of those listed in 91.131(b)(1), a specific endorsement for operations at that airport is also required.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Student pilots may solo in Class B airspace with proper training and endorsements, not by holding a private certificate.
- B. A cross-country endorsement alone does not satisfy the Class B airspace requirement.
- C. A logbook endorsement, not verbal ATC permission, is the regulatory requirement.
Student Solo in Class B Airspace (61.95)
A student pilot must receive specific training and an instructor endorsement to solo within Class B airspace, plus an additional endorsement for certain listed Class B airports.
- Endorsement required for Class B solo operations
- Additional airport-specific endorsement needed for 91.131(b)(1) airports
- Training must cover that airspace's unique procedures
Memory trick: Big airspace, big paperwork — two endorsements for Class B solos.