ACS Alignment

FAA-S-ACS-29 — Flight Instructor, Rotorcraft–Helicopter · Area of Operation II. Technical Subject Areas · Task: K, L & M — 14 CFR and Publications; Endorsements and Logbook Entries; Night Operations

HI.II.K.K1 — applicable 14 CFR parts & FAA publications HI.II.L.K1 — required endorsements & logbook entries (AC 61-65) HI.II.L.R1 — improper/incomplete endorsements HI.II.M.K1 — night operations & equipment

⚑ FLAG (Walter): combines Technical Tasks K, L, M — confirm HI. codes; verify all endorsement wording against the current AC 61-65 and 14 CFR Part 61.

14 CFR & Publications; Endorsements & Logbook Entries; Night

The regulatory backbone of instructing — which rules apply, how to endorse correctly, and what changes at night.

By the end of this lesson you can:

Identify the 14 CFR parts and FAA publications a CFI must know and teach (61, 91, AIM, handbooks).
Make correct, complete endorsements and logbook entries per AC 61-65 and Part 61.
Recognize the instructor’s responsibility and liability in endorsing solo/checkride readiness.
Teach night operations: vision, equipment (91.205(c)), illusions, and currency.

1 · Regs & publications

Teach where to find the rules: 14 CFR Part 61 (certification, currency, instructor privileges/limitations), Part 91 (operating rules), the AIM, and the FAA handbooks. A CFI teaches students to look it up and read the actual regulation rather than rely on hearsay.

2 · Endorsements & logbook entries

Endorsements are a serious instructor responsibility. Use the current AC 61-65 wording for solo, solo cross-country, knowledge-test, practical-test, and proficiency endorsements, and make complete, accurate logbook entries. An endorsement is your professional certification that the student meets the requirement — never sign off something you have not verified.

3 · Night operations

Teach night vision (off-center viewing, ~30-min dark adaptation, protecting it), the required equipment (91.205(c)), night illusions (black-hole, featureless terrain), and night currency. Helicopters at low level at night demand extra vigilance and instrument cross-check.

4 · Watch

Curated reference clip — “CFI Oral Exam: Endorsements, TSA & Aeromedical Factors” · FLY8MA Flight Training (YouTube), verified via oEmbed. Embedded with the creator’s player; we don’t host or alter it.

5 · Reference sources

Use the authoritative references

📄 AC 61-65 — Certification: Pilots and Flight/Ground Instructors (endorsements) 📄 14 CFR Part 61 & Part 91; AIM

Your aircraft: night equipment/lighting is partly aircraft-specific — teach the R44 lighting/equipment plus 91.205(c) requirements.

✍️ Fill in for the aircraft you fly the endorsement templates you use (from AC 61-65) and the R44 night equipment you teach — verify against the current AC 61-65/91.205(c) and confirm with your CFII.

⚑ FLAG (Walter): the R44 is VFR-certificated; confirm any aircraft-specific values you teach from the current R44 POH, and confirm all endorsement wording against AC 61-65 and 14 CFR Part 61.

Risk management (the “Consider”): the instructor-specific liability here is an improper or unverified endorsement — signing solo or checkride readiness the student has not actually met. Use current AC 61-65 wording, verify every requirement before signing, and keep complete, accurate records; an endorsement is your professional word.