# 14 CFR 61.189: Records a flight instructor must keep

> A flight instructor signs the logbook of everyone they train and keeps their own record of every solo endorsement and every knowledge or practical test endorsement they give, including the test results, for at least 3 years.

Source: https://www.aerscheduler.com/regulations/61-189
Official text: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/section-61.189 (eCFR, current as of 2026-10-15; section last amended 2016-12-30)

## In plain English

- Sign the logbook of each person given flight or ground training. [(a)](https://www.aerscheduler.com/regulations/61-189#a)
- Record the name of each student endorsed for solo, and the date. [(b)(1)](https://www.aerscheduler.com/regulations/61-189#b-1)
- Record the name of each person endorsed for a knowledge or practical test, the kind of test, the date and the result. [(b)(2)](https://www.aerscheduler.com/regulations/61-189#b-2)
- Keep the records at least 3 years. [(c)](https://www.aerscheduler.com/regulations/61-189#c)

## Common questions

**Does a school's records system satisfy this?**

The duty is the instructor's, but the record can be a logbook or a separate document, so a school system that holds the names, dates, test types and results for that instructor serves the purpose. The instructor should be able to produce it for 3 years, including after leaving the school.

**Why does the pass rate matter?**

Test results recorded here also feed the instructor's recent experience under 61.197(b)(2)(i), which counts endorsed applicants and their first-attempt pass rate.

## Official text of 14 CFR 61.189

Flight instructor records.

(a) A flight instructor must sign the logbook of each person to whom that instructor has given flight training or ground training.

(b) A flight instructor must maintain a record in a logbook or a separate document that contains the following:

  (1) The name of each person whose logbook that instructor has endorsed for solo flight privileges, and the date of the endorsement; and

  (2) The name of each person that instructor has endorsed for a knowledge test or practical test, and the record shall also indicate the kind of test, the date, and the results.

(c) Each flight instructor must retain the records required by this section for at least 3 years.

## Related

- [14 CFR 61.195: Flight instructor limitations](https://www.aerscheduler.com/regulations/61-195.md)
- [14 CFR 61.197: Renewing a flight instructor certificate](https://www.aerscheduler.com/regulations/61-197.md)
- [14 CFR 61.87: Student pilot solo requirements](https://www.aerscheduler.com/regulations/61-87.md)
- [14 CFR 141.101: Part 141 training records](https://www.aerscheduler.com/regulations/141-101.md)

AerScheduler grades lessons off the flights already booked and keeps the endorsements an instructor signs with the student's record. [https://www.aerscheduler.com/features/training](https://www.aerscheduler.com/features/training)

_The plain-English summary is AerScheduler's reading of the rule, not legal advice. The official text above is the eCFR's, published by the Office of the Federal Register; the eCFR is the current text._