Complex airplane


A complex airplane is defined by the United States, Federal Aviation Administration as an aircraft that has all of the following:
It is worth to note that the current FAA definitions of "Complex Airplane", either from the Airplane Flying Handbook FAA-H-8083-3B Chapter 11 or from FAA Order 8900.2C, require the airplane to have a propeller. This means that essentially no turbojet and turbofan airplanes are "complex" per the FAA definition.
In the U.S., students generally train for their first pilot certificate in an aircraft with fixed landing gear and a fixed-pitch propeller. It may or may not be equipped with flaps.
Before or after earning the private pilot certificate , a pilot can be trained in complex aircraft operation by a flight instructor. When the pilot has demonstrated proficiency in complex aircraft, the flight instructor endorses the pilot's logbook and the pilot is said to have a "complex endorsement".
As of April 24, 2018 the FAA requires a commercial pilot applicant and CFI applicant to have experience in a complex aircraft; however, the practical test may be taken in a non-complex aircraft for the commercial pilot certificate and the flight instructor certificate.