Definition
A specific federal regulation within Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 61 (Certification: Pilots, Flight Instructors, and Ground Instructors), Section 61.307, paragraph (a). This paragraph establishes the aeronautical knowledge test requirement that a person must pass before being issued a sport pilot certificate, including the requirement that the applicant receive a logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor certifying the applicant is prepared for the test.
Plain English
This is the FAA rule that says before you can take the written knowledge test for a sport pilot certificate, your instructor has to sign your logbook saying you're ready for it.
Context Anchor
You may see this citation in FAA study material, instructor guidance, test eligibility discussions, or paperwork related to sport pilot knowledge tests.
Derivation
14 CFR means Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations -- the section of federal law dealing with aeronautics and space. 'Part 61' is the chunk of those regulations that covers pilot certification. 'Section 61.307' is one specific rule inside Part 61, and '(a)' is the first paragraph of that rule. Reading the citation in pieces helps it stop looking like a random string of numbers.
Why Pilots Care
Knowing this section ensures an applicant studies the correct topics and avoids gaps that could cause a knowledge test failure.
Intuition Check
Do not read “part” and “section” as aircraft pieces here. In this term, they are divisions inside the federal aviation rules, and “(a)” points to a specific paragraph.
Example Sentence 1
Before signing the student's logbook for the sport pilot knowledge test, the instructor reviewed the requirements listed in 14 CFR part 61 section 61.307(a).
Example Sentence 2
Questions drawn directly from 14 CFR part 61 section 61.307(a) appear on the flight instructor knowledge test.