Definition
A specific provision of the Federal Aviation Regulations (Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 61, Section 61.85, paragraph (b)) that sets one of the eligibility requirements for a student pilot certificate: the applicant must be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language. If the applicant cannot meet this requirement due to a medical reason, the FAA may place operating limitations on the certificate as needed for safety.
Plain English
It's the rule that says a person applying for a student pilot certificate has to be able to read, speak, write, and understand English. If a medical condition prevents that, the FAA can add limits to what the person is allowed to do as a pilot.
Context Anchor
Seen in FAA instructor guidance when a flight instructor is acting as an approved official for a student pilot certificate application.
Derivation
CFR stands for Code of Federal Regulations, the official collection of U.S. federal rules. Title 14 covers Aeronautics and Space, Part 61 covers certification of pilots and instructors, and Section 61.85 lists who is eligible for a student pilot certificate. The letter (b) points to the specific paragraph within that section dealing with the English-language requirement.
Why Pilots Care
Following this section ensures the student’s certificate application is valid and avoids delays or rejection by the FAA.
Analogy
Think of the citation like a street address for a rule: Title 14 is the city, Part 61 is the neighborhood, Section 61.85 is the street, and paragraph (b) is the exact house.
Intuition Check
Do not read “part” and “section” as casual labels. In an FAA citation, they identify exact legal locations in the aviation regulations.
Example Sentence 1
Before signing the student pilot application, the instructor confirmed the applicant met the English-language requirement under 14 CFR part 61 section 61.85(b).
Example Sentence 2
Compliance with 14 CFR part 61 section 61.85(b) is required when an instructor acts as the certifying official for a remote pilot certificate.