Definition
Written, signed, and dated statements made by a certificated flight instructor (CFI) in a student's logbook or on a knowledge or practical test application, certifying that the student has received specific training, demonstrated required proficiency, or is authorized to perform a particular activity such as solo flight, a knowledge test, or a practical test. Endorsements are required by Federal Aviation Regulations and serve as the official record that the instructor has met their regulatory responsibility for that authorization.
Plain English
These are written, signed notes the instructor puts in the student's logbook to confirm the student has been trained for and is cleared to do something specific — like fly solo for the first time or take a checkride.
Context Anchor
You will see flight instructor endorsements in logbooks, training records, and test applications, especially before solo flights, FAA tests, and checkrides.
Derivation
‘Endorse’ comes from the Old French ‘endosser,’ meaning ‘to put on the back of’ — originally referring to writing on the back of a document to approve it. In aviation, an endorsement is the instructor's written approval that the student is ready for a specific privilege.
Why Pilots Care
Proper endorsements are required by regulation before a student may fly solo or attempt a practical test; missing ones can ground the student and create legal or safety issues.
Intuition Check
Do not read endorsement here as a general recommendation or compliment. In FAA use, a flight instructor endorsement is a formal sign-off tied to a specific training or testing requirement.
Example Sentence 1
Before her first solo flight, the instructor reviewed her training records and made the required endorsement in her logbook.
Example Sentence 2
All appropriate endorsements must be completed before the student can schedule the private pilot practical test.