Before passengers can be carried in an aircraft that has been altered in a manner that may have appreciably changed its flight characteristics, it must be flight tested by an appropriately rated pilot who holds at least a

• A. Private Pilot Certificate
• B. Commercial Pilot Certificate
• C. Student Pilot Certificate
• D. Instrument Rating

Answer: (A)

When an aircraft has been altered in a way that could noticeably change how it flies, a flight test is required before carrying passengers to confirm the modification doesn’t create unsafe handling or performance issues. The tester must be someone with a certificate that authorizes them to fly and evaluate the aircraft for this purpose, and the minimum allowed is a private pilot certificate. This level of certification shows the pilot has the basic experience and skills to assess handling, stability, and controllability in normal flight conditions and to determine if the aircraft remains airworthy for passenger operations. A student pilot certificate isn’t sufficient for this testing, and an instrument rating isn’t required for this purpose because the focus is on basic flight characteristics, not IFR navigation. A commercial certificate would also meet the requirement, but the rule sets private pilot as the minimum.