The Search Bar
At the top of the Publications page, you will find a search bar. Use it to quickly find specific regulations, sections, or topics without manually browsing through the entire publication structure.
Searching by Section Number
If you know the specific section you are looking for, type the section number directly — for example, 61.109 to find the aeronautical experience requirements for a Private Pilot certificate, or 61.39 to find prerequisites for practical tests. The search will match section titles and content that reference that number.
Searching by Topic or Keyword
You can also search by topic or keyword. For example, searching for cross-country requirements will return sections that discuss cross-country flight time requirements. Other useful searches include night flying, instrument proficiency, medical certificate, or endorsement requirements.
Understanding Search Results
Search results are ranked by relevance, with the best matches appearing first. The results show the section title and a snippet of the matching content, so you can quickly identify which result is most relevant to your question. Both section titles and the full text content are searched, so you will find results even when the exact term appears only in the body of a section.
Navigating to the Full Section
Click on any search result to open the full section in the formatted viewer. From there, you can read the complete text, follow cross-reference links to related sections, and hover over defined terms for their definitions.