The high-performance endorsement is a one-time logbook endorsement required before you can act as pilot-in-command of any aircraft with an engine of more than 200 horsepower, per 14 CFR §61.31(f). It is not a certificate or rating — there is no FAA practical test or written exam — but it does require documented ground and flight training from an authorized instructor who certifies you as proficient.
Once issued, the endorsement is valid for life and is not aircraft-specific. It covers any high-performance aircraft, not just the one you trained in.
Common aircraft that require this endorsement include the Cessna 182 and 206, Piper Arrow and Cherokee Six, and the Beechcraft Bonanza — as well as a wide range of tailwheel and experimental aircraft. For pilots looking to fly faster, carry more, or transition toward complex aircraft, twins, or turbines, this endorsement is often the natural next step.
Prerequisites
Per 14 CFR §61.31(f)(1), you must hold at least a student pilot certificate, though in practice this endorsement is most relevant to private pilots and above who are ready to fly higher-performance singles. There are no aeronautical experience minimums specified by the FAA — the sole requirement is that an authorized instructor provide the necessary ground and flight training and find you proficient.
One exception applies: per 14 CFR §61.31(f)(2), pilots who logged PIC time in a high-performance airplane prior to August 4, 1997 are not required to obtain the endorsement.
Knowledge Requirements
14 CFR §61.31(f)(1)(i) requires ground training as part of the endorsement process. The FAA does not prescribe a specific syllabus, but the authorizing instructor must find you proficient in the operation and systems of the aircraft per §61.31(f)(1)(ii). Ground training will typically cover:
- Engine management — mixture leaning, managing CHTs and EGTs, avoiding shock cooling, and differences between fuel-injected and carbureted engines
- Performance planning — accurate use of POH data for takeoff and landing distance, cruise performance, and density altitude effects, which carry more consequence at higher power settings
- Aircraft systems — fuel system, oil system, and any aircraft-specific procedures that differ from your previous training
- Aeronautical decision-making — higher-performance aircraft compress your margin for error; we'll work through scenario-based judgment, go/no-go decisions, and weather minimums appropriate for the aircraft's speed and range
Flight Experience
14 CFR §61.31(f)(1)(i) requires flight training in a high-performance airplane (or a representative full flight simulator or flight training device), but specifies no minimum number of flight hours. The standard is proficiency, not hours. In practice, most pilots complete the endorsement in two to four hours of flight time alongside a solid ground session, though that varies based on your existing experience and how quickly you build comfort with the specific aircraft.
The endorsing instructor must log the training and provide a one-time logbook endorsement per 14 CFR §61.31(f)(1)(iii), certifying that you are proficient to operate a high-performance airplane.
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