Recording Endorsements
Summary
Record digital endorsements for your students following AC 61-65 standards. Select the endorsement category and type, link both instructor and student certificates, and add optional notes. Endorsements are standalone records on the student's profile—they aren't tied to specific logs or lessons—and provide a permanent, auditable trail for Part 141 compliance.
Who this is for
- Instructors endorsing students for solo flights, cross-country flights, checkrides, and other privileges
- Chief Instructors and Assistant Chief Instructors reviewing endorsement records
Before you begin
- You must be an instructor in the same organization as the student
- The student must have at least one certificate added to their profile (e.g., student pilot certificate). If they haven't, the endorsements view will show an error and you won't be able to proceed.
- You must have a valid certificate on your own profile with a certificate number. If your certificate has an expiration date, it must not be expired.
- You should know which AC 61-65 endorsement category and type applies to the endorsement you're recording
Steps
1. Open the student's endorsements
From the Instruct tab, select the student. Tap the menu button (ellipsis icon) in the toolbar, then select Endorsements. The endorsements view opens as a sheet showing any existing endorsements.
2. Tap Add Endorsement
Tap the add button to open the endorsement form. The student's name displays at the top for confirmation.
3. Select the endorsement category
Tap Category and choose from the available AC 61-65 endorsement categories. Categories are organized and sorted to match the FAA advisory circular structure.
4. Select the endorsement type
Once a category is selected, tap Type to choose the specific endorsement. Types display with their regulatory prefix and name (e.g., "61.65(d)(1): Instrument Rating Prerequisites"). The type picker is disabled until you select a category.
5. Confirm certificates
Two certificate fields are required and are auto-selected when available:
- Instructor—Your certificate, displayed as the certificate name and number (e.g., "Flight Instructor—CFI-12345678").
- Student—The student's certificate in the same format.
6. Add notes (optional)
The Notes field lets you add context about the endorsement—specific limitations, conditions, or reference information. This is optional but recommended for record-keeping.
7. Save
Tap Save. The endorsement is created with a timestamp and immediately appears in the student's endorsement list. The form validates that a category, type, and both certificates are selected before allowing you to save.
What happens next
Once recorded, the endorsement:
- Appears in the student's endorsement list (accessible from both the instructor's view of the student and the student's own Log menu)
- Displays as an active endorsement with the granted date, category, type, and any notes
- Shows certificate details for both the endorser and endorsee when tapped for the full detail view
- Syncs to the Admin Portal where admins and chief instructors can review it
- Becomes part of the student's permanent training record
Common issues
| Problem | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| "The student must add a certificate to view endorsements." | Student hasn't added a certificate to their profile | The student needs to add their certificate (e.g., student pilot certificate) in the FlightSense app under their User Profile. |
| Warning: "Instructor certificate is missing" | Your profile doesn't have a certificate | Add your instructor certificate (CFI, CFII, etc.) in your User Profile with your certificate number. |
| Warning: "Student certificate is missing" | Student's profile has no certificate | Have the student add their certificate in the app, or check that it was entered correctly. |
| Can't save—button disabled | A required field is missing | Ensure you've selected a category, type, and both certificates. All four are required. |
| Can't save—certificate validation error | Your certificate number is empty or your certificate is expired | Update your certificate in your User Profile. If your certificate has an expiration date, it must be current. |
| Endorsement from another school shows a lock icon | Endorsement was recorded under a different organization | You can see that the endorsement exists but cannot view its details. This protects records across organizations. |
How this works
Endorsements are standalone records
Unlike grades and time entries (which link to specific logs and lessons), endorsements are standalone records on the student's profile. They connect to the student, the instructor who granted them, and both parties' certificates—but not to any particular flight, debrief, or course lesson. This reflects how endorsements work in practice: they certify a student's readiness for a privilege, not a specific training event.
Active and archived states
Endorsements have two states: Active (green) and Archived (orange). Endorsements cannot be edited after creation—if something was recorded incorrectly, the instructor can archive the endorsement and create a new one. Archiving is permanent and cannot be undone. Students cannot archive their own endorsements.
To archive an endorsement, open its detail view and tap the archive option. A confirmation prompt will appear since the action is irreversible.
Certificate requirements and AC 61-65 compliance
FlightSense requires certificates on both sides of an endorsement to create a proper regulatory record. The endorsement type system follows the AC 61-65 advisory circular structure, which organizes endorsements by category (e.g., student pilot endorsements, instrument rating endorsements, flight instructor endorsements) and specific type within each category. This structure ensures the digital record matches what would appear in a traditional paper logbook endorsement.
Organization isolation
Endorsements are scoped to the organization where they were created. If a student transfers to a different school, endorsements from their previous school remain on their record but appear locked to the new organization's instructors—visible as existing records but with details restricted. This protects both the student's training history and the endorsing instructor's information across organizational boundaries.