Pilot Licenses Categories
Do you dream to be a Pilot & roam the Unlimited sky ? Do you just want to flex the wings of a Bird in you or Do the flying for a profession ?
You are at the right place , if the answer to above is Yes ! For Career Guidance , Click here .
Now , about the Piloting , Let’s Clarify , whether it’s a ‘License’ or a ‘Certificate’ !
Popular version is ‘License’ , But Federal Aviation Administration ( FAA ) terms it as a ‘Certificate’.
Definition Of ‘Certificate’ : It’s a document certifying that one has fulfilled the requirements of profession or activity and certified personnel may practice the scope in the relevant field.
Definition Of ‘License’ : It’s a document evidencing permission granted by competent authority to engage in an ‘act’ , ‘business’ or ‘occupation’ , otherwise treated unlawful.
You may use it conveniently between ‘Licence’ & ‘Certificate’ .
Requirements of Different Types of Pilot Licenses
Let’s see , where do you fit , as per your aspirations !
General Requirements :
English Proficiency : Internationally , any Airman certificate requires English Proficiency (read, speak, write, and understand the English language).
This International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) promulgated requirement applies to all private, commercial, & aviation transport pilots. This requirement extends well for flight engineers & navigators who fly internationally.
Medical certificate : To exercise the privileges of the pilot certificate , medical certificate is a must.
Other Requirements :
Aeronautical knowledge & Practical tests
Proper Ground instruction
Flight training,
Logbook endorsements
Pass the appropriate
Other than English proficiency, the aforementioned requirements apply to most types of pilot licenses.
Specific Requirements :
Student Pilot Certificate
You start as a student before becoming a Pilot , a learner License is required for this & the answer for that comes in the form of a ‘student pilot certificate’- the basic certificate to enter the profession .
It does not require flight training , ground instruction or an aeronautical knowledge test.
Minimum Requirements :
Yes , you have this criteria before awarded with a student pilot certificate.
You need to be at least 16 years old (or 14 for glider or balloon) for its issuance.
It’s easy to get the certificate, an online application does it for you , Click here for more info
Utilization :
It’s a Gateway for higher pilot certification.
Before flying the aircraft Solo , you will require a student pilot certificate .
Sport Pilot Certificate
Flying for Adventure or amusement requires you to obtain a sport pilot certificate.
Minimum Requirements :
Be at least 17 years old (or 16 for glider or balloon).
Log a minimum of 20 flight hours.
Hold a valid US State driver’s license or at least a third-class medical certificate.
Utilization :
You can Fly an aircraft with Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW) of 1320 pounds.
Only day time flying is allowed .
You can fly upto altitude ( height ) of 10,000 feet MSL
You can carry only one passenger with you.
Light-Sport Aircraft (LSA) is allowed for you with out additional ratings.
Private Pilot License (PPL)
Want more ? Explore further ? , Private Pilot License ( PPL ) is the answer .
Minimum Requirements :
Be at least 17 years old (or 16 for glider or balloon)
Hold either a student, sport, or recreational pilot certificate
Have at least a third-class medical certificate
Must log a minimum of 35 or 40 flight hours.
Why two figures? Because it depends on whether the flight school is Part 61 or Part 141.
However, most pilots take almost double these minimums to get their PPL.
Utilization :
You can fly any aircraft, so long as you receive appropriate training, for non-commercial purposes.
Moreover, you can pilot aircraft in almost any VFR condition, fly at night, & carry several passengers.
You can add ratings to your license, such as the instrument or multi-engine ratings.
Commercial Pilot License (CPL)
Want to get paid for flying an aircraft ? You need a commercial pilot license.
CPL also helps you earn money through assignments of photography, patrol pilot or sky diving activities.
Minimum Requirements :
You must also log at least 190 or 250 hours of flight time. (Depending on your choice of flight school)
Utilization :
With very less flying limitations, Commercial Pilot License can be enhanced with an instrument rating (IR) & a multi-engine rating (ME).
As the name suggest, CPL allows you to do commercial flight transactions & get paid for the transport of passengers or cargo, which was a limitation for PPL.
Flight Instructor Certificate
You can choose a teaching profession or business with Flight Instructor Certificate.
What does it take? Other than the common requirements, you need to:
Minimum Requirements :
Be at least 18 years old
Hold a commercial or an airline transport pilot certificate
Utilization :
A flight instructor certificate allows you to train pilots, conduct flight reviews & issue endorsements required for pilot certificates, ratings, check flights & knowledge tests.
This also enhances your flight hours & keep your piloting skills sharp by conducting flight lessons regularly.
This certification also helps in becoming an Instructor for Multi-engine (MEI) or Instrument (CFII) by attaining the necessary ratings.
Airline Transport Pilot Certificate (ATPL)
You see those pilots flying for airline. Do you want to fill their shoes ? Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certificate
is the requirement .
Minimum Requirements :
Be at least 23 years old (or 21 for restricted ATP)
Hold a commercial pilot certificate with an instrument rating
Have a first-class medical certificate
Complete an Airline Transport Pilot Certification Training Program (ATP-CTP) for a multiengine rating or when issued concurrently with a type rating
You also have to log 1,500 hours for the unrestricted (full) ATP certificate.
But you need fewer hours for a restricted ATP (R-ATP) certificate.
Utilization :
You get privileges of becoming a First –Officer & Pilot in Command with an ATPL (certificate).
You can be a pilot in command (PIC) with an ATP certificate, while you can only act as a co-pilot with a Restricted ATP certificate.
Remote Pilot Certificate (Drone Pilots)
Though pilot certificate is not required to fly drones for recreation , Commercial operation of drones mandates a Remote Pilot certificate .
Remote pilot certificate falls under the FAA’s Small UAS Rule (Part 107).
Minimum Requirements :
Be at least 16 years old
Be in a physical and mental condition to safely fly a drone
Pass the initial aeronautical knowledge exam
Able to easily access the drone during all UAS operations
No medical certificate,
No pilot training, or practical test.
Below steps help you to become one Drone Pilot :
Complete an online training course on the FAASTeam website.
Application through the Integrated Airmen Certification & Rating Application (IACRA) website.
Utilization :
Validate your identity with an authorized entity (such as an FAA-designated pilot examiner).
The remote pilot certificate’s validity period is 2 years, after which you need to pass a recurrent knowledge test to renew the certificate.
A remote pilot certificate gives you access to profitable jobs that require drones, which include surveying, mapping, and photography.
Pilot Ratings and Endorsements
Once you understood the types of pilot Licences / certificates , it’s time to learn about the pilot ratings & endorsements.
Student pilot certificate, which is basic in these categories, does not require a rating .
Rest all types of Licences require Ratings .
Again , ratings are based on Aircraft category , Class & type .
Categories :
There are 7 aircraft Categories meant for pilot certification:
Airplane: Engine-driven fixed-wing aircraft heavier than air that is supported in flight by the dynamic reaction of the air against its wings.
Rotorcraft: Heavier-than-air aircraft that depends principally for its support in flight on the lift generated by one or more rotors.
Glider: Heavier-than-air aircraft, that is supported in flight by the dynamic reaction of the air against its lifting surfaces and whose free flight does not depend principally on an engine.
Lighter-than-air: Aircraft that can rise and remain suspended by using contained gas weighing less than the air that is displaced by the gas.
Powered-lift: Heavier-than-air aircraft capable of vertical takeoff, vertical landing, and low speed flight that depends principally on engine-driven lift devices or engine thrust for lift during these flight regimes and on nonrotating airfoil(s) for lift during horizontal flight.
Powered Parachute: Powered aircraft comprised of a flexible or semi-rigid wing connected to a fuselage so that the wing is not in position for flight until the aircraft is in motion. The fuselage of a powered parachute contains the aircraft engine, a seat for each occupant and is attached to the aircraft’s landing gear.
Weight-shift-control aircraft: Powered aircraft with a framed pivoting wing and a fuselage controllable only in pitch and roll by the pilot’s ability to change the aircraft’s center of gravity with respect to the wing. Flight control of the aircraft depends on the wing’s ability to flexibly deform rather than the use of control surfaces.
Class :
Class signifies a classification of aircraft within a category mentioned above .
For instance, the airplane category includes four classes :
Single-engine land
Multiengine land
Single-engine sea
Multiengine sea
Type
Type refers to a Specific model of aircraft that involves specialized training beyond the requirement for category & class.
Examples of type ratings include Boeing 747 , Airbus 350 , Airbus 320 etc.
Summary : Category, class, and type ratings determine the kind of aircraft you may fly. For example, your license would state “Airplane Single Engine Land”.
Medical Certification
Almost every pilot license requires a valid medical certificate to demonstrate medical competence to fly an aircraft.
In aviation, being medically competent means that you’re able to perform the necessary tasks to pilot an aircraft safely.
Evidently, different pilot licenses require meeting different minimum health and fitness requirements.
Medical certificates come in three classes, first, second, and third. Special issuances and restrictions may also apply in some cases.
The flight physical examines the following:
You need a first class medical to become an airline pilot, which requires meeting the highest medical standards of all the classes.
The medical requirements for a first class are the same as those for a second class certificate.
The only difference is that you show normal heart function through an electrocardiogram once after reaching the age of 35 and annually after 40.
Without getting into too many details, the validity of a first class certificate is 12 months if you’re under 40 years of age and 6 months if you’re older than 40.
If you hold a commercial pilot license, then you must have at least a second class medical certificate.
Mainly, the medical standards for a second class certificate entail meeting the following requirements:
Second class certificates are valid for 12 months.
The third class certificate is quite similar to the second class certificate.
Difference is the visual acuity requirement, which is less stringent for a third class.
Instead of a 20/20, you only need 20/40 distant vision.
The third class certificate is good for 5 years if you’re under 40 years and for two years if you’re older than 40.
Time to take a step
