Pilot certification in the United States is under the authority of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Airman's Certificate is the proper term, although the word license is commonly used, even by the FAA. Certification is regulated under parts 61 and 141 of the Federal Aviation Regulations ("FARs", found in Chapter 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations).
Certification overview
An Airman's Certificate is issued at one of several levels of skill, and one or more ratings are placed on the certificate for specific categories and classes of aircraft. Examples of categories are: airplane, glider, balloon. Examples of classes of an airplane are: single- or multi-engine, and land or sea.
A pilot may add other ratings to a certificate. Examples of additional ratings are the instrument rating, or one of many type ratings, which are required to fly any aircraft defined as "large" (more than 12,500 pounds maximum legal takeoff weight) or any jet aircraft.
To obtain a certificate or add a rating, a pilot must undergo a course of training with a certified instructor, accumulate and log a specific number of hours of experience, and pass a three-part examination: a knowledge test (a computerized multiple-choice test), and a combined oral and practical test carried out by an examiner.
The remaining form of authorization is an endorsement from a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), establishing that the instructor has trained the pilot in specific skills that do not warrant a full test, such as the ability to fly a tailwheel or pressurized airplane.
Pilot certificates, other than student certificates, do not expire, although they may be suspended or revoked by the FAA. However, a pilot must maintain currency — recent flight experience that is relevant to the flight being undertaken. To remain active, every pilot has to undergo a flight review with an instructor every two years (unless he gains a new certificate or rating in that time), and, for most types of certificate, undergo a medical examination at intervals ranging from six months to three years, depending on the pilot's age and type of flying to be done. Other currency requirements apply to the right to carry passengers or to fly under IFR.
A medical certificate is not necessary to fly a glider or balloon, or to fly with a Sport Pilot Certificate. An ultralight can be piloted without a pilot certificate.
Pilot Training
Most pilots in the U.S. undergo flight training as private individuals with a flight instructor, who may be employed by a flight school. Those who have decided on aviation as a career often begin with an undergraduate aviation-based education. Some pilots are trained in the armed forces, and are issued with civilian certificates based on their military record. Others are trained directly by airlines. The pilot may choose to be trained under Part 61 or Part 141 of the FARs. Part 141 requires that a certified flight school provide an approved, structured course of training, which includes a specified number of hours of ground training (for example, 35 hours for Private Pilot in an airplane). Part 61 sets out a list of knowledge and experience requirements, and is more suitable for students who cannot commit to a structured plan, or for training from freelance instructors.
Categories of certificate
There are five categories and various classes of pilot certificates (except Student Pilot):
Pilot Certificates
The U.S. offers a progression of pilot certificates, each with its own set of privileges and limitations. All U.S. pilots must be at least 17 years old (16 for a student, or a glider or balloon pilot), and be able to read, speak and write English.
Student Pilot
A Student Pilot Certificate is usually issued by an aviation medical examiner (AME) at the time of the student’s first medical examination, which is a pre-requisite for flying alone in the aircraft. The student certificate expires after 24 months and can be renewed by an AME or an FAA official. Once a student has accrued sufficient training and experience, a CFI can endorse the student's certificate to authorize limited solo flying, in a specific type of aircraft under specific flight conditions. A student pilot may not carry passengers or fly in furtherance of a business.
Sport Pilot
The Sport Pilot Certificate was created in 2004 to meet demand from pilots flying small, low-powered aircraft, and offers limited privileges. It is the only level that does not require a medical examination; a driver's license can be used as proof of medical competence.
Recreational Pilot
The Recreational Pilot Certificate requires less training and offers fewer privileges than Private Pilot. It is a little-used certificate level, and will probably be supplanted in time by Sport Pilot.
Private Pilot
Private Pilot is the certificate level held by the majority of active pilots. It allows command of any aircraft (subject to appropriate ratings) for any non-commercial purpose, and gives almost unlimited authority to fly under Visual Flight Rules (VFR). Passengers may be carried and flight in furtherance of a business is permitted; however, a private pilot may not be compensated in any way for services as a pilot and must pay at least the pro rata share of a flight's expenses.
The requirements to obtain a Private Pilot certificate for "airplane, single-engine, land", or ASEL, (which is the most common certificate) are:
- Be at least 17 years old
- Be able to read, speak, and write the English language
- Obtain a third class medical certificate from an AME
- Pass a computerized aeronautical knowledge test
- Accumulate and log a specified amount of training and experience; the following are part of the ASEL requirement:
- If training under Part 61, at least 40 hours of piloting time including 20 hours of flight with an instructor and 10 hours of solo flight, and other requirements including "cross-country" (i.e. more than 50 nautical miles from home) and night flights
- If training under Part 141, at least 35 hours of piloting time including 20 hours with an instructor and 5 hours of solo flight, and other requirements including cross-country and night flights
- Pass an oral test and flight test administered by an FAA-designated examiner
Commercial Pilot
A Commercial Pilot may be compensated for flying. Training for the certificate focuses on a better understanding of aircraft systems and a higher standard of piloting. It is considered a VFR-oriented certificate, although most commercial pilots also have an Instrument rating.
A commercial airplane pilot must be able to operate a complex airplane, as a specific number of hours of complex (or turbine-powered) aircraft time are among the prerequisites, and the checkride (flight test) is performed in a complex aircraft. A complex aircraft has flaps, retractable landing gear, and a constant speed propeller.
The requirements are:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Hold a Private Pilot License
- Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language
- Accumulate and log a specified amount of training and experience; the following are part of the ASEL requirement:
- If training under Part 61, at least 250 hours of piloting time including 20 hours of training with an instructor and 10 hours of solo flight, and other requirements including several "cross-country" flights (i.e. more than 50 nautical miles from home) and both solo and instructor-accompanied night flights
- If training under Part 141, at least 120 hours of training time including 55 hours with an instructor and 10 hours of solo flight, and other requirements including several cross-country, solo, and night flights
- Pass a computerized aeronautical knowledge test
- Pass an oral test and flight test administered by an FAA-designated examiner
By itself, this certificate does not permit the pilot to set up an operation that carries members of the public for hire; such operations are governed by other regulations. Otherwise, a commercial pilot can be paid for certain types of operation, such as banner towing, agricultural applications, and photography, and can be paid for instructing if he holds a Flight Instructor certificate. To fly for hire, the pilot must hold a second class medical certificate, which is valid for one year.
Often, the Commercial certificate will reduce the pilot’s insurance premiums, as it is evidence training to a higher safety standard.
Airline Transport Pilot
An Airline Transport Pilot is tested to the highest level of piloting ability. The certificate is a prerequisite for acting as a pilot-in-command in scheduled airline operations.
The minimum pilot experience is 1500 hours of flight time; other requirements include being 23 years of age, being able to read, speak, and understand the English language, and being of good moral character.
Number of active pilots
As of 2003, there were 625,011 pilots licenses issued by the FAA. This number has been declining slowly over the long term, down from a high of over 827,000 pilots in 1980. The 2003 numbers include:
- 87,296 student pilots
- 241,045 private pilots
- 123,990 commercial pilots
- 143,054 airline transport pilots
- 29,176 other pilot licenses (including recreational, helicopter only and glider only)
Other Certificates and Ratings
- A Certified Flight Instructor certificate authorizes the holder to instruct another pilot who is training for a certificate, rating, or endorsement. Anyone can teach anyone else how to fly, but only a certified flight instructor can document the training required by regulations.
- An Instrument rating is required to fly under Instrument Flight Rules which allows the pilot to fly in Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC): in clouds and low visibility. Flying under IFR almost invariably means flying under the direction of Air Traffic Control. To get an instrument rating, the pilot must learn how to control the aircraft using only instruments and how to operate within the Air Traffic Control system, and gain a better understanding of weather systems.
- A Multi-Engine rating is the most common example of a class rating; it is required to fly an airplane with more than one engine.
United States military pilots are issued an Aviator Badge upon completion of flight training and issuance of a pilot's certificate. Badges for crew or ground positions are also issued to qualified applicants.
Non-Pilot Certifications
- Flight engineer and Navigator are certifications applicable to larger transportation aircraft. Flight engineers are becoming less common, and modern technology has made the Navigator specialization largely obsolete.
- Ground Instructor, Parachute Rigger, Mechanic, Repairman, Air-traffic control-tower operator and Dispatcher are also federally certified aviation-related positions.
Pilots do not need FCC certification in order to use the radio in navigation within the United States; however, other countries (such as Canada) may require that the pilot and/or the radio be licensed.
External Links