There are various pilot certificates and ratings that you
can obtain. Regardless of what your flying goals are, the
first certificate you will earn is either the Recreational
or Private Pilot Certificate. After earning your Recreational
or Private Pilot Certificate, you can continue your training
by earning the instrument rating, commercial certificate,
multi-engine rating, and/or flight instructor certificate/ratings.
As pilots advance in their careers, most will also earn the
Airline Transport Pilot Certificate, Type Rating(s), and/or
possibly the Flight Engineer Certificate. Each certificate
and rating you obtain will add to your qualifications, flying
skills, and aeronautical knowledge.
For detailed information for each certificates’
or ratings’ prerequisites and minimum flight time
requirements, read the FAA’s Federal
Aviation Regulations Part 61 - Certification: Pilots,
Flight Instructors, and Ground Instructors. You should also
speak with a flight instructor at a local flight school
to learn more about the pilot certificates’ and ratings’
prerequisites, eligibility requirements, and costs.
Recreational Pilot Certificate
The Recreational Pilot Certificate allows you to act as
pilot-in-command (PIC) of an airplane carrying 1 passenger
at a time, in which you’re only allowed to fly during
the daytime under Visual
Flight Rules (VFR). Other restrictions associated with
this certificate are: no flying at night, no flying beyond
50 miles, no flying at airports that require radio communications
with a controller, and a few other restrictions. This certificate
is not a very popular due to its many restrictions. In order
to avoid these restrictions, many pilots choose to obtain
a Private Pilot Certificate.
As a
Recreational Pilot, you may share the flight costs with
your passengers, but you cannot charge or accept compensation
for the flight, or work as a pilot for a company that charges
to carry passengers or cargo. You are also required to hold
at least a Third-Class Medical Certificate
when acting as Private Pilot.
For more details about the prerequisites and requirements
to obtain a Recreational Pilot Certificate, browse the FAA’s
FARs Database and search for the following links below:
Subpart
D----Recreational Pilots
• 61.96 Applicability
• 61.96a Eligibility requirements: General.
• 61.97 Aeronautical knowledge.
• 61.98 Flight proficiency.
• 61.99 Aeronautical experience.
• 61.100 Pilots based on small islands.
• 61.101 Recreational pilot privileges and limitations.
Private
Pilot Certificate
The Private Pilot Certificate is the first certificate earned
by most pilots. This certificate allows you to act as pilot-in-command
(PIC) of an airplane carrying passengers, in which you’re
only allowed to fly during the day or night under Visual
Flight Rules (VFR). As a Private Pilot, you may share
the flight costs with your passengers, but you cannot charge
or accept compensation for the flight, or work as a pilot
for a company that charges to carry passengers or cargo.
You are also required to hold at least a Third-Class
Medical Certificate when acting as Private Pilot.
For more details about the prerequisites and requirements
to obtain a Private Pilot Certificate, browse the FAA’s
FARs Database and search for the following links below:
Subpart
E----Private Pilots
• 61.102 Applicability.
• 61.103 Eligibility requirements: General.
• 61.105 Aeronautical knowledge.
• 61.107 Flight proficiency.
• 61.109 Aeronautical experience.
• 61.110 Night flying exceptions for private pilot
certification.
• 61.111 Cross-country flights: Pilots based on
small islands.
• 61.113 Private pilot privileges and limitations:
Pilot in command.
• 61.115 Balloon rating: Limitations.
• 61.117 Private pilot privileges and limitations:
Second in command of aircraft requiring more than one
pilot.
• 61.118 through 61.120 [Reserved]
Instrument
Rating
An Instrument Rating allows you to fly under Instrument
Flight Rules (IFR), in which most pilots earn after
receiving their Private Pilot Certificate. With an instrument
rating, you will become a more accurate, proficient, and
safer pilot, even when the weather is VFR. This rating will
advance your flying skills by allowing you to control and
navigate your aircraft solely by reference to the flight
instruments without outside visual references. Without an
Instrument Rating, you will undoubtedly experience the frustration
of canceling flights due to low ceilings and/or visibility,
and it is quite dangerous to fly in this type of weather
without this rating. This rating is required for a career
as a professional pilot. For more details about the prerequisites
and requirements to obtain an Instrument Rating, visit the
FAA’s
FAR 61.65 Instrument rating requirements.
Commercial
Pilot Certificate
The Commercial Pilot Certificate allows you to make money
by charging for your services, or work as a pilot for a company
that charges to carry passengers or cargo. This certificate
is obtainable after earning a Private Pilot Certificate. Without
this certificate, you cannot charge anyone or make money for
your services performed as a pilot. However, you can split
the costs equally. Training for this certificate will teach
you how to sharpen your flying skills as a pilot and master
your aircraft. You are also required to hold at least a Second-Class
Medical Certificate to operate as a Commercial Pilot.
A Commercial Pilot Certificate is necessary for a career as
a professional pilot.
For more details about the prerequisites and requirements
to obtain a Commercial Pilot Certificate, browse the FAA’s
FARs Database and search for the following links below:
Subpart
F----Commercial Pilots
• 61.121 Applicability.
• 61.123 Eligibility requirements: General.
• 61.125 Aeronautical knowledge.
• 61.127 Flight proficiency.
• 61.129 Aeronautical experience.
• 61.131 Exceptions to the night flying requirements
for the commercial pilot certificate.
• 61.133 Commercial pilot privileges and limitations:
General.
• 61.135 through 61.141 [Reserved.]
Multi
Engine Rating
The Multi-Engine Rating allows you to fly an airplane with
more than one engine. This rating is usually obtained after
earning a Commercial Pilot Certificate and an Instrument Rating.
Training for a multi-engine rating teaches more complex systems
and how to safely control and land the airplane in the unlikely
event that one of the engines fails. A multi-engine rating
can also be added to a Private or Commercial Pilot's Certificate
with
VFR and IFR. This rating is required to obtain any job
flying multi-engine airplanes and is necessary for a career
as a professional pilot. For more details about the prerequisites
and requirements to obtain a Multi-Engine Rating, read FAA’s
FAR 61.63c: Additional aircraft ratings (other than airline
transport pilot).
Flight Instructor Certificate
The Flight Instructor Certificate/Ratings allow you to teach
students how to fly and train other pilots to help them earn
their pilot certificate(s) and rating(s). A Commercial
Pilot Certificate and an Instrument Rating
are required to act as a flight instructor. You are also required
to hold at least a Second-Class Medical
Certificate.
There
are three types of flight instructor certificates:
1.
Certified
Flight Instructor (CFI) Certificate – allows you
to teach students pursuing their Private - Commercial
Pilot Certificates.
2.
Certified Flight Instrument Instructor (CFII) Certificate
- allows you to teach students pursuing their Instrument
Rating.
3.
Multi-Engine Instructor (MEI) Certificate – allows
you to teach students pursuing their Multi-Engine Rating.
For more details about the prerequisites and requirements
to obtain a Flight Instructor Certificate and Ratings, browse
the FAA’s
FARs Database and search for the following links below:
Subpart
H--Flight Instructors
• 61.181 Applicability.
• 61.183 Eligibility requirements.
• 61.185 Aeronautical knowledge.
• 61.187 Flight proficiency.
• 61.189 Flight instructor records.
• 61.191 Additional flight instructor ratings.
• 61.193 Flight instructor endorsements and authorizations.
• 61.195 Flight instructor limitations and qualifications.
• 61.197 Renewal of flight instructor certificates.
• 61.199 Expired flight instructor certificates
and ratings.
• 61.201 Conversion to the current flight instructor
ratings.
Airline Transport Pilot Certificate
The Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certificate is considered
the "PhD" of pilot certificates! This certificate
allows you to act as Pilot-in-Command (aka Captain) of a commercial
aircraft weighing more than 12,500lbs. To exercise the privileges
of an airline transport pilot certificate, you must also hold
a current First-Class Medical Certificate.
To
be eligible for an airline transport pilot certificate,
you must: (paraphrased)
•
Be
at least 23 years of age.
•
Hold
at least a commercial pilot certificate and an instrument
rating.
•
Have at least 1,500 hours of total time logged as a
pilot that includes at least:
1. 500 hr. of cross-country flight time
2. 100 hr. of night flight time
3. 75 hr. of actual or simulated instrument flight time
4. 250 hours of flight time in an airplane as a pilot
in command, which includes at least 100 hours cross-country
flight time and 25 hours of night flight time.
The Airline Transport Pilot Certificate is necessary for a
career as a professional pilot and other passenger-carrying
operations. Most airlines and large corporations pay for their
pilots to obtain the ATP certificate when they upgrade to
Captain.
For more details about the prerequisites and requirements
to obtain an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certificate, browse
the FAA’s
FARs Database and search for the following links below:
Subpart
G----Airline Transport Pilots
• 61.151 Applicability.
• 61.153 Eligibility requirements: General.
• 61.155 Aeronautical knowledge.
• 61.157 Flight proficiency.
• 61.159 Aeronautical experience: Airplane category
rating.
• 61.161 Aeronautical experience: Rotorcraft category
and helicopter class rating with a type rating.
• 61.163 Aeronautical experience: Powered-lift
category.
• 61.165 Additional aircraft category and class
ratings.
• 61.167 General privileges and limitations.
• 61.169 [Reserved].
• 61.171 [Reserved].
Type Rating
A type rating allows you to act as pilot-in-command (PIC)
of a particular aircraft weighing more than 12,500 pounds.
Type ratings are added to a Commercial or Airline
Transport Pilot Certificate. In order to obtain a type
rating, you must receive specific ground and flight training,
and pass a practical test (oral and flight exam) in a simulator
or aircraft. The Boeing 737 is the most common type rating.
Most airlines will pay for their pilot to receive their type
rating when they upgrade to Captain. However, some companies
offer type rating courses for various aircraft, in which the
length and costs of training will vary. For more details about
the requirements to obtain a Type Rating, read FAA’s
FAR 61.63d: Additional aircraft ratings (other than airline
transport pilot).
Flight Engineer (FE) Certificate
A Flight Engineer (FE) Certificate allows you to act as flight
engineer on certain airplanes requiring this crewmember. The
FE does not fly the airplane. The FE’s duties involve
managing the aircraft systems such as electrics, hydraulics,
fuel and more, and assisting the Captain and First Officer.
You don't have to be a pilot to become a flight engineer.
The most common type of flight engineer certificate is the
Boeing 727 flight engineer certificate.
Some major and cargo airlines require applicants
to have either a current FE written (passed) or Flight Engineer
Certificate. Most pilots opt for the FE written due to the
high cost of receiving the FE certificate. Most students
enroll in a two-day prep course, which costs approximately
$250 including the exam. These courses are typically computer
based with the test administered at the end of the course
and test scores available immediately. The FE written can
be completed in two hours. If you decide to take the knowledge
test, take the test shortly before you apply to the major
and cargo airlines, because it is only valid for two years.
However, some companies offer Flight Engineer courses for
various aircraft, in which the length and costs of training
will vary. Prior to taking the Flight Engineer Knowledge
Test, you must meet the experience requirements of FAR
63.37.
There are various pilot certificates and ratings that you
can obtain. Regardless of what your flying goals are, the
first certificate you will earn is either the Recreational
or Private Pilot Certificate. After earning your Recreational
or Private Pilot Certificate, you can continue your training
by earning the instrument rating, commercial certificate,
multi-engine rating, and/or flight instructor certificate/ratings.
As pilots advance in their careers, most will also earn the
Airline Transport Pilot Certificate, Type Rating(s), and/or
possibly the Flight Engineer Certificate. Each certificate
and rating you obtain will add to your qualifications, flying
skills, and aeronautical knowledge.
Private
Pilot Certificate
Instrument
Rating
Commercial
Pilot Certificate
Multi
Engine Rating 
