Summary Obtaining certifications like PPL, CPL, and ATP is essential for aspiring airline pilots. Each certificate has specific age requirements, flight hours, and medical certificate needs. Ratings and endorsements add specific authorizations and limitations to a pilot's license.
There are several certifications one must obtain in order to become an airline pilot. The typical certifications one should expect to get are the Student Pilot Certificate, Private Pilot's License (PPL), Instrument Rating (IR), Commercial Pilot's License (CPL), Multi-engine ratings (multi), and Airline Transport Pilot's License (ATPL). Let's take a look at what each one entails.
If your time is short, refer to the following table: Certificate/Rating Minimum Age Medical Certificate Flight Hours Other Requirements Student Pilot 16 None (needed solo flight) None Written exam, medical certificate for solo Private Pilot 17 Third Class Medical 40 total, including: 20 with instructor, 10 solo, 3 cross-country, 3 night Written exam, practical test Instrument Rating Any with Private Pilot Third Class Medical Varies by experience level Written exam, practical test, instrument proficiency check Commercial Pilot 18 First Class Medical 250 total, including: pilot in command time, cross-country experience Written exam, practical test Multi-Engine Rating Held with Commercial Pilot First Class Medical 10 hours in multi-engine aircraft Practical test Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) 23 First Class Medical 1,500 total Written exam, practical test, ATP certification training Aviation regulations can be complex and subject to change. This table provides a general overview and should not be considered a substitute for official FAA guidance. Always consult the latest FAA regulations for accurate and up-to-date information.
Certificates, ratings, and endorsements You'll notice right away that some qualification checkpoints are not considered licenses. A certificate, also known as a pilot's license, is a document that describes the type of flying a pilot is authorized to do, such as student, private, commercial, or airline transport pilot (ATP). It doesn't specify the type of aircraft the pilot can fly.
A rating is an authorization that specifies the conditions, privileges, or limitations under which a pilot can fly. For example, a type rating is specific to a particular aircraft, such as a Boeing 737. Other types of ratings include instrument and multi-engine.
An endorsement is an additional privilege that can be added to a pilot's certificate, typically written out in a pilot's logbook. For example, an endorsement from an authorized instructor may allow a pilot to fly to any airport. Student Pilot Certificate I hold a Student Pilot Certificate.
Since mine was issued after April 1, 2016, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) states that it never expires—provided I have a valid medical certificate. As a Student Pilot, I am prohibited from carrying passengers. I am, however, allowed to obtain my tailwheel, high performance, and complex ratings.
Now that I have my certificate, I am eligible for endorsement from my flight instructor. The two endorsements I currently have are to fly solo locally and cross-country (more than 150 nautical miles). In order to obtain a Student Pilot Certificate , the FAA states, "You must complete an application through the Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application (IACRA) website or by paper using FAA form 8710-1 and submit it to a Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), an FAA-designated pilot examiner, an airman certification representative associated with a part 141 flight school, or a certificated flight instructor.
"The authorized individual will process your application and submit the required documents to the Airmen Certification Branch. Once reviewed by Airman Certification Branch, the student pilot certificate will be mailed to the address provided by you on the application." The certificate card arrives in the mail about three weeks after the authorization goes through.
In the same manner that automobile drivers must carry their licenses when operating a vehicle, pilots must carry FAA-issued certification cards on all flights. Private Pilot License (PPL) The PPL is the first license that allows you to carry passengers. Basic private pilots are limited to flying aircraft with an engine no more powerful than 200 horsepower.
Furthermore, private pilots are barred from receiving payment for each flight. Instead, each person aboard the plane must pay for their equal (pro rata) share of the flight. For example, if you have four people flying in a Cessna 172, each person must pay 25 percent of the flight costs.
This is not the case if you have two parents in front and two children in the back -- but you get the point. The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) shares the excitement of being a private pilot. Once you earn your private pilot certificate, the opportunities are limitless.
From lunchtime "$100 hamburger" trips to family vacations, volunteer humanitarian flights to a hop around the patch at sunset just because the sky looks so nice, becoming a pilot is one of the most rewarding things you'll ever accomplish. In fact, a private pilot can, in theory, fly a Boeing 747. According to the Central Coast Aero Club in New South Wales, Australia, This license is truly unrestricted, except that you can’t fly for hire or reward.
So, as long as you were endorsed on the aircraft, you could take your family up in a Boeing 747 and it would be 100% legal. Remember that basic private pilots are prohibited from flying in instrument weather conditions. The next section will cover this.
Instrument Rating (IR) I asked my friend Jacob Nessim, a CFI/CFII at Air America Flight Center in Daytona Beach, Florida, for his opinion on the most important pilot certificate to obtain. He replied, "In my opinion, the instrument rating is crucial for several reasons. Pilots without this rating may encounter hazardous and potentially fatal situations due to spatial disorientation.
For example, they might be unable to descend through an overcast cloud layer and get stuck on top if they are not instrument rated. The instrument rating is a vital certification that can prove lifesaving in challenging scenarios." An instrument rating authorizes a pilot to fly safely in adverse weather conditions where visibility is limited.
To operate under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), pilots must rely exclusively on aircraft instruments for navigation and guidance, adhering to strict FAA regulations. Unlike visual flight rules (VFR) that permit flying by sight, IFR requires a detailed flight plan and the expertise of a certified instrument-rated pilot. In order to enter Class Alpha airspace, which extends from 18,000 to 60,000 feet above sea level, an aircraft must be on an instrument flight plan.
The Instrument Landing System (ILS) was first introduced in the late 1930s, even before the outbreak of World War II. Commercial Pilot License (CPL) The Commercial Pilot Certificate is the license required for pilots to be compensated for their flying services. Recognized internationally as a Commercial Pilot License (CPL), it distinguishes pilots from those holding Private Pilot Certificates, which are intended for personal or recreational flight.
Phoenix East Aviation, a flight academy in Daytona Beach, Florida, explains, A Commercial Pilot License (CPL) allows pilots to be compensated for their flying services and is a key step toward an aviation career, though additional training is needed for airline flying, though additional training is needed for the airlines. A CPL permits pilots to fly for hire as they build flight hours and experience. However, much like the misconception many have about obtaining a PPL and flying private jets, many associate receiving a CPL and flying for a commercial airline.
While a CPL unlocks professional piloting, further licenses are required to fly for commercial airlines. While a Commercial Pilot's License (CPL) is the initial step toward a professional aviation career, it's essential to recognize that it's merely a foundational qualification. Aspiring commercial airline pilots must undertake further specialized training and meet rigorous standards to secure positions in the competitive airline industry.
Multi-Engine Ratings What's better than flying an airplane with one engine? Flying an airplane with two engines! After all, this industry is built on the principle of redundancy. The multi-engine rating teaches pilots how to work with more than one engine and also how to fly with just one engine running. Twin-engine flying brings many perks: farther distances, faster speeds, and bigger planes like the Diamon DA-42 Twin Star, shown below.
It's worth noting that the multi-engine rating isn't a separate license; it is an add-on to whichever license a pilot has. Therefore, you can add your multi-engine rating as a private pilot or commercial pilot. Most flight schools, however, require pilots to have their commercial license prior to adding the multi-engine rating.
Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL) The certificate considered by some to be "the belle of the ball" is the Airline Transport Pilot License. As the name suggests, this is the license that allows pilots to be hired by the airlines. Gleim Aviation states , The ATP certificate is the highest level of pilot certification in the United States and is required for pilots operating as captains or first officers in Part 121 air carrier operations (airlines) and some other commercial aviation roles.
It requires a minimum of 1,500 flight hours and completion of various training and knowledge requirements. ATP certificate holders are authorized to act as pilots in command (PIC) of large, multi-engine aircraft. To qualify for a Restricted Airline Transport License (RATPL), pilots must either complete a bachelor's degree in aviation from an FAA-approved institution with 1,000 flight hours or earn an associate degree in aviation from an FAA-approved program with 1,250 flight hours.
The FAA lists the following notable institutions that provide approved programs: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Daytona Beach and Prescott campuses) University of North Dakota The Ohio State University Purdue University California Aeronautical University Vaughn College Miscellaneous Certifications There are a variety of other flight certifications that a pilot can obtain during and after preliminary flight training to become an airline pilot. Becoming a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) is a common path for lots of pilots. Alaska Float Ratings, a backcountry flight school in Alaska, provides a convincing argument for becoming a CFI: There are many reasons why pilots choose to become a CFI, with the most common reason being to gain experience and build flight time.
It is very common for aspiring pilots to consider earning their flight instructor certification as a way to progress their development as a pilot and to increase their flight time. Most aviation jobs, especially those jobs as a commercial airline pilot, require a minimum amount of flight time to be eligible. As a certificated flight instructor, you can build flight experience quickly to meet airline and corporate hiring minimums.
Seaplane and tailwheel ratings are also good for hour-building and allow pilots to fly to more places in different airplanes. Banner towing, aerial firefighting, and agricultural flying are also good ways to build hours. While they likely don't count towards airplane flight hours, obtaining a hot air balloon license or glider pilot license are good certifications to obtain if you're looking to expand your horizons.
Plus, being a glider pilot helps improve the competency of a powered airplane pilot. Quality Fly Aviation Academy posits, "A pilot’s ability to sense the air and feel how their aircraft is responding to it tends to be only partially connected when a power pilot is being propelled through it by an engine and propeller. When the pilot is not handling the aircraft well, the motor’s thrust can conceal this.
When gliding, a pilot’s awareness of the properties of the air they are flying through and how precisely they are manoeuvring their aircraft through it is increased." Some even feature self-propelling units to launch them into the sky. Navigating the path to becoming a commercial airline pilot requires careful planning and dedication.
By understanding the foundational steps and exploring diverse avenues within aviation, aspiring pilots can build a solid foundation for a successful career. While the journey may be challenging, the rewards of flying for a living are undoubtedly inspiring!.
