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Learning to Fly ...a wonderful adventure!
"Looking down as the runway disappears in a blur behind you, and the world below suddenly grows smaller, you'll find this moment of truth, your first flight, almost unbelievable. Yet, it all rings true: unlike being in an airliner, you and the airplane are one, you are part of what happens, and you're discovering not only why and how it happens, but the even more satisfying truth that you make it happen."
Jules Bergman, Anyone Can Fly
In the U.S. a pilot certificate is issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) — and pilots are certified, not licensed, although the word license is still commonly used informally.
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.
To obtain a certificate or add a rating, a pilot has to undergo a course of training with a certificated instructor, accumulate and log specific aeronautical experience, and pass a three-part examination: a knowledge test (a computerized multiple-choice test, typically called the "written test"), an oral test and a practical test carried out by either an FAA inspector or a Designated Pilot Examiner. Pilots are qualified to fly at a specific privilege level and in one or more specific categories of aircraft.
Privilege levels of pilot certificates are, in order of increasing privilege:
Categories of aircraft for which a pilot may be rated are:
Most aircraft categories are further broken down into classes. If a category is so divided, a pilot must hold a class rating to operate an aircraft in that class:
Most Private Pilot certificates are issued as "Private Pilot: Airplane Single Engine Land", which means the pilot may employ his piloting privileges in any single engine, land based airplane he is qualified in. A pilot is only qualified in the category and class of aircraft he takes his checkride in. Therefore, a pilot who takes a Commercial Pilot checkride in a multi-engine, land-based aircraft and passes may only exercise the privileges of a Commercial Pilot in multi-engine, land-based aircraft. That pilot may not exercise the privileges of a Commercial Pilot in single engine or sea-based aircraft without passing the appropriate parts of a checkride in those particular categories of aircraft.
The typical order in which a pilot obtains ratings is:
Note: Hours can often be earned concurrently and are accumulative. For example, after acquiring a private certificate, an instrument rating can be obtained with an additional 20–30 hours of training. In the course of the Commercial Pilot training, most pilots will also receive their high performance and complex endorsements, as well as get a multi-engine rating before applying for the Airline Transport Pilot license.
The Sport Pilot certificate was created in September 2004 after years of work by the Experimental Aviation Association (EAA). The intent of the new rule was to lower the barriers of entry into aviation and make flying more affordable and accessible.
The new rule also created the Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) category of aircraft which are smaller, lower-powered aircraft. The sport pilot certificate offers limited privileges mainly for recreational use. It is the only powered aircraft certificate that does not require a medical certificate; a valid vehicle driver's license can be used as proof of medical competence PROVIDED the prospective pilot was not rejected for their last Airman Medical Certificate.
The restrictions placed on a Pilot exercising the privileges of a Sport pilot certificate are:
The Sport pilot certificate is also ineligible for additional ratings (such as an Instrument rating), although time in light-sport aircraft can be used towards the experience requirement of other ratings on higher certificate types.
The recreational pilot certificate requires less training and offers fewer privileges than the private certificate. It was originally created for flying small single-engine planes. Its main advantage has been that it permits cheaper training between the sport and private pilot certificates.
The private pilot certificate is the certificate 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, although passengers can pay a pro rata share of flight expenses, such as fuel or rental costs. Private pilots may also operate charity flights, subject to certain restrictions, and may participate in similar activities, such as Angel Flight and flights for organizations such as Pilots-n-Paws, CAP (Civil Air Patrol), and ARF (animal rescue flights).
The requirements to obtain a private pilot certificate for "airplane, single-engine, land", or ASEL, (which is the most common certificate) are:
Instrument rating is technically not a pilot certificate, but an add-on which allows a pilot to fly in weather with reduced visibilities such as rain, low clouds, or heavy haze. When flying in these conditions, pilots follow instrument flight rules (IFR). The training provides the skills needed to complete flights without visual reference to the ground, except for the takeoff and landing phases. All pilots who fly above 18,000 feet mean sea level (MSL) must have an instrument rating.
This rating requires highly specialized training by a certificated flight instructor (CFI) with a special instrument instruction rating (CFII), and completion of an additional written exam, oral exam, and flight test. Pilots applying for an instrument rating must hold a current private pilot certificate and medical, have logged at least 50 hours of cross-country flight time as pilot in command, and have at least 40 hours of actual or simulated instrument time including at least 15 hours of instrument flight training and instrument training on cross-country flight procedures.
Commercial pilots can be paid to fly an aircraft. In order to obtain a commercial pilot’s license one must be at least 18 years old and have a minimum of 250 hours of flight time (190 hours under the accelerated curriculum defined in Part 141 of the Federal Aviation Regulations), including 100 hours in powered aircraft, 50 hours in airplanes, and 100 hours as pilot in command (of which 50 hours must be cross-country flight time). In addition, commercial pilots must hold an instrument rating, or be restricted to flying for hire only in daylight, under visual flight rules (VFR), within 50 miles of the originating airport.
Airline transport pilots (ATPs) must be at least 23 years old and have a minimum of 1,500 hours of flight time, including 500 hours of cross-country flight time, 100 hours of night flying, and 75 hours in actual or simulated instrument flight conditions. Most ATPs have many thousands of hours of flight time. ATPs also must have a commercial certificate and an instrument rating. ATPs may instruct other pilots in air transportation service in aircraft in which the ATP is rated. ATPs must have a current and much more stringent Class I medical exam, which renew every six months. Like all pilots, they must revalidate their certificates every 24 months with a flight review.
The ultralight category of aircraft in the U.S. does not require a pilot to have specific training or certification.
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