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Front side of an airman certificate issued by the FAA.

Back side of an airman certificate issued by the FAA.

Pilot certification in the United States is under the authority of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Airman Certificate is the proper term, although the term pilot's license is commonly used, even by the FAA. Certification is regulated under parts 61 and 141 of the Federal Aviation Regulations or "FARs", found in Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Legally, Certificates bear a different status than Licenses. For example, Certificates can be revoked by administrative action; whereas Licenses require the Judiciary System's involvement. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... Image File history File links US_pilots_certificate_front. ... Image File history File links US_pilots_certificate_front. ... Image File history File links US_pilots_certificate_back. ... Image File history File links US_pilots_certificate_back. ... FAA redirects here. ... Pilot licences (in the United States, certificates) are issued by national aviation authorities, and establish that the holder has been trained by a qualified instructor and has met a specific set of knowledge and experience requirements. ... The Federal Aviation Regulations, or FARs, are rules prescribed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) governing all aviation activities in the United States. ...

General structure of certification

Pilots are qualified to fly at a specific privilege level, and in one or more specific categories of aircraft. Examples of privilege level are:

• Student: a pilot who is being trained by an instructor for their first full certificate, and is permitted to fly alone (solo) under specific, limited circumstances.
• Sport pilot: used for Light-sport Aircraft, a category that was created in 2004. These aircraft are larger and faster than ultralights, carry more fuel, and often two occupants.
• Recreational: a pilot who is restricted to flying short distances.
• Private: a pilot who flies for pleasure or personal business without accepting compensation for flying except in some very limited, specific circumstances.
• Commercial: a pilot that can, with some restrictions, fly for remuneration.
• Airline Transport: a pilot that can be pilot-in-command for a scheduled airline.

Pilots are certified to fly aircraft of a specific category and class. Certain kinds of aircraft also require a type rating. Light-sport aircraft, or LSA, is a classification of aircraft specific to the United States. ... Huntair Pathfinder Mark 1 ultralight During the late 1970s and early 1980s, many people sought to be able to fly affordably. ...

The category on a pilot certificate refers to the broad classification of aircraft that the pilot is certified to fly. Categories of aircraft include airplane, rotorcraft, glider, lighter-than-air, powered-lift, powered parachute, and weight-shift-control aircraft. Some categories are further broken down into more specific classes of aircraft.

• Airplane class ratings include single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea, and multi-engine sea.
• Rotorcraft class ratings include helicopter and gyroplane.
• Lighter-than-air class ratings include airship, gas balloon, and balloon with airborne heater (hot air balloon).
• Weight-shift-control aircraft class ratings are broken down into land and sea.
• Powered parachute class ratings are also broken down into land and sea.

Type ratings are required in a specific make and model of airplane if the airplane is "large" (greater than 12,500 lb (5,700 kg) gross takeoff weight) or powered by one or more jet engines. Boeing 747, DC-10, and Dash-8 are examples of type ratings. This article is about hot air balloons themselves. ... A Pratt and Whitney turbofan engine for the F-15 Eagle is tested at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, USA. The tunnel behind the engine muffles noise and allows exhaust to escape. ...

• ultralight category of aircraft in the US requires no specific training and no certification.

The pilot can separately add certain ratings, such as the instrument rating. Ultralight aircraft in the United States are a different type of aircraft compared to what the rest of the world considers an ultralight. ... Instrument Rating refers to the qualifications that a pilot must have in order to fly under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). ...

As an example, the captain of a 747 flying for a scheduled airline would have to have an Airline Transport Pilot certificate with an airplane category rating, a multi-engine land class rating, instrument rating and a 747 type rating.

To obtain a certificate or add a rating, a pilot usually 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"), and a combined oral and practical test carried out by either an FAA inspector or a designated examiner.

Another form of authorization is an endorsement from a flight instructor that establishes that the certificate holder has received training in specific skill areas that do not warrant a full test, such as the ability to fly a tailwheel-equipped, high-performance, complex, or pressurized airplane. A flight instructor is a person who teaches others to fly aircraft. ...

Airman certificates other than student pilot 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 24 calendar months (unless he gains a new pilot 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 desired flight privileges. Other currency requirements apply to the carriage of passengers or to flight under instrument flight rules (IFR). The biennial flight review (usually abbreviated BFR) is a review required of every active holder of a US pilot certificate at least every two years. ... In medicine, the physical examination or clinical examination is the process by which the physician investigates the body of a patient for signs of disease. ... It has been suggested that Air traffic control#Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) be merged into this article or section. ...

A medical certificate is not necessary to fly a glider or balloon, or to fly with a sport pilot certificate. An ultralight aircraft can be piloted without a pilot certificate or a medical certificate. Huntair Pathfinder Mark 1 ultralight During the late 1970s and early 1980s, many people sought to be able to fly affordably. ...

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. Flight training is a course of study used when learning to pilot an aircraft. ... In some educational systems, undergraduate education is post-secondary education up to the level of a Bachelors degree. ... The armed forces of a state are its government sponsored defense and fighting forces and organizations. ... An Airbus A380 of Emirates Airline An airline provides air transport services for passengers or freight. ...

Becoming a professional pilot

In aviation, a pilot's level of income and experience are highly related. There are multiple ways to gain the experience to be hired by a scheduled air carrier. Air carriers generally require that the pilots they hire have hours of experience far in excess of the legal minimum. This experience is often gained using these common methods:

• Military training
• Independent training followed by becoming a part- or full-time instructor.
• A college-level aviation program, in which a bachelor's degree (commonly in Aviation Science or a related field) is conferred upon the completion of both flight and classroom coursework. Frequently, upperclassmen are employed as flight instructors for other students.
• Banner towing, traffic reporting, fire patrol, pipeline patrol, aerial photography, glider towing, or other "odd jobs" in aviation, most of which are fairly low-paying and require only the legal minimum experience.

Categories and classes of pilot certificates

Pilot certificates are issued with ratings in any of five categories, which are further subdivided into classes:

• airplane (encompassing the four classes of single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea, and multi-engine sea)
• rotorcraft (in either the helicopter or gyroplane class)
• powered lift
• glider
• lighter than air (subdivided into airship and balloon classes)
• powered parachute (subdivided into powered parachute land and powered parachute sea)
• weight-shift-control aircraft (subdivided into weight-shift-control aircraft land and weight-shift-control aircraft sea)

A student pilot certificate does not have ratings (and thus is not specific to any category or class), but can be endorsed by a flight instructor to confer privileges in a specific make and model of aircraft. Airplane and Aeroplane redirect here. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Rotary-wing aircraft. ... For other uses, see Helicopter (disambiguation). ... An autogyro is a type of rotorcraft invented by Juan de la Cierva in 1919, making its first successful flight on January 9, 1923 at Cuatro Vientos Airfield in Madrid, Spain. ... A powered lift (also written powered-lift) is a type of aircraft that can take off and land vertically but functions differently than a helicopter in horizontal flight. ... For other uses, see Glider (disambiguation). ... The expression lighter than air refers to objects, usually aircraft, that are buoyant in air because they have an average density that is less than that of air (usually because they contain gases that have a density that is lower than that of air). ... USS Akron (ZRS-4) in flight, November 2, 1931 An airship or dirigible is a buoyant lighter-than-air aircraft that can be steered and propelled through the air. ... A hot air balloon is prepared for flight by inflation of the envelope with propane burners. ... A powered parachute with its wing stowed. ...

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, write, speak, and understand English. A hot air balloon is prepared for flight by inflation of the envelope with propane burners. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ...

Student

A student pilot certificate is issued by an aviation medical examiner (AME) at the time of the student’s first medical examination; for operations not requiring a medical certificate, a student pilot certificate can be issued by an FAA inspector or an FAA-designated pilot examiner. The student pilot certificate is only required when exercising solo flight privileges. The student certificate is valid until the last day of the month, 24 months after it was issued. Once a student has accrued sufficient training and experience, a CFI can endorse the student's certificate to authorize limited solo flight in a specific type (make and model) of aircraft. A student pilot may not carry passengers, fly in furtherance of a business, or operate an aircraft outside of the various endorsements provided by the flight instructor. An Aviation Medical Examiner (AME), in the United States, is a physician designated by the FAA and given the authority to perform physical examinations and issue airman medical certificates. ...

There is no minimum aeronautical knowledge or experience requirement for the issuance of a student pilot certificate other than the medical requirements for the class of medical certificate (see below) the student certificate is based upon. There are, however, minimum aeronautical knowledge and experience requirements for student pilots to solo, including:

• Hold at least a current third class medical certificate.
• Be at least 16 years of age (14 for glider or balloon)
• Read, speak, write, and understand the English language.
• Demonstrate satisfactory aeronautical knowledge on a knowledge test, including knowledge of the following areas:
  • Airspace rules and procedures for the airport where the solo flight will be performed
  • Flight characteristics and operational limitations for the make and model of aircraft to be flown
• Receive and log flight training for the maneuvers and procedures appropriate to the make and model of aircraft to be flown, including:
  • Preflight operations
  • Taxiing or surface operations, including run-ups
  • Takeoffs and landings, including normal and cross-wind
  • Straight and level flight, and turns in both directions
  • Climbs and climbing turns
  • Airport traffic patterns, including entry and departure procedures
  • Collision avoidance, wind shear avoidance, and wake turbulence avoidance
  • Descents, with and without turns, using high and low drag configurations
  • Flight at various airspeeds from cruise to slow flight
  • Stall entries from various flight attitudes and power combinations with recovery initiated at the first indication of a stall, and recovery from a full stall
  • Emergency procedures and equipment malfunctions
  • Ground reference maneuvers
  • Approaches to a landing area with simulated engine malfunctions
  • Slips to a landing
  • Go-arounds

Sport pilot

The Sport Pilot certificate was created in September of 2004 after years of hard 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. It has proven to be a huge success.

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 driver's license can be used as proof of medical competence PROVIDED the prospective pilot was not rejected for their last Airman Medical Certificate (see Sport Pilot Catch 22). Light-sport aircraft, or LSA, is a classification of aircraft in the United States. ...

To qualify for the Sport pilot certificate, an applicant must:

• Be 17 years of age
• Be able to read, speak, write, and understand English
• Log at least 20 hours of flight time of which at least
  • 15 hours must be dual instruction with a qualified flight instructor
    • 2 hours must be cross-country dual instruction
  • 5 hours must be solo flight
• Fly one solo cross-country over a total distance of 75 or more nautical miles to two different destinations to a full-stop landing. At least one leg of this cross-country must be over a total distance of at least 25 nautical miles (46 km).
• Have received 3 hours of dual instruction in the preceding 60 days
• Pass a written test
• Pass a practical test
• Have a valid US State drivers license AND not been rejected for your last Airman Medical Certificate
• ...or have a current 3rd class or higher Airman Medical Certificate

The above requirements are for heavier-than-air powered aircraft (airplanes). The requirements for gliders, balloons, helicopters, and dirigibles vary slightly.

Sport Pilots are only eligible to fly aircraft that are either certified specifically as light-sport aircraft (LSA) or were certified prior to the LSA regulations and are within the maximum weight and performance limitations of light-sport aircraft. Light-sport aircraft, or LSA, is a classification of aircraft specific to the United States. ...

The restrictions placed on a Pilot exercising the privileges of a Sport pilot certificate are:

• No more than one passenger
• Daytime flight only (civil twilight is used to define day/night)
• No flight above 10,000 feet (3,000 m) MSL
• No flight in any of the airspace classes that require radio communication (classes A, B, C, or D) without first obtaining additional instruction and instructor endorsement

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. For other uses, see Twilight (disambiguation). ... Instrument Rating refers to the qualifications that a pilot must have in order to fly under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). ...

Recreational

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 student and private pilot certificates. The advent of the Sport Pilot designation was designed to replace the Recreational Pilot program.^{[citation needed]}

Private pilot

This section does not cite any references or sources. (January 2008) Please improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

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. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... Visual flight rules (VFR) are a set of aviation regulations under which a pilot may operate an aircraft in weather conditions sufficient to allow the pilot, by visual reference to the environment outside the cockpit, to control the aircrafts attitude, navigate, and maintain safe separation from obstacles such as... Angel Flight is a non-profit organization in the United States and in Australia, British Columbia, Canada that helps arrange free, non-emergency transportation for patients who require medical treatment but can not afford to pay for a commercial flight. ...

The requirements to obtain a private pilot certificate for "airplane, single-engine, land", or ASEL, (which is the most common certificate) are: Asel (name) - Kazakh and Kyrgyz female name. ...

• Be at least 17 years old
• Be able to read, speak, and write the English language
• Obtain at least a third class medical certificate from an Aviation Medical Examiner
• Pass a computerized aeronautical knowledge test
• Accumulate and log a specified amount of training and experience, including the following:
  • If training under Part 61, experience requirements are specified in Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations section 61.109 including 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", 10 hours of solo (i.e., by yourself) flight time in an airplane, including at least
    • Solo requirements:
      1. 5 hours of solo cross-country time
      2. One solo cross-country flight of at least 150 NM total distance, with full-stop landings at a minimum of three points and with one segment of the flight consisting of a straight-line distance of at least 50 NM between the takeoff and landing locations
      3. Three solo takeoffs and landings to a full stop at an airport with an operating control tower.
    • Night requirements:
      1. 3 hours of night flight training
      2. One cross-country flight of over 100 nautical miles (190 km) total distance
      3. 10 takeoffs and 10 landings to a full stop (with each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern) at an airport
    • 3 hours of flight training on the control and maneuvering solely by reference to instruments
  • 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 inspector, FAA-designated examiner, or authorized check instructor (Part 141 only)

Commercial

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 airmanship. The commercial certificate itself does not allow a pilot to fly in instrument meteorological conditions, and commercial pilots without an instrument rating are restricted to daytime flight within 50 nautical miles (93 km) when flying for hire. A Commercial Pilot Licence (called a certificate in the United States) allows the holder to operate aircraft for compensation and hire. ... Look up airmanship in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) are weather conditions that require aircraft pilots to fly primarily by reference to instruments rather than outside visual references, as they could in Visual meteorological conditions (VMC). ... Instrument Rating refers to the qualifications that a pilot must have in order to fly under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). ...

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 at least a portion of the practical examination is performed in a complex aircraft. An complex airplane means an airplane with: flaps retractable undercarriage constant speed propeller A complex airplane is defined by the United States Federal Aviation Administration as a land airplane that has a retractable landing gear, flaps, and a controllable pitch propeller (also called a constant speed propeller); or, in the...

The requirements are:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Hold a private pilot certificate
• 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 airplane single-engine land class rating requirements:
  • 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 (93 km) from the departure airport and both solo and instructor-accompanied night flights
  • If training under Part 141, at least 190 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 100-question aeronautical knowledge test
• Pass an oral test and flight test administered by an FAA inspector, FAA-designated examiner, or authorized check instructor (Part 141 only)

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 of training to a higher safety standard.

Airline transport pilot

An airline transport pilot (commonly called an "ATP" or "ATPL") 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 Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL or ATP) is the highest level of aircraft pilot certification. ... The Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL or ATP) is the highest level of aircraft pilot certification. ...

The minimum pilot experience is 1500 hours of flight time and 500 hours of cross-country flight time. Other requirements include being 23 years of age, instrument rating, being able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language, and being of good moral character.

Commercial astronaut

With the advent of private commercial space flight ventures such as Scaled Composites' Tier One program, the FAA has been faced with the task of developing a certification process for the pilots of commercial spacecraft. The Commercial Space Launch Act of 1984 required companies to obtain a launch license for vehicles, but at the time manned commercial flight - and the licensing of crewmembers - was not considered. The Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act has led to the issuance of draft guidelines by the FAA in February 2005 for the administration of vehicle and crew certifications.^[1] Currently, the FAA has not issued formal regulatory guidance for the issuance of a Commercial Astronaut Certificate. The FAA has established the practice of awarding "Commercial Astronaut Wings" to commercial pilots who have completed a spaceflight; currently, two awards have been made, to SpaceShipOne pilots Mike Melvill and Brian Binnie.^[2] Scaled Composites (often abbreviated as Scaled), formerly the Rutan Aircraft Factory, is located at the Mojave Spaceport, Mojave, California, United States and is headed by aircraft designer Burt Rutan. ... Tier One is Scaled Composites program of suborbital human spaceflight using the reusable spacecraft SpaceShipOne and its launcher White Knight. ... Scaled Composites SpaceShipOne SpaceShipOnes patch The Scaled Composites Model 316 SpaceShipOne is an experimental air-launched suborbital spaceplane that uses a hybrid rocket motor. ... SpaceShipOne test pilot Mike Melvill Michael W. Melvill (born November 1941) is one of the test pilots for SpaceShipOne, the experimental spaceplane developed by Scaled Composites. ... SpaceShipOne test pilot Brian Binnie Brian Binnie is one of the test pilots for SpaceShipOne, the experimental spaceplane developed by Scaled Composites. ...

It should be noted that the Scaled Composites' SpaceShip One is formally registered as a glider, reflecting the fact that most of its independent flight is unpowered (notably return). As a result, SpaceShip One's Test Pilots are required to be certified as commercial glider pilots.

Number of active pilots

As of the end of 2006, there were 597,109 active certificated pilots, according to the AOPA Jan. 12, 07 newsletter which cites the FAA's estimates. This number has been declining slowly over the long term, down from a high of over 827,000 pilots in 1980. The numbers include:

• 84,866 student pilots
• 242 recreational pilots
• 939 sport pilots
• 236,147 private pilots
• 130,234 commercial pilots
• 144,681 airline transport pilots

Within those groups, there were:

• 37,837 glider pilots
• 10,511 balloon pilots
• 41,306 rotor (helicopter) pilots

An active pilot is defined as one who holds both a pilot certificate and a valid medical certificate, so this value omits pilots who do not have a medical certificate (particularly glider, balloon, and sport pilots).

Other certificates and ratings

• A flight instructor certificate or CFI authorizes the holder to instruct another person who is training for a certificate, rating, endorsement or flight review.
• An instrument rating is required to fly under instrument flight rules IFR. This allows the pilot to fly in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC): in (or near) clouds and low visibility. Flying under IFR almost invariably means flying under the direction of air traffic control (ATC). To get an instrument rating, the pilot must learn how to control the aircraft using only instruments and how to operate within the national airspace system (NAS), and gain a better understanding of weather and its effects on the aircraft and its systems. Instrument ratings are issued for a specific category of aircraft; a pilot certified to fly an airplane under IFR has an Instrument Airplane rating.
• A flight instructor instrument certificate rating or CFII.
• A multiengine rating is the most common example of a class rating; it is required to fly an airplane with more than one engine. Both single- and multi-engine class ratings are further divided into land and sea depending on whether the training was in a conventional land airplane or a seaplane. Airplane Single-Engine Land is by far the most common primary rating.
• A flight instructor multiengine certificate rating MEI.

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. A flight instructor is a person who teaches others to fly aircraft. ... CFI may refer to: CAD Framework Initiative, a standardization organization for CAD systems in the EDA area Canada Foundation for Innovation Canonical Format Indicator, a field in the IEEE 802. ... Instrument Rating refers to the qualifications that a pilot must have in order to fly under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). ... in-flight refueling Instrument flight rules Interface Repository Integral Fast Reactor This page concerning a three-letter acronym or abbreviation is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... For the Canadian musical group, see Air Traffic Control (band). ... France 24 (pronounced France Vingt-Quatre on both the French- and English-language edition) is an international news and current affairs television channel. ... A DeHavilland Single Otter floatplane in Harbour Air livery. ... ... The armed forces of the United States of America consist of the United States Army United States Navy United States Air Force United States Marine Corps United States Coast Guard Note: The United States Coast Guard has both military and law enforcement functions. ... First World War Aviator Badge WWI Senior Aviator Badge Enlisted Aviator Badge A United States Aviator Badge refers to three types of aviation badges issued by the United States military, those being for Army, Air Force, and Naval aviation. ...

Medical certification and requirements

FAA Medical Certificate

All certified pilots, with the exception of those with a sport pilot certificate or when in command of balloons or gliders, are required to maintain a medical certification commensurate with the privileges they intend to exercise as pilot-in-command of an aircraft. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (411x759, 29 KB) Summary Sample FAA airman medical certificate Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (411x759, 29 KB) Summary Sample FAA airman medical certificate Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... In the U.S., a Sport Pilot Certificate allows the pilot to operate a light-sport aircraft (a small, low-powered aircraft), under a limited set of flight conditions. ... This article is about hot air balloons themselves. ... Gliders are un-powered heavier-than-air aircraft. ...

To obtain a medical certification, pilots are required to undergo a medical examination from an Aviation Medical Examiner, or AME. The Aviation Medical Examiner performs an examination based upon the class of certification desired. An Aviation Medical Examiner (AME), in the United States, is a physician designated by the FAA and given the authority to perform physical examinations and issue airman medical certificates. ...

Medical certifications are divided into three classes:

Third class

Third class certifications require the least involved examinations of all medical certifications. They are required for those intending to be pilot-in-command of an aircraft under the Private or Recreational pilot certificates or while exercising solo privileges as a student pilot.

To qualify for a third class medical certificate, pilots must meet the following requirements:

• Distant vision: 20/40 or better in each eye separately^[3], with or without correction
• Near vision: 20/40 or better in each eye separately, with or without correction, as measured at a distance of 16 inches (410 mm)
• Color vision: Demonstrate the ability to perceive the colors necessary for the safe performance of airman duties
• Hearing: Demonstrate the ability to hear an average conversational voice in a quiet room, using both ears, at a distance of six feet, with their back turned to the examiner, or pass an approved audiometric test
• Ear, Nose, and Throat: Exhibit no ear disease or condition manifested by, or that may reasonably be expected to be manifested by, vertigo or a disturbance of speech or equilibrium
• Blood Pressure: Under 155/95
• Mental Status: No diagnosis of psychosis, bipolar disorder, or severe personality disorders
• Substance Dependence: No dependence on alcohol or any pharmacological substance in the previous two years

For pilots under 40 years of age, third class medical certificates expire on the last day of the month they were issued, three years from the date of issue. For all others, they expire on the last day of the month they were issued, two years from the date of issue. For other uses, see Psychosis (disambiguation). ... Wikinews has related news: Dr. Joseph Merlino on sexuality, insanity, Freud, fetishes and apathy Personality disorder, formerly referred to as a Character Disorder is a class of mental disorders characterized by rigid and on-going patterns of thought and action (Cognitive modules). ...

Second class

Second class certifications are required for those intending to exercise the privileges of the commercial pilot certificate.

To qualify for a second class medical certificate, pilots must meet the requirements for the third class certificate plus:

• Distant vision: 20/20 or better in each eye separately, with or without correction
• Intermediate vision: 20/40 or better in each eye separately, with or without correction, at age 50 and over, as measured at 32 inches

Second class certificates are valid until the last day of the month, twelve months after they were issued. The certificate holder may then only exercise the privileges of a third class medical certificate.

First class

First class certificates are required for those intending to be pilot-in-command in an air carrier operation requiring an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate. Other operations, including those under Part 91, may require a first class medical for insurance purposes, although it is not a federal requirement in such cases.

To qualify for the first class medical certificate, pilots must meet the requirements for the third and second class certificates plus:

• Heart Function: Electrocardiogram must show normal heart function once at age 35 and annually for those age 40 and over

First class certificates are valid until the last day of the month, six months after they were issued. The certificate holder may then only exercise the privileges of a second class medical certificate.

Special issuance

Pilots who do not meet the above requirements may be issued a medical certificate under a "special issuance." A special issuance is essentially a waiver for a disqualifying condition and is evaluated on a case-by-case basis depending on the class of certificate requested. Minor problems can be overcome by a special issuance from an Aviation Medical Examiner, while others require a special issuance from the FAA directly.

Restrictions

Restrictions may be placed upon a medical certificate to mitigate any concern for safety. For instance, color-blind pilots are typically issued a restriction reading, "NOT VALID FOR NIGHT FLIGHT OR BY COLOR SIGNAL CONTROL." This mitigates the concern that color-blind pilots may not be able to identify those colors required for the performance of safe airman duties by preventing situations that are considered potentially unsafe.

In many cases, these restrictions can be removed through a "Statement of Demonstrated Ability" (SODA), or a "Letter of Evidence" from the FAA indicating that the pilot's deficiency is of no concern.

Non-pilot certifications

• Flight Engineer Certifications applicable to large transportation aircraft (more than 80,000lb). Flight Engineer Certificates are further Rated by type of engine they are trained and tested on: Turbojet Powered, Turbopropeller Powered, Reciprocating Engine Powered.
• Flight Navigators and Flight Engineers are becoming less common as modern jets move towards two person flight crews.
• Modern technology and the high speed of jets has made the Flight Navigator Certificate obsolete.
• Ground Instructor, Parachute rigger, Aircraft Maintenance Technician, Repairman and Air Traffic Controller are also federally certified aviation-related positions. Most of these also have their rating systems. For example, an A&P is a certified mechanic with both airframe and powerplant ratings, and a Ground Instructor may be rated to give Basic, Advanced, and/or Instrument training.
• A Flight Dispatcher Certificate is required for people involved in operational control/dispatch under 14 CFR Part 121 commercial operations. Qualification requirements can be found in 14 CFR Part 121.463.

Pilots do not need FCC licenses to use the radio within the United States; however, other countries may require that a pilot have an FCC Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit (RP), and the aircraft radio station be licensed. In aviation, a flight engineer (also referred to as systems operator ) is a member of the aircrew of an aircraft who is responsible for checking the aircraft before and after each flight, and for monitoring aircraft systems during flight. ... Schematic diagram of high-bypass turbofan engine CFM56-3 turbofan, lower half, side view. ... A schematic diagram showing the operation of a turboprop engine. ... The radial engine is an internal combustion engine configuration in which the cylinders point outward from a central crankshaft like the spokes on a wheel. ... A parachute rigger is a person who is licenced to pack, maintain or repair parachutes. ... Aircraft Maintenance Technicians are individuals certificated by the FAA and adhere to the guidelines and Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) to keep aircraft airworthy. ... Controllers survey the field at Misawa Air Base, Japan. ... The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company, better known as A&P, is a United States and Canada. ... Airframe means the mechanical structure of an aircraft[1] and as generally used does not include the engines. ... A powerplant can mean: An aircraft engine (usually used in countries other than the U.S.) A power plant (a large facility that uses materials to generate electricity) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Six basic instruments in a light twin-engine airplane arranged in the basic-T. From top left: airspeed indicator, attitude indicator, altimeter, turn coordinator, heading indicator, and vertical speed indicator Most aircraft are equipped with a standard set of flight instruments which give the pilot information about the aircrafts... The Flight Dispatcher (also Flight Operations Officer) in airline operations has great authority over flights. ... FCC redirects here. ... RP or rp may stand for: Rate Plan (usually cellular) Received Pronunciation Republic Polytechnic, a polytechnic in Singapore Membership of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters in London Recommended practice Relief pitcher baseball term Repurchase agreement Reservation price Ron Paul Retinitis pigmentosa Role-playing RP-3, a rocket projectile Raffles...

• Flight attendants are not federally certified aviation professionals.

• Avionics Techs. /General radiotelephone operator license or (GROL) are certified by the FCC.

Flight attendant in an Embraer ERJ 145 LR of PBair, Thailand In aviation, flight attendants — also known as Cabin Crew, stewards, air hosts/hostesses, or stewardesses, — are members of a flight crew employed by airlines to ensure the safety and comfort of the passengers aboard commercial flights. ... Avionics is a portmanteau which literally means aviation electronics. ... The General Radiotelephone Operator License, or GROL, is a commercial license, as opposed to an amateur radio certificate. ... The General Radiotelephone Operator License, or GROL, is a commercial license, as opposed to an amateur radio certificate. ... The abbreviation FCC can refer to: Face-centered cubic (usually fcc), a crystallographic structure Federal Communications Commission, a US government organization Farm Credit Corporation/Farm Credit Canada, a Canadian government organization Families with Children from China, an adoption support organization Florida Christian College, a college in central Florida Fresno City...

References

Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 95th day of the year (96th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 51st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 51st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Federal Aviation Administration
  • How to Become a Pilot
  • Types of Licenses
  • How to Get Your Commercial Pilot License
  • FAA regulation library — pilot certification regulations can be found at Parts 61 and 141.
• Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
  • AOPA page describing the basics of obtaining a pilot certificate
  • AOPA aviation statistics page

See also

• Single pilot resource management
• Alien Flight Student Program
• Glider pilot license
• Ultralight aviation
• Paragliding
• Hang gliding