Permission to Fly
IF you’re going to be a pilot, you need “permission” to fly. The FAA grants and regulates that permissioning process. In all, there are 3 types of permissions available to pilots:
1. Certificates
You must have an Airman’s Certificate (more commonly knows as, Pilot’s License) to fly an airplane. There are seven types of Airman’s Certificates (from least to most advanced)
2. Ratings
Ratings attach to your Pilot Certificate and allow the pilot additional privileges. Popular ratings are the Instrument Rating, Multi Engine Rating and Seaplane Rating. These can attach to Private Pilot Certificate or more advanced certificate.
The instrument Rating allows a pilot to fly in the clouds with reduced visibility, relying solely on instruments. The Multi-Engine Rating allows a pilot to fly an airplane with more than one engine. If you want to fly an airplane on floats that can take off and land on water, you’ll need a Seaplane Rating.
Like a Certificate, all ratings require a practical test, which is given by an FAA Examiner, or a DPE. However, not all ratings require a Knowledge test.
Type ratings (Ratings for a specific Type of aircraft) are required for all aircraft that weigh more than 12,500 pounds or are powered by a turbojet.
3. Endorsements
Endorsements are given by instructors. They indicate that the pilot has certain proficiencies that do not require a Certificate or Rating. As a Student Pilot, you’ll get many endorsements from your instructor providing limited permission. The “solo” endorsement may be the most well-known. It allows a student to fly solo, which is required as part of private pilot training.
Other Endorsements are enumerated in FAR 61.31, and include:
- Complex Airplane
- High Performance Airplane
- High Altitude
- Tailwheel
A Flight Review Endorsement is required for all pilots every 24 months (there are a few exceptions). The regulation can be found in FAR 61.56.