Pilot Certification

From Pilots Almanac

Pilot Certification is regulated by Part 61 of the Federal Aviation Regulations.

Contents 1 Types of Airman Certificates (US) 2 Airman Certificate Requirements 3 Types of Airman Ratings (US) 4 Airman Ratings Requirements 5 Medical Certificates 5.1 Third Class 5.2 Second Class 5.3 First Class 5.4 Special Issuance 5.5 Restrictions

Types of Airman Certificates (US)

There are several types of civilian Pilot Certificates in the United States issued by the Federal Aviation Administration.

• Student Pilot
• Sport Pilot
• Recreational Pilot
• Private Pilot
• Commercial Pilot
• Airline Transport Pilot

Airman Certificate Requirements

Each certificate has a different set of requirements that must be met in order to earn them.

• Sport Pilot Requirements
• Recreational Pilot Requirements
• Private Pilot Requirements
• Commercial Pilot Requirements
• ATP Requirements

Types of Airman Ratings (US)

• Instrument Rating
• Multi-engine Rating
• Type Rating
• Seaplane Rating
• Certificated Flight Instructor
• Sport Pilot Certificated Flight Instructor

Airman Ratings Requirements

• Instrument Rating Requirements
• Multi-engine Rating Requirements
• Seaplane Rating Requirements

Medical Certificates

An FAA Medical Certificate is required for most airman certificates when a pilot intends to act as Pilot in Command. Medical certifications are broken down into three (3) classes:

Third Class

Third Class medical certificates have the least restrictive medical requirements and are required for a pilot to excercise their Recreational or Private Pilot certificates or to solo as a student pilot. A Certificated Flight Instructor may give commercial instruction with only a Third Class medical certificate.

Third Class certificates are valid for:

• 36 months if pilot is under 40 when the certificate is issued
• 24 months if pilot is 40 or older when the certificate is issued

Third Class certificates expire on the last day of the month, 24 or 36 months after they are issued (see above). So if a medical certificate is issued for a 39 year old pilot on April 1st, the certificate will be valid until April 30th 36 months later.

Second Class

Second Class medical certificates have slightly more restrictive medical requirements than Third Class medical certificates and are required for pilots wishing to exercise Commercial Pilot certificates. Note that Commercial privileges as a Flight Instructor require only a Third Class medical certificate.

Second Class medical certificates are valid until the last day of the month 12 months after being issued. The certificate holder may then only exercise the privileges of a third class medical certificate.

First Class

First Class medical certificates have the most rigid medical requirements and are required for anyone intending to fly pilot-in-command in an air carrier operation requiring an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate.

First Class medical certificates are valid until the last day of the month 6 months after being issued. The certificate holder may then only exercise the privileges of a second class medical certificate.

Special Issuance

Pilots who do not meet the requirements for a medical certificate above may be issued a certificate under "special issuance." A special issuance 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. As an example, a color-blind pilot is usually issued a restriction reading, "NOT VALID FOR NIGHT FLIGHT OR BY COLOR SIGNAL CONTROL."

In many cases, 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.