Pilot License Types and What They Mean

Just like you need a license to drive your car, a pilot license is important to have for operating an aircraft. According to the FAA, “pilot licenses” are really called “pilot certifications”, but we’ll be referring to them as “pilot licenses” throughout this blog for the purpose of basic understanding and explanation. Using the information below, you can identify which pilot license – or types of pilot licenses – you’ll need to accomplish your aviation goals.

Generally, when it comes to earning different types of pilot licenses, individuals are required to meet certain age, English language and other basic eligibility minimums, so it’s important to make sure you’re coinciding with each. Acting as pilot in command of an airplane requires a pilot license issued by the FAA, medical certification and a government-issued photo ID. Additionally, ratings can be added to a pilot license (certificate), giving the pilot permission to conduct certain operations.

There are privileges and limitations that accompany different pilot license types as well. In fact, each pilot license allows its holder to fly aircraft of a certain category and class. “Category” is a broad term for type of aircraft, such as airplane, rotorcraft and lighter than air, while “class” is more specific and alludes to a plane’s operating characteristics, such as single engine or multi-engine, as well as land or sea.

There are all different types of pilots out there, and if you’re ready to take flight but aren’t sure what’s required for you to do so, read on!

Private Pilot License

Above a recreational pilot license is the private pilot license (PPL). A private pilot license removes many restrictions but does not make a pilot eligible for compensation or hire.

Depending on whether a flight school operates under Part 61 or Part 141, there are variances in the private pilot license requirements that follow. In general, however, an individual must:

• Pass a written knowledge and practical test
• Hold at least a student pilot certificate
• Complete at least 35 – 40 of flight time minimum

A private pilot license opens the door to opportunity. With these pilot license types, you’re able to carry more than one passenger (up to the amount of weight your aircraft can hold) and fly outside a 50-mile radius – even outside the U.S.! With your PPL, you can fly at night and at towered airports. This license is required for those interested in furthering their career and earning additional licenses.

An instrument rating can be added to your PPL, although this is not a certificate by itself. This allows you to fly “by instruments”, which means you can operate in situations with restricted visibility. An instrument rating is incredibly important to have if you plan to fly long distances and/or professionally.

Airline Transport Pilot License

For most commercial pilot license holders, the goal is to fly for the commercial airlines, which requires an airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate. Depending on their education background, a pilot will either need to obtain a restricted or unrestricted ATP license to become a commercial airline pilot.

For an ATP license with unrestricted privileges, the pilot must:

• Be at least 23 years of age
  
• Pass a written knowledge and practical test
• Have a commercial pilot license with instrument and multi-engine time
• Complete a minimum of 1,500 flight hours

An R-ATP is available for graduates of FAA-approved bachelor and associate degrees and for pilots who haven’t yet met the above age and/or hour requirements. Until they’ve met the age and flight hour requirements, the R-ATP will give them the opportunity to work as a co-pilot with the airlines earlier upon completing the ATP Certification Training Program (ATP CTP), an additional course that trains pilots to fly in an airline environment. The requirements are as follows:

• Be at least 21 years of age
  
• Pass a written knowledge and practical test
• Have a commercial pilot license with instrument and multi-engine time
• Complete the ATP CTP
• Complete a minimum of 1,000 flight hours

With the R-ATP, pilots are able to work as First Officers alongside a Captain as is typical at the commercial airlines. A graduate of a college or university needs 1,000 flight hours if he or she earned an approved bachelor’s degree and graduates with an associate’s degree need 1,250 hours to earn the ATP. Without a degree, you’re still required to meet the 1,500 hour requirement. Military pilots require 750 hours flight time and 200 cross-country hours for their ATP.

If you’re ready to launch your airline career, these types of pilot licenses are necessary to obtain.

For those in the AeroGuard Pilot Pathway Program, students will go through their Private, Commercial and CFI licenses, receive a guaranteed interview for a CFI job with AeroGuard to build their 1,500 hours and then complete their ATP training at SkyWest Airlines. This offers a simple, direct and accelerated path to the commercial airlines.