Pilot Certificates
There are several levels of pilot certificates in the United States. For each, the student pilot must
acquire a minimum amount of flight training, demonstrate proficiency, and successfully pass both a written
and a practical skills exam.
Student Pilot Certificate
This is the first certificate given to prospective pilots. It allows a person to operate an aircraft while under the supervision
of a Certificated Flight Instructor. The only requirement is that a student pilot must present a valid form of ID to an instructor
who will then endorse the student for issuance of this certificate.
Private Pilot Certificate
This is the first license a student pilot achieves. It requires a minum of 40 hours of flight training and allows
a pilot to fly anywhere in the United States, day or night, while carrying passengers and cargo. A private pilot
may not fly in clouds, nor may a private pilot fly for compensation or hire.
Instument Rating
An instrument rating is not a certificate in itself but rather an added set of privileges. It
requires a pilot to have an additional 40-50 hours of training with special emphasis on flying by instruments only.
Pilots with instument ratings may fly in the clouds and when their visibility is restricted to less than basic visual minimums.
An instrument rating is NOT for flying through thunderstorms, known icing, or any other hazardous weather conditions.
Commercial Pilot Certificate
A commercial pilot certificate allows a pilot to fly for compensation or hire. It requires a minimum of 250 hours of flight
training. Commercial pilots are required to hone their skills to a finer degree because they are now available for hire by the general public.
With the added privilege of working for hire comes the responsibility for ensuring the safe operation of the aircraft and outcome of each flight.
Commercial pilots are not required to have an instrument rating however, if they do not obtain one then they are restricted to daytime
operations only, and they must remain within 50NM of their home airport
while operating for compensation or hire.
Certificated Flight Instructor
A flight instructor is considered one of the most difficult certificates to earn. A flight instructor must
have both a commercial certificate and an added instrumnet rating. Additionally, a flight instructor must be able
to proficiently operate an aircraft from the passenger side seat while teaching other pilots. Flight instructors
are considered the gaurdians of aviation. Their job is to teach other pilots how to fly while emphasizing the inmportance
of safety.
Airline Transport Pilot
An airline transport pilot may legally act as the pilot-in-command of an aircraft operating as an airline or cargo transport
company. In order to achieve this rating most pilots earn their CFI certificate and build time teaching others.
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