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Pilot certification

Pilot certification in the United States is typically required for an individual to act as a pilot in command of an aircraft. It is regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a branch of the U. S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). A pilot may be certified under 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 61 or 14 CFR Part 141 (if a student at an approved part 141 school). Pilots may also be certified under 14 CFR Part 107 for commercial drone operations. An FAA issued pilot certificate is evidence that an individual is duly authorized to exercise piloting privileges. The pilot certificate is one of several kinds of airman certificates issued by the FAA for flight engineers, flight instructors, ground instructors, aircraft dispatchers, mechanics/repairmen, parachute riggers, control tower operators, flight navigators, and flight attendants.

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 military 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 certificated 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. Under Part 61 pilot training, individuals can become a private pilot in about three months and a commercial pilot in as quick as seven months.

Most pilot certificates and ratings require the applicant to pass a knowledge test, also called the written test. The knowledge test results are valid for a period of 2 years, and are usually a prerequisite for practical tests. Resources available to prepare for the knowledge test may be obtained from pilot supply stores or vendors. The exceptions where a knowledge exam is not required for a practical test are for some add on ratings after the initial license, such as a powered aircraft pilot adding another category rating at the same license level. To take knowledge tests for all pilot certificates and ratings, the applicant must have a sign off from a ground or flight instructor. These are usually given by an instructor who has taught a ground school course, provided ground instruction or reviewed the applicant's self study preparations. Certain circumstances don't require sign offs for some flight instructor or airline transport pilot knowledge tests.

All pilots certificates and ratings, except sUAS, require a practical test, usually called a check ride. For each practical test, the FAA publishes an Airman Certification Standards (ACS) document (formerly Practical Test Standards (PTS)) that they expect the applicant to be familiar with, the flight instructor to reference, and the examiner to use to conduct the exam. A practical test is administered by an FAA Inspector or an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner. The check ride is divided into two parts: the oral exam followed by a flight test in the aircraft. Upon successful completion of the practical test, the examiner issues a temporary airman certificate with the new license or rating. To take practical tests for all pilot certificates and ratings (except airline transport pilot), the applicant must have proper logbook endorsements from their flight instructor, and meet basic eligibility requirements required for the ratings desired.

The FAA offers a progression of pilot certificates or licenses. Each license has varying experience and knowledge requirements and has varying privileges and limitations.

An airline transport pilot (commonly called an "ATP") is tested to the highest level of piloting ability. The certificate is a prerequisite for acting as a flight crew member in scheduled airline operations. The minimum pilot experience is 1,500 hours of flight time (1200 for Helicopters), 500 hours of cross country flight time, 100 hours of night flight time, and 75 hours instrument operations time (simulated or actual). Other requirements include being 23 years of age, an instrument rating, being able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language, a rigorous written examination, and being of good moral character. An Airline Transport Pilot – restricted (ATP r) is also available for pilots that do not meet the more rigorous requirements of an ATP. The only hour requirement for the ATP r is 1,500 total and 200 cross country. The "total time" requirement is reduced to 750 hours for former military pilots, 1,000 hours for graduates of university bachelor's degree programs, or 1,250 for graduates of university associate degree programs. The holder of an ATP r is limited to only serving as the first officer in a two pilot operation. Upon obtaining the requisite age and aeronautical experience, the pilot is issued an unrestricted ATP without further examination. see 14CFR61.160 (requirements) and 14CFR61.167 (privileges and limitations)

Pilots are required to accumulate a certain number and type of flight hours for each certificate or rating. The requirements become more numerous with each successive rating, but most requirements can be "stacked" (i. e. flying cross country in instrument conditions fulfills both cross country and instrument hour requirements). Detailed requirements for each rating can be found in 14 CFR Part 61 and in the sections to follow. While it is theoretically possible to achieve a certificate/rating at the minimum hour requirements, pilots are required to demonstrate proficiency before they can take the written, oral, and practical tests for each. The Private Pilot Certificate in particular is known to take students more than the legal minimum hours to complete. These minimums were set decades ago, before the era of complex GPS units and an increasingly regulated National Airspace System. The national average for the Private Pilot Certificate is currently estimated at 60 75 hours.

According to FAR Part 61.65(d),
An instrument rating is required to fly under instrument flight rules. Instrument ratings are issued for a specific category of aircraft; a pilot certificated to fly an airplane under IFR has an Instrument Airplane rating. An instrument instructor rating authorizes a certificated flight instructor to give training and endorsement for an instrument rating pilot. A multi engine rating is required to fly an airplane with more than one engine. It is the most common example of a class rating. A multi engine instructor rating authorizes a certificated flight instructor to give training and endorsement for a multi engine rating. 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. Unmanned Aircraft System (Drone) pilots are required to obtain a remote pilot airman certificate with a small UAS rating when operating commercially.