AIRMAN CERTIFICATION

Overview

This section provides useful information about the Final Examination, Certificates and Ratings, and ADD-ON Ratings.

Final Examination

The practical test, or check ride, consists of both an oral examination and flight test that will last between 2-3 hours depending on the specific pilot certificate and rating you are pursuing.

Many flight schools have a designated FAA examiner on staff, which allows you the convenience of performing the check ride directly at the flight school.

Certificates and Ratings

FAR 61.5 [Certificates and Ratings] [Excerpt]

A) The following Certificates are issued under this part to an applicant who satisfactorily accomplishes the training and certification requirements for the certificate sought:

1. Pilot Certificates

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

2. Flight Instructor Certificates
3. Ground Instructor Certificates

B) The following Ratings are placed on a Pilot Certificate (other than student pilot) when an applicant satisfactorily accomplishes the training and certification requirements for the rating sought:

1. Aircraft Category Ratings

   	Airplane
   	Rotorcraft
   	Glider
   	Lighter-than-air
   	Powered-lift

2. Airplane Class Ratings

   	Single engine land
   	Multi engine land
   	Single engine sea
   	Multi engine sea

3. Rotorcraft Class Ratings

   	Helicopter
   	Gyroplane

4. Lighter-than-air Class Ratings

   	Airship
   	Balloon

5. Aircraft Type Ratings

   	Large aircraft (over 12 500 pounds), other than lighter-than-air
   	Turbojet-powered airplanes
   	Other aircraft type ratings specified by the Administrator (FAA) through the aircraft type certification procedures.

6. Instrument Ratings (on private and commercial pilot certificates only)

   	Instrument - Airplanes
   	Instrument - Helicopter
   	Instrument - Powered-lift

C) The following Ratings are placed on a Flight Instructor Certificate when an applicant satisfactorily accomplishes the training and certification requirements for the rating sought:

1. Aircraft Category Ratings

   	Airplane
   	Rotorcraft
   	Glider
   	Powered-lift

2. Airplane Class Ratings

   	Single engine
   	Multi engine

3. Rotorcraft Class Ratings

   	Helicopter
   	Gyroplane

4. Instrument Ratings

   	Instrument - Airplane
   	Instrument - Helicopter
   	Instrument - Powered-lift

5. Sport Pilot Rating

D) The following Ratings are placed on a Ground Instructor Certificate when an applicant satisfactorily accomplishes the training and certification requirements for the rating sought:

	Basic
	Advanced
	Instrument

ADD-ON Ratings

As the name suggests, ADD-ON ratings are those you obtain in addition to the pilot certificate you already have from either the FAA or from another country that has membership in the ICAO.

For example:

You have a private pilot certificate with an airplane category and single engine class rating and want to obtain a multi engine rating or a rotorcraft category and helicopter class rating.

In this case some of your previous flight experience will be credited towards your new rating!

Copyright © , Ing. Guenther Geretschnig. All rights reserved.