Planes and Flight

Pilot's in the U.S. are qualified to fly at a specific privilege level. These levels are as follows:

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

Within these privilege levels, pilots get certified to fly certain types and classes of aircraft. Type ratings are also required in a specific make and model of airplane if the airplane is "large" (greater than 12,500 lb gross weight) or powered by one or more jet engines. Boeing 747, DC-10, and Dash-8 are examples of type ratings. Additionally there is an ultralight category of aircraft which requires no training or certification to fly. To obtain a certificate or add a rating, a pilot usually has to undergo a course of training with a certificated instructor, accumulate and log specific aeronautical experience, and pass a three-part examination: a knowledge test (a computerized multiple-choice test, typically called the "written test"), and a combined oral and practical test carried out by either an FAA inspector or a designated examiner. In this article we will focus on the student, sports, and private pilot certifications.

Student Pilot Certificate

A student pilot certificate is issued by a aviation medical examiner. It is valid for 24 months after it is issued. The certificate is only required when the student pilot is flying solo. When the student has gone through enough training, and accrued enough experience, his certified flight instructor can endorse the student's certificate to authorize limited solo flight in a specific type of aircraft. A student flying solo may not carry passengers or fly on business, or in any aircraft for which he was not endorsed. There is no required aeronautical knowledge or experience for getting a student pilot certificate, but in order to fly solo, obviously, the student must accrue a vast amount of experience.

Sport Pilot Certification

The sport pilot certificate was created in 2004 to meet demand from pilots flying small, low-powered aircraft. The certification offers limited privileges. It does not generally require a medical examination; a driver's license is considered sufficient proof. To obtain a sport pilot certificate, the applicant must:

* Be 17 years of age
* Be able to read, speak, write, and understand English
* Log at least 20 hours of flight time of which at 15 hours are with an instructor, including 2 hours of cross-country instruction, and 5 hours of solo flight.
* Fly one solo cross-country over a total distance of 75 or
more nautical miles to two different destinations. At least one leg of this cross-country flight must be over a total distance of at least 25 nautical miles.
* Have received 3 hours of dual instruction in the preceding 60 days
* Pass a written test
* Pass a practical test

There are also certain restrictions on a pilot using this certificate. He may not have more than one passenger, he may only fly in daytime, he may not exceed an altitude of 10,000 ft, and he may not fly in airspace that requires radio communication, unless he has obtained additional instruction and instructor endorsement in this area.

Private Pilot

The majority of active pilots hold a private pilot certificate. It allows the command of any aircraft (once you get the appropriate ratings) for any non-commercial purposes. With this certification you may carry passengers, and fly on business, but you may not get paid for your services (other than passengers paying their share of rental fees/fuel costs.) To obtain a private pilot's certificate an applicant must be 17 years of age, have the ability to read and write English, obtain a medical certificate from the Aviation Medical Examiner, pass a test on aeronautical knowledge, and complete certain experience requirements.