Anyone wishing to train for a commercial or airline transport pilot’s licence will need to obtain an initial Class 1 medical certificate as part of the licensing requirements. This test is country-specific. Each country has certified physicians/centres in India to conduct Class I Medical Assessment before flying to that country to pursue Pilot Training.
Sunsea Aviation Services Private Limited
Pilot License
PILOT LICENSE
Pilot licensing or certification refers to permits to fly aircraft that are issued by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in each country, establishing that the holder has met a specific set of knowledge and experience requirements.
The Civil Aviation Authorities of all countries operate under the framework of The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which is a UN specialized agency, created in 1944 upon the signing of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention).
ICAO works with the Convention’s 191 Member States and global aviation organizations to develop international Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) which States reference when developing their legally-enforceable national civil aviation regulations.
Pilot licensing or certification includes taking a flying test. The certified pilot can then exercise a specific set of privileges in that nation’s airspace. Despite attempts to harmonize the requirements between nations, the differences in certification practices and standards from place to place serve to limit full international validity of the national qualifications. In addition, U.S. pilots are certified, not licensed, although the word license is still commonly used informally Legally, pilot certificates can be revoked by administrative action, whereas licensing (e.g., a driver’s license) requires intervention by the judiciary system.
- In United States, pilot certification is regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a branch of the Department of Transportation (DOT). A pilot is certified under the authority of Parts 61 and 141 of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, also known as the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs).
- In Canada, licensing is issued by Transport Canada.
- In the United Kingdom, licensing is issued by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
- In most European countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Switzerland, and many others, licensing is issued by the national aviation authority according to a set of common rules established by the Joint Aviation Authorities known as Joint Aviation Rules – Flight Crew Licensing (JAR-FCL).
- In India the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is the issuing authority.
Different types of pilot certificates and ratings are explained as under.
There are a total of 4 types of pilot licenses :
Student Pilot License (SPL)
This is the first pilot license one would need to fly an airplane as a pilot-in-command.
Private Pilot License (PPL)
A Private Pilot License (PPL) is the minimum required for a pilot to take passengers up with them.
Commercial Pilot License (CPL)
A commercial pilot license (CPL), is a qualification that permits the holder to act as a pilot of an aircraft and be paid for their work.
Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL)
This is the acme of all the pilot certificates or licenses. To be a Captain with an airline, you would need to have an Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL)
Student Pilot License (SPL)
This is the first pilot license one would need to fly an airplane as a pilot-in-command. When you are flying and receiving training from a flight instructor, you do not need any license. However, at some point during your training your instructor would get out of the airplane and would want you to go up on your own. This is called a solo, and the first one is called the first solo. And for this solo, and all the subsequent ones, you need a student pilot license. Typically, you would need this until you reach 40-50 hours of total flight time and get your Private Pilot License (PPL).
An SPL is good for 24 months, and the process to get it is pretty simple. You will also need an Pilot Medical Certificate. Usually you would get both of them together.
Private Pilot License (PPL)
A Private Pilot License (PPL) is the minimum required for a pilot to take passengers up with them. Once you have your PPL, you can take your family and friends up with you whenever you go fly around. You will need to take a written and a practical test to get your PPL. But it is all covered during your training as an SPL holder. A PPL in the United States does not expire. That means, once you have it, you have it forever. Of course if you do something you are not supposed to do, it can be suspended or even revoked.
A private pilot licence (PPL) or, in the United States, a private pilot certificate, is a license that permits the holder to act as the pilot-in-command of an aircraft privately (not for pay). The requirements to obtain the license are determined by the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO), but the actual implementation varies widely from country to country. According to the ICAO, it is obtained by successfully completing a course with at least 40 hours (45 in Europe) of flight time, passing seven written exams, completing an extensive solo cross country flight (minimum cumulative solo flight time is 10 hours), and successfully demonstrating flying skills to an examiner during a flight test or checkride (including an oral exam). In the USA, pilots can be trained under Title 14 of federal code part 141 which allows them to apply for their certificate in as little as 35 hours. However, most pilots require 60–70 hours of flight time to complete training. The minimum age for a private pilot certificate is 16 for balloons and gliders, and 17 for powered flight (airplanes, helicopters, and gyroplanes). Pilots can begin training at any age and can solo balloons and gliders at age 14, powered aircraft at age 16.
Commercial Pilot License (CPL)
A commercial pilot license (CPL), is a qualification that permits the holder to act as a pilot of an aircraft and be paid for their work.
The basic requirements to obtain the license and the privileges it confers are agreed internationally by International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). However the actual implementation varies quite widely from country to country. According to ICAO, to be eligible for a commercial pilot license, the applicant must be able to read, speak, write, and understand English: already hold a private pilot license, have received training in the areas of a commercial pilot, and successfully complete the relevant written exams. To proceed in obtaining a commercial pilot license, the applicant must first obtain first-class medical certification. The JAA has several approved courses leading to the issue of a JAA commercial pilot’s license with an instrument rating without first obtaining a private pilot’s license. Upon completing those prerequisites the applicant will then receive an exam from the governing aviation body that consists of an oral and practical flight test from an examiner. Applicants for a CPL (aeroplanes) must also have completed a solo cross-country flight of at least 300 nm with full-stop landings at two airfields other than the pilot’s airfield of origin.
Different types of commercial pilot certificates or licenses are issued for the major categories of aircraft: airplanes, helicopters, gyroplanes, balloons and airships.
A certificate/license will contain a number of sub-qualifications or ratings. These specify in more detail the actual privileges of the license, including the types of aircraft that can be flown (single-engine or multiengine), whether flight under instrument flight rules is allowed (instrument rating), and whether instructing and examining of trainee pilots can be done (instructor or examiner rating).
Some JAA states (but not the United States) restrict the use of the title “Captain” to CPL holders and above. In the United States, a CPL has traditionally been sufficient to be a pilot on a regularly scheduled passenger flight, while an ATPL is required to serve as the pilot in command of such a flight (14 CFR 121.437). Effective July 15, 2013, all pilots crewing U.S. airlines’ regularly scheduled passenger flights must hold an ATPL (including the co-pilot).
A Commercial Pilot License (CPL) is what you would need to get a job, and get paid as a pilot. If you want to join the airlines as a pilot, this is the minimum requirement. You will need about 250 hours total flight time to get your CPL. Again there is no expiration date on this license.
Just like your Private, you would need to pass a written and a practical exam to get your Commercial Pilot License.
About ATPL
Airline Transport Pilot ATPL, Multi Engine Rating ME and Instrument Rating IR Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL)
This is the acme of all the pilot certificates or licenses. To be a Captain with an airline, you would need to have an Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL). You need to have at least 1500 hours of flight time to qualify for this. This license does not have any expiration date either.
Just to clarify, you need a Commercial Pilot License to get a job with an airline as a co-pilot or a first officer. But to become a Captain eventually, you need an Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL).
The Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) is the highest level of aircraft pilot licence, required to command aircraft over 5700 kg or with over 9 passenger seats.
For ATPL (A) – The minimum flying experience required for grant of an ATPL is 1500 hrs.
For ATPL (H) – The minimum flying experience required for grant of an ATPL is 1000 hrs.
In each (aeroplane and helicopter) ATPL exam, there are seven parts. Each part covers one or two aeronautical subject(s) detailed in the respective syllabus. Due to the syllabus scope for each part and the time involved, each part is examined separately. Thus each of the (aeroplane and helicopter) ATPL part-exams is an individual exam.
ELIGIBILITY
Eligibility Criteria:-
- Candidate whose age is above 18 years.
- Candidates who have passed 10+2 in science discipline with Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects.
- Candidates who have passed diploma in any engineering discipline.
- Candidates who have passed bachelor’s degree in science with Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects.
Skills needed for an Airline Pilot, Co-Pilot, Flight Engineer
1. Operation and Control – Controlling operations of equipment and systems
2. Coordination – Adjusting actions in relations to others’ actions
3. Judgment and Decision Making – Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to chose the most appropriate one
4. Operation Monitoring – Watching gauges, dials and other indicators to make sure that a machine is working properly
5. Active Listening – Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking appropriate questions and not interrupting at inappropriate times
6. Systems Evaluation – Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or to correct performance relative to the goals of the system
7. Critical Thinking – Using logic and reasoning to identify the pros and cons of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems
8. Monitoring – Monitoring/Assessing performance of self, other individuals or organizations to make improvements or to take corrective action wherever and whenever required
9. Instructing – Teaching others how to do something
10. Speaking – Talking to others to convey information effectively
11. Reading Comprehension – Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents
12. Mathematics – Using Mathematics to solve problems
13. Writing – Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience
14. Science – Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems
15. Time Management – Managing own time and others’ time effectively
16. Complex Problem Solving – Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions
17. Active Learning – Understanding the implications of new information for current and future problem-solving and decision-making
18. Quality Control Analysis – Conducting tests and inspections of products, services or processes to evaluate quality and performance
19. Systems Analysis – Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations and the environment will affect outcomes
PILOT RATINGS
Pilot ratings are additional qualifications that you can add to an existing Pilot’s license to enhance your abilities as a pilot. The examples are: Instrument Rating and Multi Engine Rating.
Instrument Rating (IR)
An Instrument Rating (IR) is what’s required to be able to fly an airplane inside and through the clouds, and at times of low visibility. The training involves the pilot to learn how to fly an airplane simply by looking at flight instruments inside the cockpit. If you are on a career path to be an airline pilot then this is a must. IR is a requirement to get a job with an airline, and also to qualify for an Airline Transport Pilot. This is usually obtained after your get your Private Pilot License, and before you get your Commercial Pilot License.
Multi-Engine Rating
Most of your training will be done on single engine airplanes (SE), like Cessna and Piper. However, to qualify for an airline pilot position, you will need to be qualified to fly airplanes with multiple engines. Most airline airplanes have more than one engine. And this training is called Multi-Engine Rating (ME). Most people get their Multi-Engine Rating along with or right after their Commercial Pilot License.
Flight Instructor
A flight instructor is a person who teaches others to fly aircraft. Specific privileges granted to holders of a flight instructor qualification vary from country to country, but very generally, a flight instructor serves to enhance or evaluate the knowledge and skill level of an aviator in pursuit of a higher pilot’s license, certificate or rating.
A person who holds a flight instructor certificate (called a “certificated flight instructor” or CFI) is authorized to give training and endorsements required for and relating to:
- a student, private, commercial or other pilot certificate;
- the three hours of training with reference only to instruments in preparation for a private pilot certificate, note that this does not need to be a CFII.
- an instrument rating, only if the CFI has an instrument instructor rating (CFII); This cannot be given by a “safety pilot”. A safety pilot can only be used to help maintain instrument proficiency with an instrument-rated pilot by flying the required six instrument approaches-holding-intercepting and tracking courses, within the preceding six calendar months.
- a flight instructor certificate is only given if the experience requirements have been met (detailed below);
- a flight review, endorsement (previously called BFR) (currently referred to as flight review see 14 CFR part 61.56), or recency of experience requirement;
- preparation for a practical test (typically three hours within the preceding 60 days in preparation for a certificate or rating); or endorsement for a knowledge test (written examination)
Certain limitations are placed on the instruction a flight instructor may give. For example, flight instructors wishing to train applicants for a flight instructor certificate must have held their own flight instructor certificate for at least 24 months and must have given at least 200 hours of instruction (and approved by the local FSDO). Specific training programs have additional requirements or limitations.
Type Rating
A type rating is a regulating agency’s certification of an airplane pilot to fly a certain aircraft type that requires additional training beyond the scope of the initial license and aircraft class training. What aircraft require a type rating is decided by the local aviation authority. In many countries pilots of single-engined aircraft under a certain maximum weight (5,700 kg or 12,500 lb, typically) do not require a type rating for each model, all or most such aircraft being covered by one class rating instead.
Aircraft Type Ratings
After sitting a flight test that requires a new licence to be issued, pilots can have additional aircraft type ratings added to their new licence for no extra charge. Applicants must include a completed licence amendment form CAA24061/04, and photocopied evidence that the type rating has been issued and certified by a flight instructor in the applicant’s pilot logbook, along with their licence issue paperwork.
When pilots gain a type rating for a single-pilot aircraft type, after the initial issue of their licence, they are now requested to fill in a type rating form so that the type rating can be added to their record in the database.
Pilots who have done this will automatically have any new type ratings added to their licence, at no extra charge, when they upgrade it, for example from a PPL to a CPL, or if they gain an Instrument Rating. Prescribed issue fees for the licence or prime rating are still payable.
If pilots wish to have type ratings added to their licence as a separate exercise from a licence upgrade or prime rating issue, then a licence amendment fee will be charged.
A type rating is a regulating agency’s certification of an airplane pilot to fly a certain aircraft type that requires additional training beyond the scope of the initial license and aircraft class training. What aircraft require a type rating is decided by the local aviation authority. In many countries pilots of single-engined aircraft under a certain maximum weight (5,700 kg or 12,500 lb, typically) do not require a type rating for each model, all or most such aircraft being covered by one class rating instead. There are exceptions to this, e.g. under Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) regulations the piston version of the Piper Malibu does require its own type rating. In New Zealand and South Africa there is no class rating, each aircraft model requiring its own rating. Countries which have adopted the class rating system for small aircraft typically require additional training and license endorsement for complexity features such as conventional undercarriage (tailwheels), variable-pitch propellers, retractable undercarriage, etc.
Starting in 2006, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States requires co-pilots (second-in-command, or SIC) to have a ‘SIC Type Rating’ for aircraft requiring a crew of two, and otherwise requires a type rating to act as pilot-in-command (PIC) to fly internationally, or over international airspace. This is in order to remain compliant with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). This is outlined in Code of Federal Regulations Title 14 §61.55 (14 CFR 61.55). Such a type rating is not required for operations completely within the United States. Obtaining a SIC Type Ratings is significantly less rigorous than obtaining a ‘full’ or Pilot in command (PIC) type rating.
An instrument rating is required for some type ratings.
In the United States some type ratings can be issued with a “Visual flight rules (VFR) only” limitation when the type rating checkride was conducted without Instrument flight rules (IFR) approaches or operations, but only VFR maneuvers and procedures. This is most typical in older aircraft (i.e. Ford Trimotor, N-B25, B17, etc.)
Medical Requirements
There are two kinds of medical tests:
Class II Medical Assessment
This certificate is prerequisite It is a medical requirement specified by DGCA for students who wish to pursue Pilot training courses. There are examinations for Physical, mental, visual and hearing requirements. This is taken by a DGCA certified physician.