What do you Need: License? Certificates? Ratings?

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Many people think that once you test for your pilot certificate, you are set to do whatever you want.  That could not be further from the truth.  Let's first cover some common misconceptions, and then I will explain what you need, and what additional items I recommend.

Misconception 1: Pilot License

Pilots do not have licenses; they have certificates with ratings.  A license is something the government GAVE you, granting you permission.  A license is not earned.  A certificate is something a governmental agency or governing body awards you for earning the qualification.  For example, you pass drivers ed as a teenager.  The school gives you a completion certificate as you earned the requirements to graduate the course.  You take that certificate to the DMV and they give you a license, granting you permission to drive a car.  Another example is a doctor.  You graduate med school and the school gives you a certificate (degree) stating that you passed the requirements and earned your degree.  You take that certificate (degree) and apply for a license from the governing body to practice medicine.

Pilots EARN certificates through flight training and testing.

Misconception 2: An airline pilot is a commercial pilot.

An airline pilot and commercial pilot are two different things.  Amongst other requirements, a commercial pilot only requires 250 hours (with exception) in order to become said type of pilot.  These pilots fly banners, Ag, skydivers, small corporate operations, private operations.  In order to be an airline pilot, you must first get your commercial pilot certificate and then build more experience (flight time).  An airline pilot holds an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certificate, which is the highest level certificate in the world.

Misconception 3: You're a pilot, you can fly anything!

Depending on which certificate/ratings you have, grant you the ability to fly certain aircraft.  When you first start on your adventure to become a pilot, you will start in a small four-seater, single-engine aircraft.  Through your private pilot and commercial pilot training, you will only be able to fly single-engine aircraft with a weight less than 12,500 pounds (fully loaded). Somewhere in your private or commercial training, you will complete the multi-engine course and testing.  Once completed, you can fly a single or multi-engine aircraft, weighing less than 12,500 pounds, and not a jet.

Now, most people think that once you get to the airlines and get your ATP certificate, that you can then fly any plane you want.  Again, this is incorrect.  Though legally you are able to fly any type of airplane, you cannot just get behind the "wheel" and go.  Any plane that is over 12,500 pounds and/or is a jet requires specialized training specific to that plane.  Upon completing that training, you must pass the FAA flight test and have that specific model added to your certificate.

Many airline pilots are qualified to fly multiple jets their carrier has.  However, they cannot just go fly any of them whenever they want.  An airline pilot goes through months of training for the specific plane they fly.  If they change planes, they must do the full training for the plane they are going to.  If they want to go back to a plane they have flown previously, they must go back through all the same training- it just doesn't require the FAA flight test at the end.

What you need...

Any professional pilot training platform includes at least Private, Instrument, Commercial.

The first certificate you need is your private pilot. This certificate allows you to fly for fun, carry non-paying passengers, and rent small planes.  You cannot be paid for any service to act as a pilot.

The next item is instrument.  This is a rating, not a certificate.  The instrument rating allows you to fly in the clouds, in weather with reduced visibility, and navigate strictly by reference to instruments in the cockpit.

After instrument, you will complete your commercial certificate.  Most often this includes both the Commercial Single-Engine and Commercial Multi-Engine courses.  By doing both, you are qualified to be paid (hired) in small airplanes with one or more engines.  This certificate does not allow you to fly aircraft over 12,500 pounds or aircraft with jet engines without additional training and testing.

This is where the required training ends.  As a commercial pilot, you can continue to build your flight experience to reach the required hours in order to go to the airlines and/or test for your ATP.

What you should get...

One of the hardest things for pilots is finding a job as a commercial pilot with no experience.  Though 250 hours sounds like a lot, it really is not.  So I recommend that you become a flight instructor.  One, airlines love hiring flight instructors because they are constantly staying fresh with knowledge and federal regulations since they are teaching it daily, but two, it makes you a much safer pilot.

Certificated Flight Instructor. The first level of instructor is the CFI.  Earning this certificate allows you to teach Private Pilot students and Commercial Single-Engine students.  This is the hardest FAA exam you will ever take, with a 20% first time pass rate.  However, you become a subject matter expert on aviation knowledge.

Certificated Flight Instructor-Instrument. Once you are a CFI, you can "add-on" the Instrument Rating and be known as a "CF double I".  This allows you to teach instrument students.  Airlines love CFI/II's because all your flying at the airlines is required to be done by instrument.  Also, instrument flying is a ton of fun!

Multi-Engine Instructor. The second thing you can "add-on" to your CFI is your multi-engine rating.  This allows you to teach students in multi-engine aircraft.  There are not many MEI's, therefore getting a job as an MEI is a bit easier; it also pays more.  I enjoyed teaching multi-engine students more than any other student.

If you gain the first two, you will use the abbreviation CFI/II after your name when signing students logbooks, documents, etc.  If you earn all three, you will sign CFI/II/MEI.

Conclusion

At the minimum, you will need:

  • Private Pilot Certificate
  • Instrument Rating
  • Commercial Pilot Certificate
    • Comm Single-Engine Rating
    • Comm Multi-Engine Rating
I recommend you also get:
  • Certificated Flight Instructor
  • Certificated Flight Instructor-Instrument
  • Multi-Engine Instructor



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