Private Pilot - License Levels

License Levels

A "private pilot's license" is typically the lowest class license of airman's certificate issued to an individual by that person's government of residence. Typically, there are three classes of pilot's license: Private, Commercial, and Airline Transport Pilot. These three levels may be titled or labeled differently in other countries, but are essentially the same worldwide.

The private license allows individual citizens to operate non-commercial aircraft for personal or recreational purposes. Most typical among these types are the aircraft manufactured by Cessna, Piper and Beechcraft, in addition to hundreds of amateur, or experimental built aircraft models. They generally seat two to six people and have engines in the 60 to 300 horsepower range. Private individuals may use their airplane for the purpose of commuting to-and-from a job. However, they may not carry passengers or freight for hire. In some cases, a group of persons may share costs of taking a trip ("splitting the gas"), but they may not pay the pilot for his/her services.

Initial private pilot ratings are usually: Airplane, Single Engine Land; Airplane, Multi-engine land; Seaplane; Private Pilot Helicopter; Private Pilot Balloon; Private Pilot Glider; and Private Pilot Gyrocopter.

A private pilot usually is restricted to "visual" flight only (VFR, or flight in 'clear' weather), however may obtain an Instrument endorsement to permit flight in inclement weather.

A commercial pilot may be directly compensated for his/her services, and may proactively solicit work. The "commercial" pilot may, in restricted cases, carry passengers, but may not work for a commercial airline or carry passengers for scheduled operations. The commercial license is typically for crop dusters, banner towing operations, pipeline and construction work, etc. In certain countries, the CPL is also required for towing gliders and/or dropping parachutists. Certified Flight Instructors are also in this category.

An airline transport pilot may carry passengers and cargo for regular scheduled flight operations without any restrictions (other than being approved for each type aircraft they are approved to fly).

In the United States, there is one license just below the private pilot, called the "Recreational Pilot". Pilots in this category are limited to flying single engine aircraft with a maximum gross weight of 1,320 pounds, allowed to carry only one passenger at a time, and may not fly for hire. There are other aircraft limitations that apply. This license is aimed at accommodating those who only seek to fly for recreational pursuit within a limited geographical area.

Lastly, it should be noted that (still under US legislation) persons who fly aircraft categorized as "ultralights" (typically under approximately 300 pounds) under the Federal Aviation Administration's Part 103 regulations, do not require any license at all, however they are obligated to follow the rules as published. Other countries have their own definitions of ultralight aircraft, and licensing associated.