As an aspiring aviator, you need to acquire certifications to lawfully and safely
operate an aircraft. The pilot licenses or certifications are issued by the Civil Aviation
Authority of the country. The ones you get can also vary depending on the aviation
career you want to pursue.
For example, if you want to earn as a pilot, you need to get a Commercial Pilot
License and complete a type rating for the aircraft type you’ll be flying. But if you
prefer to fly as a hobby or don’t plan to make it a professional career, having a
Private Pilot License will do.
Whether you want to be a successful commercial airline pilot or want to fly leisurely,
here are the six types of pilot licenses aspiring aviators need to know.
Student Pilot License
In the early stage of your pilot training, you need to apply for a Student Pilot License
(SPL). It allows you to begin your flight training and comes with minimal
requirements. You must be at least 16 years old and proficient in English at a level
that the CAAP/DGCA requires. What’s more, you don’t need a college degree to get
an SPL so even if you’re still in senior high, you can start your pilot training.
Private Pilot Certificate
After you’ve completed your pilot training course, the next type of pilot license you
need to get is the Private Pilot License (PPL). This certificate allows you to fly solo or
with passengers. It also lets you transport cargo. However, you can’t fly and receive
compensation. Essentially, this type of pilot license is akin to a driver’s license that
lets you legally drive a vehicle and give your family and friends a ride, but you can’t
earn from it.
In terms of requirements, you must be at least 17 years old to get a PPL. Additionally,
you must complete 40 hours of flight training, including 20 hours of dual flight
instruction, 10 hours of solo flights, and another 10 hours of either dual or solo flight.
Commercial Pilot License
If you want to pursue a career as a pilot, you’ll need a Commercial Pilot License
(CPL). It lets you fly an aircraft and get paid as a professional. To acquire this pilot
license, you must be a PPL holder, obtain a Class One medical certificate, and
complete a total of 150 flight hours. The flight hours include the 40 hours you’ve
completed during the PPL training, while the remaining 110 hours consist of training
in the CPL stage.
Once you’ve acquired your CPL license, you can start earning as a pilot. You can fly
an aircraft with a limited number of passengers by companies or private individuals.
You can also work for the government for specific purposes, such as transporting
cargo, doing sightseeing flights, or performing agricultural spraying.
A CPL license with other add-on ratings qualifies you to work as a First Officer in
commercial airline companies. It’s also an entry-level role position, and you’ll be
working alongside a Captain.
Instrument Rating
Instrument rating equips pilots with the knowledge and skills to handle an aircraft in
low or zero visibility using cockpit instruments. It also lets you perform emergency
operations, use a navigation system, and complete air traffic control procedures.
Similar to type rating, instrument rating requires classroom training and simulation
exercises. It can also be taken while training for your CPL or separately.
If your goal is to become a commercial airline pilot, you need both the type and
instrument ratings to qualify for the job.
The certifications for a pilot who plans to fly for leisure are different from the ones
you need when you want to earn from the profession. It’s a good idea to do your
research and understand the requirements. This way, you can better prepare for the
aviation career you want.
Type Rating
Apart from the pilot certifications, you need additional ratings to work in a
commercial airline carrier. In particular, a type rating lets you operate certain aircraft
types but not all as different aircraft types have different operations and
performances. For example, if you’re trained to fly an Airbus, it doesn’t always mean
you’re qualified to fly a Boeing aircraft.
That said, you need additional training and obtain a type rating for the new type of
aircraft. Typically, this training will involve classroom lectures and simulator time.
Airline Transport Pilot License
The airline transport pilot license (ATPL) is the highest civilian license you can get to
fly passenger airlines. But to obtain this certification, you must accumulate 1,500
flying hours.
The main benefit of the ATPL is that you can be in command of a large, multi-crew
commercial aircraft. This means you can immediately work as the Captain of the
aircraft when hired.
Note: The hours are approximate and vary by regulatory authority.
