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3 THE IMPACT OF MILITARY DOWNSIZING
TABLE 2-12 Pilot Certificates and Selected Ratings Certificates
Pilot certificates Student pilot Recreational pilot Private pilot Commercial pilot Airline transport pilot
Flight instructor certificate
Ratings: placed on pilot certificates (except student pilot) where applicable
Aircraft category ratings Airplane Rotorcraft Glider Lighter-than-air
Airplane class ratings Single-engine land Multiengine land Single-engine sea Multiengine sea
Aircraft type ratings: listed in an FAA advisory circular, they include Large aircraft, other than lighter-than-air Small turbojet-powered airplanes Small helicopters for operations requiring an ATP certificate Other aircraft type ratings specified by the FAA administrator
Instrument ratings (on private and commercial pilot certificates only) Instrumentairplanes Instrumenthelicopter
SOURCE: 14 CFR 61.5.
The rules governing the airlines (Federal Air Regulations Parts 121 and 135) determine the minimum licenses and ratings that their pilots must hold. For example, pilots flying in command of a Part 121 aircraft must have an airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate with the appropriate aircraft rating. The minimum requirement for a Part 121 aircraft pilot (not flying in command) is a commercial pilot certificate with an instrument rating. Many Part 135 pilots in command, including all commuter pilots in command, are also required to hold ATP certificates and appropriate aircraft type ratings.
Qualifying for an ATP certificate requires a pilot to meet certain basic eligibility standards: to be at least 23 years of age; have "good moral character"; be able to read, write, and understand English and speak it without accent or impediment that would interfere with two-way radio communication; be a high school graduate; and hold a current first-class medical certificate, the requirements for which are outlined in another part of the regulations (Part 67). The certificate
