Aircraft and Airman Categories and Classes
A student pilot normally learns to fly in an airplane that has one propeller and fixed-wheel landing gear. The student is usually pursuing a “Single-Engine Land Rating”. Once the required tests are passed the airman is issued a pilot certificate that has a single engine land rating. The certificate never expires and allows the pilot to fly any airplane that is similar to the one they learned in. However, to exercise the privileges of the certificate the pilot must satisfy certain currency requirements. To fly more complicated airplanes and other types of aircraft, the pilot needs additional ratings and endorsements.
Endorsements are required for airplanes that have more than 200 horsepower engines (high performance); aircraft with pressurization capable of operating at high altitudes; “complex” or “tailwheel” airplanes; and gliders. A complex airplane has retractable landing gear, flaps, and a controllable pitch propeller. A tailwheel airplane, like the name implies, has a wheel in the tail rather than the nose. Airplanes with a tailwheel have different handling characteristics than “tricycle gear” airplanes that are the norm today. Endorsements are not recorded with the FAA or on the pilots certificate but are written in the pilots logbook.
An airman can fly any aircraft that is similar to ones they have ratings and endorsements for but more sophisticated aircraft require a type rating. Specifically, large aircraft (>12,500 Lbs takeoff weight) and turbojet-powered airplanes require a type rating. The manufacturer and the FAA can also agree that a type rating is required for a specific model and require a type rating as part of their certification process.
Many of the FARs refer specifically to aircraft Category and Class. In fact, all airmen receive ratings specifically for a category and class of aircraft. Unfortunately, the term “category” is used at least five different ways when referring to aircraft and pilots and it can get confusing. Section 61.5.b lists the categories of aircraft with respect to airman ratings.
- Airplane
- Rotorcraft
- Glider
- Lighter-than-air
- Powered-lift
- Powered parachute
- Weight-shift-control aircraft
Each of these categories is subdivided into classes. The airplane category, for example, has four classes, single-engine land, multi-engine land, single engine sea, and multi-engine sea.
In the discussion above the generic term “fly” was used. Technically airmen don’t fly the aircraft. They “manipluate the controls” and act as pilot in command. In the discussion above the ratings and endorsements allow the pilot to act as “pilot in command”. The pilot responsible for operation and safety of the aircraft during flight time where flight time is defined as the time from the moment the aircraft moves under its own power for the purposes of flight until it comes to rest after landing.