A private pilot certificate allows a pilot to carry passengers and allows for limited commercial use of an airplane. A commercial pilot certificate allows the pilot to perform some operations in exchange for compensation and to hire staff. Some air transport operations require an air transport pilot certificate to fly as a captain. Airline pilots operate regular passenger flights.
To fly as an airline pilot, you must have an Air Transport Pilot Certificate (ATP), which is the highest pilot license issued by the FAA. However, all pilots must start by obtaining their private pilot's license and then their commercial pilot's license, before they can obtain an ATP certificate. Commercial Pilot Certificate: Now You Can Make Money Flying an Airplane. Every pilot who earns money to fly ANY type of aircraft must have a commercial pilot certificate.
This certificate requires a person to hold an FAA medical certificate of at least third class. This certificate is not specific to flying for an airline. Certified Flight Instructor Certificate You can now teach other people how to fly. Certified Flight Instructor Instrument Certificate You can now teach others how to fly with instruments.
Air Transport Pilot Certificate The highest pilot certificate that can be obtained in the world of pilots. Airlines and many corporate aircraft operators require this certificate. This certificate requires that a person be in possession of a first-class medical certificate from the FAA. Like a driver's license, different types of pilot certificates serve as proof that a person is qualified to operate the aircraft they operate when and where they operate it.
While you'll only need a second-class doctor to obtain your commercial pilot's license, you'll need a first-class doctor to fly as an airline pilot and exercise the privileges of an air transport pilot certificate. In other words, having a commercial pilot's license means that you're legally allowed to receive payment as a pilot. For those who want to earn hours or start a career as a pilot, a flight instructor certificate is the next step for many. Pilots must be trained to obtain all of these licenses, and the people who provide the training are called certified flight instructors and hold a CFI certificate.
A prerequisite of the Professional Airline Pilot Program is that students hold a first-class medical certificate from the FAA before starting training. To be able to obtain an ATP certificate, the pilot must have worked at least 1,500 hours and be at least 23 years old. Some pilots, such as military pilots and students who graduate from approved universities, may opt for a restricted ATP with lower requirements. The CSEL, for example, is a single-engine commercial license, while the CMEL is a multi-engine commercial license, and CSEL pilots are not qualified to fly multi-engine aircraft for commercial purposes.
Private Pilot Certificate This certificate, the most fundamental of all, provides the pilot with the greatest flexibility of pre-commercial flight. Becoming a flight instructor involves learning a little bit about instructional design, learning theory, and going much deeper into all topics related to commercial pilots. PPL (especially with additional qualifications, such as IR) give pilots a great deal of legal freedom to operate aircraft, and anyone who wants to monetize their piloting skills must first obtain a PPL. They should not be confused with qualifications or endorsements, which are separate training requirements that allow a pilot with a certain type of certificate to perform other types of flight, such as instrument flying.
A commercial pilot's license, or certificate, is a type of pilot's license that allows a person to operate an aircraft in exchange for compensation. Commercial pilots are paid to fly as pilots, carry cargo and passengers, as well as to perform other operations, such as aerial inspection and search and rescue. Of these two main certification routes, a private pilot certificate costs a little more, but gains in versatility.