Yes, that's right... Pilot Certificate.  Pilots don't have licenses to fly; we have certificates.  So what's the difference?  It's merely a legal distinction: a license gives permission, and a certificate shows qualification.  In the aviation community, "license" and "certificate" are used interchangeably.  I think it's easier to say "license", so I use that word most often.

Pilots are classified according to the level of certificate they hold and by the category, class, and type ratings on that certificate.  The levels of certificates from lowest to highest are:

• Student Pilot
• Sport Pilot
• Recreational Pilot
• Private Pilot
• Commercial Pilot
• Airline Transport Pilot

Everyone who is starting out is a student pilot first.  For beginners, you can initially train to be either a sport, recreational, or a private pilot; it is not necessary to be a sport or a recreational pilot first when becoming a private pilot.  Once you are a private pilot, you can upgrade to commercial pilot after meeting the training requirements.  And with a lot of additional training you can upgrade to airline transport pilot (or ATP for short).

In addition to pilot certificates, there are also flight instructor and ground instructor certificates.  They each have their own ratings.  To avoid complicating the matter any worse, I'll leave that discussion for another day.

To show what aircraft a pilot is qualified to fly, pilot certificates (except student pilots) have category, class, and type ratings.  Categories of aircraft are groups of aircraft that fly in a similar way.  Categories are: airplane, rotorcraft, glider, lighter-than-air, weight shift control, and powered parachute.

Then each category is divided into classes, except glider.  Each class within a category has some differences that warrant additional training and certification before you can fly them.  Classes for airplanes are: single engine land, single engine sea, multi engine land, and multi engine sea.  Classes for the rotorcraft category are helicopter and gyroplane.

A type rating is for specific types of aircraft.  Aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight over 12,500 pounds and jets require the pilot to have a type rating.

Here are the basic requirements for Private Pilot, Commercial Pilot, and Instrument Rating.  For a more detailed explanation, ask your flight instructor or read 14 CFR Part 61.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Be at least 17 years old (16 to solo)
• Read, speak, write, and understand English
• Pass a written test
• Hold at least a 3rd Class Medical Certificate
• Meet the experience requirements listed below
• Receive a recommendation from a Flight Instructor
• Pass the flight test

Private Pilot

• 40 hours of flight time
  • 20 hours instruction
    • 3 hours of cross-country time
    • 3 hours of night time
      • Long cross-country flight
      • 10 takeoffs and landings
    • 3 hours of instrument time
    • 3 hours preparing for check ride.
  • 10 hours solo
    • 5 hours of solo cross-country time

Instrument Rating

• 50 hours of cross-country time
• 40 hours of instrument time
  • 15 hours of instrument instruction
  • Long instrument cross-country flight
  • 3 hours preparing for check ride

Commercial Pilot

• 250 hours of flight time (150 hours for a helicopter rating)
• 100 hours is powered aircraft
• 100 hours as pilot-in-command
• 20 hours of instruction
  • 10 hours instrument instruction
  • 10 hours complex airplane instruction (not for helicopter)
  • 4 hours of cross-country flights
  • 3 hours preparing for check ride
• 10 hours solo time
  • Long cross-country flight
  • 5 hours of night time