Private Pilot Flight Training and Instruction Flight Training Article Library | Back To 4VFR.COM Certificates and Documents REFERENCES; FARs 43, 61 and 91; AC 61-21, AC61-23; Pilot's handbook and Flight Manual P Locate and use aircraft and personal papers and records. EX Pilot privileges and limitations, medical certificate, log book requirements, biennial, radio license, airworthiness, registration, station license, placards, manual, weight and balance, maintenance records. A private pilot, when current and qualified in a properly equipped aircraft can fly anywhere flight is allowed or clearance given, except for hire. The pilot must know and follow the Federal Air Regulations (FAR's). He must have a current medical certificate and have logged the required three takeoffs and landings in a specified type/class of aircraft for both day or night (full stop) as determined for the flight. Two years subsequent to licensing, he must pass a flight review and have it entered into his logbook. A radio license is no longer required in the United States but is required otherwise. The FAA calls the pilot's license a "certificate". It is one of several kinds, including the flight instructor certificate. The certificate is in two parts. 1) Definition of privileges 2) Ratings that specify kinds of aircraft to which the privileges apply. A student pilot certificate allows solo flight. The aircraft ratings are added by the instructor for each aircraft. The private pilot certificate adds the privilege of carrying passengers not for hire. Additional ratings to the private certificate are instrument and any category, class or type. You are expected to know the varieties of ratings available. The commercial certificate allows flying for hire except were FAR 135 or 121 strictures must be met. A private pilot, when current and qualified in a properly equipped aircraft can fly anywhere flight is allowed or clearance given, except for hire. The pilot must know and follow the Federal Air Regulations (FAR's). He must have a current medical certificate and have logged the required takeoffs and landings in a specified type/class of aircraft for both day and night as determined for the flight. Two years subsequent to licensing, he must pass a flight review and have it entered into his logbook. A radio license is no longer required in the United States. Get a radio license before going to Canada or Mexico. Ratings identify the aircraft specified as a category and class. There are four categories: airplane, rotorcraft, lighter-than-air, and glider. The first three are divided into classes. Airplane classes are single engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea and multi-engine sea. Rotocraft are either gyrocoper or helicopter. Lighter-than-air is airship and free balloon. A type rating is required for aircraft over 12,000 pounds, jets and some parts of FAR 121 and 135. (See AC 61-89B) Any earned pilot certificate can serve as a student certificate in learning to fly a different class or category. This means you can use your Private Pilot certificate to learn to fly a helicopter. The instructor endorsements are made in the logbook instead of on the certificate. Written by Gene Whitt Flight Training Article Library | Back To 4VFR.COM