Commercial Pilot Licence
Encyclopedia
A Commercial Pilot License (CPL) or, in the United States
, a Commercial Pilot Certificate, is a qualification that permits the holder to act as the Pilot In Command of a single pilot aircraft, or as co-pilot of a multi-pilot aircraft and be paid for his/her work.
The basic requirements to obtain the license and the privileges it confers are agreed internationally by International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO, however the actual implementation varies quite widely from country to country. According to ICAO, to be eligible for a Commercial Pilot Licence, the applicant must be able to read, speak, write, and understand English: already hold a Private Pilot Licence, have received training in the areas of a Commercial Pilot, and successfully complete the relevant written exams. To proceed in obtaining a commercial pilot license, you must first obtain second-class medical certification. The JAA
has several approved courses leading to the issue of a JAA Commercial Pilot's Licence with an Instrument Rating without first obtaining a Private Pilot's Licence. Upon completing those prerequisites the applicant will then receive an exam from the governing aviation body that consists of an Oral and Practical flight test from an Examiner. Applicants for a CPL (Aeroplanes) must also have completed a solo cross-country flight of at least 300 nm with full stop landings at 2 airfields other than the pilot's airfield of origin.
Different types of Commercial Pilot Certificates or Licenses are issued for the major categories of aircraft: Airplanes, helicopter
s, gyro-planes, balloon
s and airship
s.
A Certificate/License will contain a number of sub-qualifications or ratings. These specify in more detail the actual privileges of the license, including the types of aircraft that can be flown (single or multi-engine), whether flight under Instrument Flight Rules
is allowed (Instrument Rating), and whether instructing and examining of trainee pilots can be done (Instructor of Examiner Rating).
Some JAA states (but not the United States) restrict the use of the title "Captain" to CPL holders and above.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, a Commercial Pilot Certificate, is a qualification that permits the holder to act as the Pilot In Command of a single pilot aircraft, or as co-pilot of a multi-pilot aircraft and be paid for his/her work.
The basic requirements to obtain the license and the privileges it confers are agreed internationally by International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO, however the actual implementation varies quite widely from country to country. According to ICAO, to be eligible for a Commercial Pilot Licence, the applicant must be able to read, speak, write, and understand English: already hold a Private Pilot Licence, have received training in the areas of a Commercial Pilot, and successfully complete the relevant written exams. To proceed in obtaining a commercial pilot license, you must first obtain second-class medical certification. The JAA
Joint Aviation Authorities
The Joint Aviation Authorities, or JAA, was an associated body of the ECAC representing the civil aviation regulatory authorities of a number of European States who had agreed to co-operate in developing and implementing common safety regulatory standards and procedures...
has several approved courses leading to the issue of a JAA Commercial Pilot's Licence with an Instrument Rating without first obtaining a Private Pilot's Licence. Upon completing those prerequisites the applicant will then receive an exam from the governing aviation body that consists of an Oral and Practical flight test from an Examiner. Applicants for a CPL (Aeroplanes) must also have completed a solo cross-country flight of at least 300 nm with full stop landings at 2 airfields other than the pilot's airfield of origin.
Different types of Commercial Pilot Certificates or Licenses are issued for the major categories of aircraft: Airplanes, helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
s, gyro-planes, balloon
Balloon
A balloon is an inflatable flexible bag filled with a gas, such as helium, hydrogen, nitrous oxide, oxygen, or air. Modern balloons can be made from materials such as rubber, latex, polychloroprene, or a nylon fabric, while some early balloons were made of dried animal bladders, such as the pig...
s and airship
Airship
An airship or dirigible is a type of aerostat or "lighter-than-air aircraft" that can be steered and propelled through the air using rudders and propellers or other thrust mechanisms...
s.
A Certificate/License will contain a number of sub-qualifications or ratings. These specify in more detail the actual privileges of the license, including the types of aircraft that can be flown (single or multi-engine), whether flight under Instrument Flight Rules
Instrument flight rules
Instrument flight rules are one of two sets of regulations governing all aspects of civil aviation aircraft operations; the other are visual flight rules ....
is allowed (Instrument Rating), and whether instructing and examining of trainee pilots can be done (Instructor of Examiner Rating).
Some JAA states (but not the United States) restrict the use of the title "Captain" to CPL holders and above.
See also
- Commercial aviationCommercial aviationCommercial aviation is the part of civil aviation that involves operating aircraft for hire to transport passengers or cargo...
- Commercial pilot license in Canada
- Pilot licensing and certificationPilot licensing and certificationPilot licensing or certification refers to permits to fly aircraft that are issued by the National Aviation Authority in each country, establishing that the holder has met a specific set of knowledge and experience requirements. This includes taking a flying test. The certified pilot can then...
- Pilot licensing in the United KingdomPilot licensing in the United KingdomPilot licensing in the United Kingdom is regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority under the auspices of the Joint Aviation Authorities and European Aviation Safety Agency. Each member nation in the EU has responsibility for regulating their own pilot licensing...
- Pilot certification in the United StatesPilot certification in the United StatesPilot certification in the United States is required for an individual to act as a pilot of an aircraft. It is regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration , a branch of the Department of Transportation...
- Private Pilot LicensePrivate Pilot LicenseA Private Pilot License or, in the United States of America, a Private Pilot Certificate, is a license that permits the holder to act as the pilot of an aircraft privately . The requirements to obtain the license are determined by the International Civil Aviation Authority , but the actual...
External links
- Commercial Pilot Practical Test Standards for Airplane FAA August 2002
- Computer Testing Supplement for Commercial Pilot FAA 2005