Type Ratings ?
Discussion
I know airline pilots get trained and are then rated for one aircraft type/family at a time, not sure of the finer points but I know you cant just hop between them when you fancy.
How does it work with GA, Warbirds, Biz Jets, Helis and all the other stuff ?
An airline pilot I can see will fly say a 737 day in day out doing a variety of routes but what about all the other potential jobs ? I was watching airline Repo and typically thats repossessing business jets off people who have not paid for them, so they have a team who go round taking them back, do they have to secure someone certified on a Gulfstream, Cessna, Lear etc or do you get pilots who can cover various different ones ?
If you are a dealer of say small singles and twins, can you say demonstrate a Cessna 172 in the morning, then a Beechcraft twin in the afternoon ?
Similarly, historic aircraft, can the same pilot fly a Spitfire one day, Provost the next then a Dakota at the weekend ?
Could google it but thought it could be an interesting thread.
How does it work with GA, Warbirds, Biz Jets, Helis and all the other stuff ?
An airline pilot I can see will fly say a 737 day in day out doing a variety of routes but what about all the other potential jobs ? I was watching airline Repo and typically thats repossessing business jets off people who have not paid for them, so they have a team who go round taking them back, do they have to secure someone certified on a Gulfstream, Cessna, Lear etc or do you get pilots who can cover various different ones ?
If you are a dealer of say small singles and twins, can you say demonstrate a Cessna 172 in the morning, then a Beechcraft twin in the afternoon ?
Similarly, historic aircraft, can the same pilot fly a Spitfire one day, Provost the next then a Dakota at the weekend ?
Could google it but thought it could be an interesting thread.
For GA, most aircraft are covered by a class rating. You would generally gain your 'SEP' (single-engine, piston) class rating when gain your PPL. You can then train for MEP (multi-engine, piston), SET (single-engine, turbine) e.t.c. depending on what you want to fly. You're only required a type rating for a specific aircraft when they start to get more complex and the licensing authority deems that training beyond the scope of your class rating is required, this would include aircraft such as Pilatus PC12s and Piper Malibus.
I believe that every helicopter requires it's own type rating as there's no class rating system for them and once you get to commercial and biz jets you're in the same boat.
I believe that every helicopter requires it's own type rating as there's no class rating system for them and once you get to commercial and biz jets you're in the same boat.
Edited by ecs on Tuesday 3rd September 08:28
J4CKO said:
An airline pilot I can see will fly say a 737 day in day out doing a variety of routes but what about all the other potential jobs ? I was watching airline Repo and typically thats repossessing business jets off people who have not paid for them, so they have a team who go round taking them back, do they have to secure someone certified on a Gulfstream, Cessna, Lear etc or do you get pilots who can cover various different ones ?
I can’t quite remember the specifics but the FAA (Americans) allow you to fly certain bizjets as second-in-command without a type rating, so you’d only need one pilot to hold the type rating. Maybe they just get a rated freelancer in each time to act as commander and then the repo company employee acts as SIC. I’m just guessing there, so will probably be wrong! I suppose each employee could specialise in a number of aircraft and keep all those ratings current, but you’d spend ages renewing ratings and the costs would be enormous. Much cheaper to pay a freelancer for a couple of days work!
Anyway, one type is enough for me! Two weeks away from the controls and I’m rusty.
ecs said:
I believe that every helicopter requires it's own type rating as there's no class rating system for them and once you get to commercial and biz jets you're in the same boat.
OK but in an episode of Fireman Sam that I watched this morning, Tom Thomas was left in peril and he was the one who usually flies the rescue helicopter. But fortunately a Prince was visiting Pontypandy that day and he offered his help as he knew how to fly "a helicopter" and was able to save Tom Thomas from the ravine and get back for the prize giving ceremony. Now I don't expect a children's TV show to lie to me about such important matters of safety as helicopter type ratings so either this episode missed a huge chunk of dreary administrative paperwork being missed out, or you're making stuff up
J4CKO said:
I know airline pilots get trained and are then rated for one aircraft type/family at a time, not sure of the finer points but I know you cant just hop between them when you fancy.
How does it work with GA, Warbirds, Biz Jets, Helis and all the other stuff ?
An airline pilot I can see will fly say a 737 day in day out doing a variety of routes but what about all the other potential jobs ? I was watching airline Repo and typically thats repossessing business jets off people who have not paid for them, so they have a team who go round taking them back, do they have to secure someone certified on a Gulfstream, Cessna, Lear etc or do you get pilots who can cover various different ones ?
If you are a dealer of say small singles and twins, can you say demonstrate a Cessna 172 in the morning, then a Beechcraft twin in the afternoon ?
Similarly, historic aircraft, can the same pilot fly a Spitfire one day, Provost the next then a Dakota at the weekend ?
Could google it but thought it could be an interesting thread.
The guys in Airplane Repo have class ratings which cover most of what they do in the case of GA aircraft, and they hire in specific people with specific qualifications for certain jobs (the episode with a bizjet that was impounded by the FBI/DEA and the episode with a mahoosive yacht that they were competing for with another Repo company spring to mind).How does it work with GA, Warbirds, Biz Jets, Helis and all the other stuff ?
An airline pilot I can see will fly say a 737 day in day out doing a variety of routes but what about all the other potential jobs ? I was watching airline Repo and typically thats repossessing business jets off people who have not paid for them, so they have a team who go round taking them back, do they have to secure someone certified on a Gulfstream, Cessna, Lear etc or do you get pilots who can cover various different ones ?
If you are a dealer of say small singles and twins, can you say demonstrate a Cessna 172 in the morning, then a Beechcraft twin in the afternoon ?
Similarly, historic aircraft, can the same pilot fly a Spitfire one day, Provost the next then a Dakota at the weekend ?
Could google it but thought it could be an interesting thread.
DKL said:
This made me think of the ATA girls. If it had wings they flew it, probably far more so than the men.
For one thing they were flying military registered aircraft so a totally different system. Aircraft were divided into 'classes' so to fly say, a Lancaster, they would have to be qualified on four engine bombers. Though they wouldn't necessarily have even seen a Lancaster before.Secondly I don't believe there was any difference between the system for male and female pilots. Male ATA pilots flew the same range of types as the women.
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