class rating
{{Short description|Allowance to fly aircraft of similar design}}
File:Iraqi Air Force C-172.jpg]]
In aviation, a class rating is an allowance to fly a certain group of aircraft that require training common to all aircraft within the group. A type rating is specified if a particular aircraft requires additional specialized training beyond the scope of initial license and aircraft class training. Which aircraft require a type rating is decided by the local aviation authority. Almost all single-engine piston (SEP) or multi-engine piston (MEP) single pilot aircraft can be flown without a type rating, but are covered by a class rating instead.
United States
In the United States, all turbojets require a type rating. Aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of more than {{Convert|12500|lb|kg}} typically require a type rating.{{cite web |title=What's your type? |url=https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2012/june/pilot/whats-your-type |website=www.aopa.org |publisher=AOPA |access-date=18 February 2022 |date=6 May 2012}}
In the United States, there are seven categories of aircraft, which contain the following classes:
| class=wikitable
!Category!!Class!!rowspan=8| !!Category!!Class | ||
| rowspan=4|Airplane | Single-engine land (ASEL)
|rowspan=2|Lighter-than-air | Airship |
| Multiengine land (AMEL) | ||
| Single-engine sea (ASES) | {{n/a}} | |
| Multiengine sea (AMES)
|rowspan=2|Powered parachute | Powered parachute land | |
| rowspan=2|Rotorcraft | Helicopter
|Powered parachute sea | |
| Gyroplane
|rowspan=2|Weight-shift-control aircraft | Weight-shift-control aircraft land | |
| Glider | {{n/a}}
|Weight-shift-control aircraft sea |
Class ratings may have limitations placed upon them. In the United States, if a pilot being examined for a multi-engine rating does not demonstrate the ability to control an aircraft under asymmetric thrust, their multi-engine rating will be endorsed as "Limited-to-Center Thrust".{{cite web |title=Volume 5. Airman Certification. Chapter 1: Direction, guidance, and procedures for Title 14 CFR Parts 121/135 and general aviation. Section 4: Considerations for the Practical Test|url=https://fsims.faa.gov/wdocs/8900.1/v05%20airman%20cert/chapter%2001/05_001_004rev1.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324133620/https://fsims.faa.gov/wdocs/8900.1/v05%20airman%20cert/chapter%2001/05_001_004rev1.htm |archive-date=24 March 2012 |url-status=dead}} (In the European Union, a multi-engine centreline thrust aeroplane is considered a single-engine aeroplane when being used for an instrument rating skill test.{{cite web |title=Part-FCL |url=https://www.easa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/dfu/Part-FCL.pdf |publisher=EASA |access-date=14 May 2023}}{{rp|FCL.620}})
Gallery
Image:Mars Water Bomber.jpg|A Mars water bomber, one of the largest multi-engine sea-class aircraft
File:ZeppelinNT-01.jpg|An airship class aircraft in the aerostat category, a Zeppelin NT
File:Schweizer2-33C-GRVS.JPG|An example of a glider class aircraft, a Schweizer SGS 2-33
File:CAFcormorantYQR.JPG|An example of a rotorcraft class aircraft, a CH-149 Cormorant helicopter
File:C-17 4.jpg|An example of a very large multi-engine class aircraft, a C-17 Globemaster III
File:CF-188A BANKING.jpg|An example of a jet fighter aircraft, a CF-18 Hornet
See also
Notes
{{reflist}}
References
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20081003023917/http://www.jaat.eu/licensing/typeratings/classtyperatings.html JAA official website - list of class and type ratings]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070829134551/http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=ab9d9d50b259e413b41df56cb5be11c5&rgn=div8&view=text&node=14%3A2.0.1.1.2.1.1.4&idno=14 Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, Title 14: Aeronautics and Space; PART 61—CERTIFICATION: PILOTS, FLIGHT INSTRUCTORS, AND GROUND INSTRUCTORS]