Personell Licensing

Understanding Personell Licensing in Air Law

Personnel (Personell) Licensing sits at the core of Air Law and defines who may fly what, under which conditions, and with which privileges. The framework is set internationally by ICAO Annex 1 and, in Europe, historically by JAR-FCL (now largely succeeded by EASA Part-FCL). For pilot students, mastering licensing is about more than memorizing hours: it means understanding how aviation regulations link training, medical fitness, ratings, currency, and privileges so that you can legally and safely operate aircraft in varied conditions, including multi-crew IFR environments and complex aircraft systems.

Medical fitness underpins all privileges. JAR-FCL recognizes Class 1 and Class 2 medical certificates; a Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) or Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) requires a current Class 1. Licence holders must self-ground if they experience any decrease in medical fitness and must seek authority/AME advice after hospital or clinic admissions exceeding 12 hours. When a state renders valid a foreign licence, that authorization cannot exceed the original licence’s validity. ICAO Annex 1 also defines age limits and minima for licences (e.g., ATPL minimum age 21 under legacy provisions).

Experience and competence requirements escalate with privileges. For an ATPL(A), key thresholds include a substantial portion of night flight (e.g., 100 hours) and cross-country experience (e.g., 200 hours total with at least 100 hours as PIC or under PIC supervision—PICUS—acceptable to the authority). Candidates must also demonstrate PIC capability on an aeroplane certificated for a minimum crew of two pilots under IFR, reflecting the systems, procedures, and crew coordination used in multi-crew operations. Co-pilot time on multi-pilot aeroplanes (MPA) is creditable at 100% toward total time for higher licences. Simulator credit is permitted within limits (up to 100 hours total time credit, with not more than 25 hours in basic/procedure trainers). For the CPL(A), cross-country foundations include at least 20 hours as PIC, featuring a 540 km (300 NM) route with full-stop landings at two aerodromes.

Ratings define the envelope in which privileges are exercised. The Instrument Rating (IR(A)) is valid for 1 year and requires a PPL(A) with night qualification or a CPL(A), plus at least 50 hours of cross-country flight time as PIC (with at least 10 in aeroplanes). Multi-engine instrument privileges require demonstrating IFR proficiency with an engine inoperative (real or simulated), blending procedural discipline with aircraft systems knowledge (propeller/engine management, asymmetric flight, and performance). Class ratings include Single-Pilot Single-Engine privileges; the SEP(A) class rating is valid for two years and encompasses Touring Motor Gliders (TMG). CPL privileges include acting as PIC in operations other than commercial air transportation. Authorities may render a non-JAA professional licence valid for use on a JAA-registered aircraft for up to one year, provided the underlying licence remains valid.

Topics covered in this Personell Licensing question bank

• Medical certification and fitness to fly: Class 1 vs Class 2, self-grounding, reporting thresholds.
• Licence privileges and limitations: CPL, ATPL, and IR(A) privileges, age minima, and authorisation validity.
• Experience minima and definitions: PIC, PICUS, co-pilot time credit, night and cross-country requirements.
• Instrument Rating requirements: prerequisites, validity, IFR procedures, engine-inoperative demonstrations.
• Class and type ratings: SEP(A) validity, inclusion of TMG, multi-crew/IFR operations.
• Training device crediting: synthetic flight trainer limits and acceptable credit.
• Cross-border licence validation: conditions and time limits under aviation regulations.
• Core procedures and terminology: IFR/IR, multi-crew coordination, aircraft systems awareness relevant to licensing standards.