Class rating
Allowance to fly aircraft of similar design
title: "Class rating" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["flight-training", "aviation-licenses-and-certifications"] description: "Allowance to fly aircraft of similar design" topic_path: "general/flight-training" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Class_rating" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Allowance to fly aircraft of similar design ::
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c1/Iraqi_Air_Force_C-172.jpg" caption="An example of a single engine land class aircraft, the ubiquitous [[Cessna 172"] ::
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 12500 lb typically require a type rating.
In the United States, there are seven categories of aircraft, which contain the following classes: ::data[format=table]
| Category | Class | Category | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airplane | Single-engine land (ASEL) | Lighter-than-air | Airship |
| Multiengine land (AMEL) | Balloon | ||
| Single-engine sea (ASES) | Powered-lift | ||
| Multiengine sea (AMES) | Powered parachute | Powered parachute land | |
| Rotorcraft | Helicopter | Powered parachute sea | |
| Gyroplane | Weight-shift-control aircraft | Weight-shift-control aircraft land | |
| Glider | 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". (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.)
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
Notes
References
- JAA official website - list of class and type ratings
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, Title 14: Aeronautics and Space; PART 61—CERTIFICATION: PILOTS, FLIGHT INSTRUCTORS, AND GROUND INSTRUCTORS
References
- (6 May 2012). "What's your type?". AOPA.
- "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".
- "Part-FCL". EASA.
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