thumb|upright=1.14|A [[Bell 212 crew from Alpine Helicopters scrambles on a medevac mission. Both the aircraft captain (right seat) and the copilot (left seat) in this case are holders of the Airline Transport Pilot Licence - Helicopter.]]

Pilot licensing in Canada is administered by Transport Canada under the Aeronautics Act and the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs).

Other than when flying a hang glider or paraglider, a person may only operate a Canadian-registered aircraft or act as a flight crew member in Canada with a licence or permit issued by Transport Canada.

At the end of 2008 there were 64,932 Canadian licences and permits held, giving Canada the second largest population of licensed pilots in the world.

The first Canadian private pilot's licence was issued to James Stanley Scott on January 24, 1920, and the first Canadian transport licence was issued to Douglas G. Joy on April 1, 1939.

Overview

A licence is issued by Transport Canada in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) licence Standards And Recommended Practices (SARPs). A licence can be used to fly domestically as well as internationally, while a permit does not comply with ICAO standards and therefore can only be used within Canada, unless accepted by another country. In April 1920 the first commercial pilot licence in Canada was issued to Roland Groome.

Pilots with licences from foreign countries that are ICAO contracting states may apply to Transport Canada for a validation of their foreign licence. This allows them to fly Canadian registered aircraft in Canada. A foreign licence may be used to fly an aircraft registered in the same state as the licence while in Canada.

The term licence in Canada is equivalent to the term certificate in the United States. The term licence is also used in the United Kingdom. Under the ICAO they are all legally equivalent.

The most common type of Canadian licence is the private pilot licence—aeroplane, which is used to fly light general aviation aircraft privately and recreationally. At the end of 2008 there were 27,138 aeroplane and 596 helicopter private pilot licences in force in Canada. The rarest licence or permit in Canada is the gyroplane pilot permit, with only 29 in force at the end of 2008.

Each aircraft model requires different knowledge and skill to fly. For example, a single engine general aviation aircraft's design and operation is fundamentally different from a gyroplane. Type ratings allow a pilot to fly a specific aircraft model or series. The CARs use the term type instead of model.

A student pilot permit is required for each aircraft category which a person is training for and is available for the following aircraft categories:

  • Aeroplane
  • Balloon
  • Glider
  • Gyroplane
  • Helicopter
  • Ultra-light aeroplane

In order to obtain a student pilot permit, a student must sit and pass the PSTAR examination and hold a valid Category 1, 3, or 4 medical.

The gyroplane pilot permit is endorsed with a blanket type rating for all single seat gyroplanes. There is no blanket type rating for two-seat gyroplanes and a type rating is required for each specific model of two-seat gyroplane.

Ultra-light pilot permit

thumb|right|The holder of a Canadian ultra-light pilot permit prepares to fly a [[Blue Yonder Twin Engine EZ Flyer.]]

The ultra-light pilot permit allows the holder to fly an ultra-light aircraft in accordance with day VFR. A passenger may not be carried without a passenger carrying endorsement.

The ultra-light pilot permit is endorsed with a blanket type rating for all models of ultra-light aeroplanes. Transport Canada defines two general categories of ultra-light aeroplane. The operating and flight rules for basic ultra-light aeroplanes (BULA) does not allow any passenger carrying. The advanced ultra-light aeroplane (AULA) has stricter design requirements and includes passenger carrying if the pilot has an ultra-light pilot permit endorsed with the Passenger-carrying—ultra-light aeroplane rating. Holders of this permit may also fly certified or homebuilt aeroplanes that meet the weight and stall speed requirements of an ultra-light aeroplane.

Aircraft other than aeroplanes also fall under the general classification of ultra-light, in particular powered parachutes and powered paragliders. In such cases, the ultra-light pilot permit is restricted to the type used by the student for training and qualification.

This permit allows a person to fly as pilot of an aeroplane. Either the landplane or seaplane aeroplane class rating is included, depending on which type of aeroplane is used in the training for this permit and the appropriate rating is issued with the recreational pilot permit—aeroplane. This permit can be endorsed with either the seaplane or landplane class rating.

Due to concerns within Transport Canada about the safety of a 25-hour permit to fly helicopters, the standards to establish this permit were never instituted and the permit is therefore not currently available. Transport Canada has indicated a desire to rescind this permit from the CARs.

Glider pilot licence

thumb|right|A Canadian glider pilot is ground briefed prior to solo in a [[Schweizer SGS 1-34 sailplane]]

The glider pilot licence allows the holder to fly as pilot of a glider, under day VFR.

The glider pilot licence is endorsed in the student's flight log by a flight test examiner or flight instructor for the type of launch method used during training. The licence is only valid for those methods of launch for which the glider pilot has been endorsed.

The balloon pilot licence is endorsed, in the student's flight log, by a flight test examiner or flight instructor for the type of inflation method used during training.

A pilot with this licence cannot work for "hire or reward", although reimbursement for some costs such as fuel is permitted.

A pilot with this licence may also act as a pilot of an ultra-light aeroplane.

There is no blanket type rating for helicopter aircraft types and a type rating must be earned for each type of helicopter. A helicopter type rating for the specific helicopter used during training is issued with the private pilot licence—helicopter.

The commercial pilot licence—aeroplane includes more advanced piloting knowledge, skill and experience than the private pilot licence—aeroplane. A private pilot licence—aeroplane is a prerequisite to earning a commercial pilot licence—aeroplane. A commercial pilot licence—aeroplane is in turn a prerequisite to earning an airline transport pilot licence—aeroplane or any class of flight instructor—aeroplane rating. The privileges of the ultra-light pilot permit, private pilot licence—aeroplane, and VFR-Over-the-Top rating and night flying are included in this licence.

The commercial pilot licence—helicopter involves more advanced piloting knowledge, skill and experience than the private pilot licence—helicopter. A private pilot licence—helicopter is not a prerequisite to earning a commercial pilot licence—helicopter, however, the requirements for knowledge and experience are greater. A commercial pilot licence—helicopter is a prerequisite to earning an airline transport pilot licence—helicopter or any class of flight instructor—helicopter rating. The privileges of the private pilot licence—helicopter are included in this licence.

The airline transport pilot licence—aeroplane involves more advanced piloting knowledge, skill and experience than the commercial pilot licence—aeroplane. A commercial pilot licence—aeroplane, multi-engine rating and a Group 1 instrument rating are prerequisites for the airline transport pilot licence—aeroplane. The privileges of the ultra-light pilot permit, private pilot licence—aeroplane and commercial pilot licence—aeroplane are included.

The airline transport pilot licence—helicopter involves more advanced piloting knowledge, skill and experience than the commercial pilot licence—helicopter. A commercial pilot licence—helicopter is a prerequisite to the airline transport pilot licence—helicopter. The privileges of the private pilot licence—helicopter and commercial pilot licence—helicopter are included.

The flight engineer licence allows the holder to be an aeroplane flight engineer. Generally, this will be on a large transport aircraft. Being a pilot is not a prerequisite to earning a flight engineer licence, though many flight engineers do hold a commercial pilot licence—aeroplane or airline transport pilot licence. While either class may be used to fly as a commercial drone pilot, only the advanced certification allows for flight within controlled airspace (with prior approval from Nav Canada) and within 100 feet (30 metres) of bystanders. Visual flight rules are observed by both classes, with a Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC) with a "BVLOS" (beyond visual line of sight) endorsement being required to fly beyond visual line of sight.

Special Flight Operations Certificates may be applied for by UAV pilots who wish to fly under circumstances outside of CARs rules for basic and advanced operations.

Ratings

Aeroplane class ratings

Aeroplane class ratings are specific to fixed-wing aircraft. These include:

  • Seaplane rating
  • Landplane rating
  • Multi-engine rating
  • Multi-engine centre line thrust rating

Aircraft type ratings

Aeroplane licences may be endorsed with individual aircraft types or with blanket ratings for groups of aircraft, for instance "All aeroplanes with a minimum flight crew requirement of one pilot excluding high performance".

Other blanket type ratings available for the respective licence or permit include:

The night rating is available only for the following permits and licences:

This rating is an intermediate step between piloting privileges that allow only for VFR flying and an instrument rating. This rating is included in the privileges of an instrument rating, as well as the Commercial Licence.

The rating may only be exercised for aircraft in the group endorsed. An instrument rating is often combined with other ratings to form a set of piloting privileges. For example, the multi-engine rating is required in addition to an instrument rating to fly a multi-engined aircraft under instrument flight rules.

VFR-Over-the-Top privileges are included in an instrument rating.

The second officer rating is available only for the following licences:

The passenger-carrying—ultra-light aeroplane rating applies only to the ultra-light pilot permit. Pilots with a recreational pilot permit—aeroplane and higher aeroplane licences are allowed to carry passengers in an aircraft that is authorized for passenger-carrying.

Aerobatic rating

There is no aerobatic rating for pilots to carry out aerobatics in Canada, although there are ratings for instructors to teach students aerobatics on aeroplanes and gliders. Prior to carrying passengers for the purpose of conducting aerobatics, pilots must first learn to fly aerobatic maneuvers. Pilots in Canada may learn aerobatics in one of two ways: pilots may spend 20 hours of flight time learning aerobatics on their own or pilots may fly 10 hours with a licensed Class 1 or Class 2 Aerobatic Instructor.

Flight instructor ratings

thumb|right|A Canadian aeroplane flight instructor (left) and her student, with the [[Cessna 172 they have just completed a lesson in.]]

The following flight instructor ratings are available to be added to the applicable licence or permit:

  • Aeroplane instructor rating - Class 1, 2, 3 or 4
  • Aeroplane aerobatic instructor rating - Class 1 or 2
  • Helicopter instructor rating - Class 1, 2, 3 or 4
  • Gyroplane instructor rating
  • Glider instructor rating
  • Glider aerobatic instructor rating
  • Balloon instructor rating
  • Ultra-light Aeroplane instructor rating

Foreign licence conversion

As of 1 December 2006 Canadian pilots who hold certain pilot licences are able to convert those licences into FAA Certificates with greater ease than in the past. Similarly, American pilots who hold certain pilot certificates are able to convert those certificates into Canadian licences.

See also

  • Pilot licensing in the United Kingdom
  • Pilot certification in the United States
  • Pilot licensing and certification

References

  • Canadian Aviation Regulations—Personnel Licensing and Training