Licensing and Ratings: Eligibility, Privileges and Validity
The licensing structure
Licences are issued under the national authority implementing ICAO Annex 1. Understand the hierarchy: a licence permits the holder to act in a stated capacity; a rating extends the licence to a class, type or specific privilege; an endorsement records a check, test or qualification. Questions frequently blur the distinction between the privileges of a licence and the conditions of its validity.
Eligibility and experience
Know the age minima, medical class, knowledge and experience requirements for each licence. For a commercial pilot licence, expect a minimum age of 18, a Class 1 medical, and specified cross-country and instrument time. Traps include: confusing total time with pilot-in-command time; assuming the private pilot age minimum applies to the commercial licence; and assuming a higher licence automatically confers instructor or instrument privileges - it does not.
Privileges and limitations
A licence holder may only exercise privileges that are current. Currency is separate from validity: the licence may remain valid while the holder is not current to carry passengers. A common question type gives a pilot whose last proficiency check or recent experience has lapsed and asks what may still be done - typically solo or dual training is permitted, but not carrying passengers.
Ratings and endorsements
Type ratings are required for complex aircraft; class ratings cover simpler categories. Instrument privileges require the appropriate rating and recent instrument experience. Instructor privileges require a separate rating and, in most systems, a competency check.
Worked example
A candidate holds a valid commercial licence, a valid Class 1 medical, but has not flown for eight months. Asked whether they may carry passengers, the answer is no if the recent-experience requirement is unmet - validity of documents does not equal currency. Rule of thumb: check three gates in order - licence valid, medical valid, experience current.
Record-keeping
Logbooks must record the details needed to substantiate experience. Examiners often test what must be logged rather than how it is formatted.