Licensing and Certification of Flight Crew
Licence Structure
Flight crew licensing follows Annex 1 and the associated Brunei Aviation Requirements. Know the licence ladder - Student Pilot Licence, Private Pilot Licence (Aeroplane), Commercial Pilot Licence (Aeroplane), Airline Transport Pilot Licence, plus ratings (type, class, instrument, instructor) and the Multi-Crew Pilot Licence where provided. Each licence has age minima, medical class, knowledge, experience and skill-test requirements. The CPL requires a Class 1 medical, a minimum age of 18, and the prescribed aeronautical experience including cross-country and instrument time.
Privileges and Limitations
The CPL holder may act as pilot-in-command of aircraft engaged in operations other than commercial air transport, and as co-pilot in commercial air transport, and may fly for remuneration in limited circumstances defined in the requirements. Privileges flow from the licence plus valid ratings, a current medical, and recent experience. A licence without a valid medical is not exercisable.
Records, Validity and Traps
Logbooks must be preserved and produced on request; the licence holder is responsible for their accuracy. Traps include: assuming a CPL permits unlimited command of commercial air transport (it does not); forgetting that a rating lapses independently of the licence; confusing the medical validity period with the licence validity; and overlooking that a foreign licence may be validated or converted only through the prescribed process.
Worked example: A pilot holds a valid CPL but the Class 1 medical expired last week. The answer to "may he act as PIC of a commercially operated flight?" is no - the licence is not exercisable until the medical is renewed.