Licensing of Flight Crew and Personnel
Licence structure
Under CAR Section 7 Series B, a licence carries an issue, validity, privileges, conditions and endorsement structure. A CPL holder may act as PIC of aircraft engaged in non-scheduled operations and as co-pilot of scheduled operations, and may exercise the privileges of a PPL. Know the age minimums (PPL 17, CPL 18, ATPL 21), the experience requirements for CPL (200 hours total, including specified cross-country and instrument time) and ATPL (1500 hours), and the recency requirement (three take-offs and landings in the preceding 90 days for passenger-carrying).
Medical and skill tests
Know the class of medical: Class 1 for CPL/ATPL, Class 2 for PPL. Distinguish the skill test (initial) from the proficiency check (recurrent). Know the ratings: instrument rating, type rating, instructor rating, and the conditions for endorsement. Also know the rules on logbooks, licence validity (CPL/ATPL validity periods and the requirement to revalidate), and the consequences of lapse.
Traps and worked example
Traps: quoting privileges of a CPL as if identical to an ATPL; forgetting that a PPL cannot receive remuneration except for cost-sharing; mixing Class 1 and Class 2 medicals; and confusing recency (90-day passenger rule) with currency (instrument rating revalidation).
Rule of thumb: licence = what you may do; rating = what you are qualified to do it in; recency = whether you have done it lately. All three must be valid.
Worked example: "A CPL holder has flown no take-offs and landings for 100 days. May he carry passengers?" No - the 90-day recency rule requires three take-offs and landings in the preceding 90 days before carrying passengers; he must first complete them.