EDAERO connects private and business aviation operators with freelance and contract PIC and SIC pilots — license and type-rating documentation on file, availability information, and mission-specific matching in place of scattered personal contact lists.
PIC & SIC CoverageLicense & Credential ReviewGlobal NetworkSecured Payment
Pilot Sourcing for Private Aviation
Contract pilots, matched to the mission.
Freelance pilot sourcing in private and business aviation still runs largely on personal networks, group chats, and word of mouth — slow, inconsistent, and hard to verify under time pressure. Operators need a pilot who holds the right type rating, is current, is positioned to reach the aircraft in time, and can document all of it before departure.
EDAERO gives operators a single place to define a mission — aircraft type, dates, location, PIC or SIC requirement — and see reviewed, available pilots ranked by fit, with licenses, type ratings, and documentation already on file. Sourcing for a specific aircraft? See Aircraft Crew for type-specific pages including Gulfstream, Global, Falcon, Challenger, Citation, and BBJ.
Global
Pilot Network
Reviewed
Licenses & Ratings on File
Secured
Payment on Completion
Terminology & Regulatory Orientation
PIC, SIC, ratings and what they actually mean.
Pilot sourcing involves several distinct concepts that are often used loosely in casual conversation but mean specific, separate things under aviation regulation: the operational role (PIC/SIC), the certificate and ratings held, currency/recency, and medical certification. None of these substitute for the others, and none of them are determined by EDAERO.
PIC — Pilot-in-Command
The pilot with final authority and responsibility for the safe conduct of a specific flight. PIC is an operational role tied to a given flight, not a fixed job title — a pilot may act as PIC on one mission and SIC on another, depending on the operation and the operator's requirements.
SIC — Second-in-Command
The second required flight crewmember on operations where more than one pilot is required, or where the operator's procedures call for a second pilot. Requirements for acting as SIC (certificate, rating, and experience) are set under the applicable regulatory framework and the operator's own requirements.
Type Rating
An aircraft-type-specific authorization added to a pilot certificate. A type rating on one aircraft does not extend to a different aircraft type. Whether a specific mission requires a type rating, and for whom, depends on the aircraft and the applicable regulatory framework.
Recency, Currency & Medical Certification
Separate, time-bound requirements — recent flight experience, periodic proficiency checks, and a valid medical certificate — that exist alongside the certificate and rating and must independently be current. A valid certificate and rating do not by themselves establish that a pilot is current or medically qualified to fly a specific mission.
How This Varies by Regulatory Framework
Pilot licensing, type-rating, recency, and medical requirements are set independently by each civil aviation authority and are not interchangeable between frameworks. At a high level:
FAA
Pilot certification is governed by 14 CFR Part 61. A type rating is required to act as pilot-in-command of a large aircraft (as defined under 14 CFR Part 1) or a turbojet-powered airplane, among other cases set out in 14 CFR § 61.31. Pilots operating aircraft that require more than one pilot flight crewmember, or that are turbojet-powered, are additionally subject to a recurring pilot-in-command proficiency check under 14 CFR § 61.58. Separately, 14 CFR § 61.56 requires a flight review at recurring intervals, and 14 CFR § 61.57 sets recent flight experience requirements to carry passengers. Medical certification is governed by 14 CFR Part 67, with different certificate classes tied to different privileges and operations. These are four separate requirements — holding one does not establish the others.
EASA / EU Framework
FAA terminology and thresholds above are FAA-specific and are not imported into the EU/EASA framework. EASA's aircrew regulation (Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011, as amended) establishes flight crew licensing under Part-FCL, including type-rating requirements, recency, and separate medical requirements under Part-MED. This page does not restate specific EASA numeric thresholds; current requirements for a given aircraft and operation should be confirmed against the current regulation or with EASA/qualified counsel.
UK CAA
Following its exit from the EU, the UK retained the EU flight crew licensing framework as UK domestic law at the point of transition, now administered independently by the UK CAA. UK and EU/EASA requirements are not guaranteed to remain identical over time, since each authority can amend its own rules independently — current UK-specific requirements should be confirmed directly with the UK CAA.
GCAA (UAE)
The UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority maintains its own flight crew licensing framework (CAR-FCL). GCAA requirements are not assumed to mirror FAA or EASA rules; this page does not state specific GCAA numeric thresholds, and applicable requirements should be confirmed directly against current GCAA regulations or with GCAA/qualified counsel.
This section provides general industry and regulatory orientation for informational purposes and reflects the authors' review of the primary sources cited in "Regulatory References" below as of the date this page was last reviewed — it is not legal or regulatory advice, and regulations are amended over time. Which certificate, rating, recency, and medical requirements apply to a specific pilot, aircraft, mission, and jurisdiction is determined under the applicable regulatory framework, not by EDAERO. Operators and pilots should confirm current, specific requirements with qualified aviation counsel or the relevant civil aviation authority.
What Operators May Look For
Experience that fits the aircraft and the mission.
Requirements vary by operator, aircraft, and mission — the following are commonly considered factors, not a fixed checklist EDAERO imposes.
Aircraft Fit
Type Rating & Currency
A current type rating on the specific aircraft, along with up-to-date proficiency checks and recent experience, is typically the first filter operators apply — reducing the time needed to get a pilot mission-ready.
Role Fit
PIC vs. SIC Experience
Some missions call for a pilot to act as PIC; others need a qualified SIC alongside the operator's own crew. Clarity on which roles a pilot is qualified and available for streamlines matching considerably.
Route Experience
International Operations
Cross-border missions can involve unfamiliar airspace, procedures, and documentation. Pilots with relevant international trip experience are frequently well positioned for EDAERO's global operator base.
Track Record
Operational History & Reliability
Consistency — accurate availability, on-time confirmation, and a clean mission history — is a factor many operators weigh alongside licenses and experience when deciding who to book again.
Readiness Factors
Documentation, travel and availability.
Beyond ratings and experience, operators commonly assess practical mission-readiness factors before confirming an assignment:
✓
License, Rating & Medical Documentation
Current certificate, applicable type rating(s), proficiency check and flight review records, and a valid medical certificate, kept current and ready to share as part of profile review.
✓
Visas & Travel Readiness
A valid passport with sufficient validity, awareness of visa requirements for likely destination countries, and the ability to travel on short notice for international missions.
✓
Availability & Currency
Accurate, current availability, combined with up-to-date recency and proficiency status — private aviation missions are frequently time-sensitive, and both matter equally when a mission comes in.
Specific license, rating, recency, medical, and visa requirements depend on the pilot, aircraft, operator, mission, and jurisdiction, and EDAERO does not determine these requirements on an operator's behalf. Operators and pilots remain responsible for confirming what applies to a given mission.
How EDAERO Matching Works
One profile. Matched to real missions.
EDAERO's matching engine evaluates pilot profiles against operator mission requirements — aircraft type, PIC/SIC need, dates, and location — and surfaces ranked, available matches to operators in real time.
01
Profile Reviewed
Identity, license, ratings, and documentation reviewed before a profile becomes visible in matching results.
02
MissionReady Status
Each profile carries a mission-specific readiness indicator (GREEN / AMBER / RED) that helps operators assess fit and flag gaps early — it is a readiness aid, not a regulatory approval or certification.
03
Mission Matched
Operator posts a mission; the engine ranks available, qualified pilots by aircraft type, role, location, and reliability data.
04
Secured Payment
Once a mission is accepted, funds are secured before execution and released to the pilot according to the applicable mission terms.
EDAERO is a technology marketplace. EDAERO does not determine or certify the regulatory status, licensing, or currency of any pilot, and does not assign required flight crew. MissionReady status is a compliance-and-eligibility support signal reflecting readiness factors such as documentation, licenses/ratings on file, and availability — it is not a regulatory certification, legal certification, operational authorization, or crew assignment, and it does not guarantee Mission eligibility or Mission performance. The Operator remains responsible for determining the applicable regulatory framework, required crew composition and qualifications, training requirements, operational eligibility, and whether the selected Professional satisfies the requirements applicable to the specific Mission.
For Pilots
How Pilots Join EDAERO.
Build one profile, get reviewed once, and stay visible to operators actively looking for freelance and contract pilots worldwide. See Freelance Pilot Jobs for the full professional-side guide.
Create a profile with certificate, type ratings, and aircraft experience
Complete document and identity review
Set and update availability, currency, and medical status at any time
Receive mission matches directly — no cold outreach required
Get paid through EDAERO's secured payment flow on completed missions
Post mission requirements once and see reviewed, available PIC and SIC pilots ranked by fit — instead of chasing agencies and personal contacts. Sourcing cabin crew or engineers for the same mission? See Private Aviation Crew Sourcing.
Submit aircraft type, PIC/SIC requirement, dates, and location
Review ranked, reviewed, available pilot matches
See MissionReady status and documentation on file before booking
Confirm the assignment with secured payment terms
Full mission support through EDAERO's operations team
PIC (Pilot-in-Command) is the pilot with final authority and responsibility for a specific flight; SIC (Second-in-Command) is the second required pilot on operations where more than one pilot is required or the operator's procedures call for one. A pilot may be qualified to act as PIC on one mission and SIC on another, depending on aircraft, rating, and operator requirements.
Does EDAERO determine whether a pilot meets the regulatory requirements for a mission?+
No. EDAERO is a technology marketplace, not a regulator or certifying body. EDAERO does not determine the regulatory status, licensing, or currency of any pilot on an operator's behalf, and MissionReady status is not a regulatory approval, certification, or authorization. The operator remains responsible for determining the applicable regulatory framework and whether a pilot satisfies the requirements for a specific mission.
Are type ratings the same across different aircraft?+
No. A type rating is specific to the aircraft type it was issued for and does not extend to a different aircraft type. Operators sourcing a pilot for a specific aircraft should confirm the type rating held matches the aircraft being flown.
Can pilots transitioning from airline careers to private aviation use EDAERO?+
Yes. Pilots may move professionally between airline and business/private aviation, but airline experience alone does not establish eligibility for a particular business-aviation operation. Eligibility depends on the applicable licensing, aircraft qualification, recency/currency, operator, and regulatory requirements for the specific operation. A profile can present airline experience alongside any private-aviation-specific type ratings and training completed.
How does EDAERO handle payment for freelance pilot assignments?+
Once a mission is accepted, the required funds are secured before the mission is executed and released to the pilot according to the applicable mission and payment terms — full detail is provided during onboarding.
Can I source pilots, cabin crew, and engineers for the same mission on EDAERO?+
Primary official sources referenced for the regulatory orientation in "PIC, SIC, ratings and what they actually mean" above. Provided for verification; not a substitute for qualified aviation legal advice.
