G-0ZBBP4213E
EDAERO Knowledge · Ratings & Endorsements

Pilot Ratings
and Endorsements, Explained.

Licence, rating, endorsement, recency, currency, operator qualification — six different concepts that get used interchangeably but mean different things under the regulation.

Find Private Jet Pilots Type Ratings & Qualification
Six Terms, Six Meanings

Not interchangeable,
even when used that way.

Licence / Certificate
The base legal authorization to act as a pilot at a given privilege level (private, commercial, ATP).
Rating
A formal addition to the licence for a category, class, or specific aircraft type (e.g. instrument rating, multi-engine class rating, type rating).
Endorsement
A logbook sign-off for specific training completed (e.g. complex aircraft, high-performance, high-altitude, tailwheel under FAA rules) — distinct from a formal rating.
Recency
Whether the pilot has flown recently enough, per the applicable rule, to exercise a privilege (e.g. carrying passengers).
Currency
Whether required checks, trainings, or proficiency events are still valid and have not lapsed for a specific privilege or aircraft.
Operator Qualification
Additional training, checking, or line experience an operator requires beyond the regulatory minimum before assigning a pilot to a specific operation.
Ratings Under FAA Part 61

Ratings vs endorsements
are not the same thing.

Under 14 CFR §61.31 a type rating — a formal rating placed on the certificate — is required for large aircraft, turbojet-powered airplanes, powered-lift, and any aircraft the FAA designates by type-certification procedure. Category and class ratings (airplane, single-engine, multi-engine) and the Instrument Rating are also formal ratings under Part 61.

By contrast, complex aircraft, high-performance aircraft, high-altitude/pressurized aircraft, and tailwheel qualifications are logbook endorsements under §61.31(e)–(i) — not formal ratings placed on the certificate. The distinction matters for how each is recorded, checked, and referenced.

Type Rating — formal rating Category/Class Rating — formal rating Instrument Rating — formal rating Complex Endorsement — logbook sign-off High-Performance Endorsement — logbook sign-off High-Altitude Endorsement — logbook sign-off Tailwheel Endorsement — logbook sign-off
FAA vs EASA — Not Interchangeable

Two separate systems.
Not two names for the same thing.

ConceptFAA (Part 61)EASA (Part-FCL)
Aircraft type qualificationType Rating (§61.31(a))Type Rating
Engine category groupingClass Rating (single/multi-engine)Class Rating
Instrument flight privilegesInstrument RatingInstrument Rating (IR)
Complex/high-performance aircraftLogbook endorsementGenerally addressed within class/type rating training, not a separate US-style endorsement
Night flyingEndorsement/training requirement varies by certificateAddressed within licence/rating training requirements
An FAA endorsement is not an EASA rating, and an EASA rating is not automatically an FAA endorsement. A pilot holding both an FAA certificate and an EASA licence holds two separate qualification records that do not merge into one.
EDAERO's Role

We explain the systems.
The Operator confirms the fit.

EDAERO publishes this page to help Operators and Professionals understand how ratings, endorsements, recency, and currency relate to Mission eligibility. EDAERO is not the FAA, EASA, GCAA, GACA, or UK CAA, and does not issue or verify ratings on a pilot's behalf beyond documentation review. The Operator remains responsible for confirming a pilot's actual qualification for a specific Mission and aircraft.

PPL vs CPL vs ATPL  ·  Type Ratings & Crew Qualification  ·  Licence & Aircraft Registration
Frequently Asked

Common questions.

What's the difference between a rating and an endorsement?+
Under FAA rules, a rating is a formal addition placed on the pilot certificate (type rating, class rating, instrument rating). An endorsement is a logbook sign-off for specific training (complex, high-performance, high-altitude, tailwheel) and is not a formal rating.
Is an EASA type rating the same as an FAA type rating?+
They are separate qualifications issued under separate systems. A type rating issued under one system is not automatically recognized as satisfying the other, even for the same aircraft.
What does "currency" mean for a pilot?+
Currency refers to whether required checks, trainings, or proficiency events remain valid and have not lapsed for a given privilege or aircraft — distinct from holding the underlying licence or rating itself.
Can an operator require more than the regulatory minimum?+
Yes. Operators commonly apply their own qualification requirements — additional hours on type, route-specific experience, or internal checks — beyond what regulation alone requires.
Official Regulatory Sources

Primary official sources referenced for this page. Provided for verification; not a substitute for qualified aviation legal advice. Last regulatory review: September 2026.

Sourcing a pilot
with the right rating?

Define the aircraft type and mission, and see freelance pilots ranked with type, rating, and currency documentation on file.

Find Private Jet Pilots Freelance Pilot Jobs
Urgent Mission Support · Worldwide