Glossary:
Aviation Terminology simply explained:
Like every industry of today which you may be introduced to; there are a number of abbreviations, acronyms and unfamiliar terms in professional pilot training. Below is a list of such terms explained and what they actually mean:
PPL - Private Pilot’s Licence which is the first step towards your CPL and ATPL
ATPL - Airline Transport Pilot’s Licence is necessary before you can fly Pilot in Command with any of the world’s commercial airlines (Aircraft weight must not exceed 20,000kg)
CPL- Commerical Pilots Licence allows you to earn some money while flying
FAA – Federal Aviation Administration – America’s answer the JAA
JAA – Joint Aviation Authority Licence which allows you fly within 32 European countries
EASA – European Aviation Safety Agency which oversees aviation training, licence issue in Europe
FTO – Flight Training Organisation
Groundschool – This is the area of training which covers theory and ground exams
CFI – Chief Ground Instructor
FI – Flight Instructor
PIC – Pilot in Command
Ab-initio – This is flight training for complete beginners which takes a student to a given level
AME – Authorised Medical Examiner who is a doctor certified to carry out a Class 1 and 2 aviation medical
Integrated – This is a full-time structured flight training programme which is completed through a single flight training organisation
Modular – This is a training programme where each module is studied individually over a period of time which is fitted around the current student’s lifestyle
IFR – Instrument Flight Rules
IR – Instrument Rating
MCC – Multi-Crew Cooperation course trains the pilot to be able to operate in a multi-crew environment within airlines
Rating – is an add-on to a particular pilot’s licence to allow them to fly more complex aircraft or in demanding environments
Type Rating – rating required to fly certain aircraft
Hours Building – This relates to the building up of hours to a required level for certain flying licences, ratings and qualifications
Frozen – If you have a CPL and ATPL, completed your ground studies but do not have the necessary hours of flight time