Private pilot license

Funny that we're all giving advice, debating each others' advice and
fine-tuning our comments, yet the original poster hasn't come back even
once to clarify his request, ask for further information or otherwise
contribute. Do I sense a lack of committment?

That's the trouble with the internet. It's so huge that it's easy to find
someplace cool (like this!), and then forget where (or when) you saw it.

I've posted questions on other, non-aviation newsgroups and then completely
forgotten about them until days or weeks later. Luckily, that's the nice
part about Usenet -- the answers will still be there, waiting, when you get
your head out of your butt and remember the conversation...
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Certificate not license.

Jerry in NC

wrote in message
oups.com...
I'm considering going in for a private pilot license. Just wanted
general feedback from anyone who has one or is considering opting for
one.

Cheers

Jerry wrote:

Certificate not license.

And the difference is?


Matt

Certificate is a document certifying that one has fulfilled the requirements
of and may practice in a field while a license is a permission granted by
competent authority to engage in a business or occupation or in an activity
otherwise unlawful per Webster. Summary, certificate is earned while
license is granted. FAA uses the term certificate.

Jerry in NC

"Matt Whiting" wrote in message
...
Jerry wrote:

Certificate not license.

And the difference is?


Matt

Jerry wrote:
Certificate is a document certifying that one has fulfilled the requirements
of and may practice in a field while a license is a permission granted by
competent authority to engage in a business or occupation or in an activity
otherwise unlawful per Webster. Summary, certificate is earned while
license is granted. FAA uses the term certificate.

I'm certificated as a pilot, but I'm licensed as a professional
engineer. The PE license wasn't just "granted", I can assure of you
that. I had to meet rigorous education and experience requirements (a
total of 12 years worth - but you get 8 years credit for your
unergraduate engineering degree as long as your school is ABET
accredited). I also had to pass two exams that ran 8 hours each. Much
more rigorous than any FAA exam I've taken and I've taken the private,
instrument and commercial. Haven't got to the ATP yet so maybe that is
different, but I doubt it runs for 16 hours total.

Personally, I still don't see the difference between license and
certificate. And flying without a certificate is illegal, so it isn't
just a legality difference as suggested above.


Matt

Certificate is a document certifying that one has fulfilled the requirements
of and may practice in a field while a license is a permission granted by
competent authority to engage in a business or occupation or in an activity
otherwise unlawful per Webster. Summary, certificate is earned while
license is granted. FAA uses the term certificate.

1: FAA also uses the term "license".

2: Permission is required in order to pilot an airplane. The
certificate ebmodies that permission. Therefore a pilot certificate is
a license.

Jose
--
Money: what you need when you run out of brains.
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

Jose wrote

1: FAA also uses the term "license".

Only in error...see below

2: Permission is required in order to pilot an airplane. The
certificate ebmodies that permission. Therefore a pilot certificate
is a license.

No it is not....see below

The following e-mail exchange took place recently between myself
and Russ Niles, one of the daily editors at AVWEB. Russ had used
the phrase "pilot license" in one of his daily articles.

---------------------------------------------------------
I can understand the idiots at the local TV station constantly
referring to "pilot's licenses", but how did supposedly "aviation
savvy" writers for AVWEB mistake a certificate for a license in
the lead article pertaining to medical certificate fraud?
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A little journalistic license, Bob, as approved by the FAA.
Check it out under the Airman Registry subhed in the link provided
below.
It now appears that license is the preferred term and (certificate)
is bracketed :ie less used... http://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/
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A quick call to the FAA confirms that there has been no change and that,
just like the newscasters, the webmaster has inserted his own slant on
the subject.
Since the page seems to be intended for the general public, the
webmaster probably felt that they would understand license better than
certificate.

However............from Wikipedia

A license (American English) or licence (Commonwealth English) is a
document or agreement giving permission to do something.

A certificate is an official document affirming some fact.
A certificate may also certify that a person has received specific
education or has passed a test.
------------------------------------------------------------------
It is this little bit of freedom granted to citizens of the United
States of America that makes the difference between license and
certificate.

"United State Code TITLE 49 - TRANSPORTATION
Sec. 40103. Sovereignty and use of airspace
(2) A citizen of the United States has a public right of transit
through the navigable airspace."

No further granting of permission (license) is required, however, a
demonstration of training or ability (certification) may be
required. Note the ultralight Part 103 exception to the certificate
requirement.

There is no such federal code granting a citizen the right to operate
a vehicle on public roads, or to practice medicine, therefore allowing
the government to require a license.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
My response from the FAA webmaster

Subject
Has the FAA really switched "pilot certificate" to "pilot license" as is
indi...

Discussion Thread
Response (FAA Expert) 07/22/2005 03:51 PM
It's a web error. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We are
in the process of restructuring our entire web site. I have initiated
action to correct this page to reflect "pilot certificate" and "mechanic
certificates."
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Would you mind if I wrote about this for Monday, Bob?

Write away Russ....just bear in mind that I'll be checking each and
every word. :-) :-)

What started out as just a gentle chide to the AVWEB editor turned out
to taking-on the FAA, something that I've done many times in the past.
I've been in this flying business for 47 years and have learned that the
FAA probably makes more mistakes than I do. Getting them to admit it as
easily as happened Friday came as quite a shock to me. My first call
was to the local (Tampa) FSDO and what a waste that was.
A simple yes or no question and after a five minute dissertation, I
still did not have a firm answer.

My name since leaving Naval Aviation and joining PanAm in 1967 has been
"Bob (It's a certificate not a license) Moore". The basic indoctrination
course at PanAm taught us a lot about aviation law and history. At 70
years of age, I am still an active Flight Instructor. I instructed for
three years in the Navy, probably ten years in the airline industry and
six years in the GA business and one thing that I learned early-on from
my students was to very carefully weigh each and every word that I
uttered for accuracy. This is much more important for those who would
commit words to paper, or nowadays,to the internet. :-)

BTW, that little bit of Federal Code had its origins in the Air Commerce
Act of 1926. Just try discussing that with your friendly local FDSO
inspector! :-)
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