Aircraft types and categories

1. Aircraft Types and Categories

• Categories of aircraft for which a pilot may be rated are:
• Airplane
• •Rotorcraft
• •Glider
• •Lighter than air
• •Powered lift
• •Powered parachute
• •Weight-shift-control

2. Aircraft Types and Categories

• Most aircraft categories are further broken down into
classes.
• A pilot must hold a class rating to operate an aircraft in
that class:
•The Airplane category is divided into single-engine land,
multi-engine land, single-engine sea and multi-engine sea
classes

3. Aircraft Types and Categories

•The Rotorcraft category is divided into helicopter and
gyroplane classes

4. Aircraft Types and Categories

•The Lighter-than-air
category is divided into
airship and balloon classes

5. Aircraft Types and Categories

•The Powered
parachute category is
divided into powered
parachute land and
powered parachute sea

6. Aircraft Types and Categories

•The Weight-shift-control
category is divided into
weight-shift-control land
and weight-shift-control
sea

7. Aircraft Types and Categories Ultralight Vehicles

• An ultralight aircraft is
referred to as a vehicle
because the FAA does
if
not govern it
it:
• • Is used or intended
to be used by a single
occupant.
• • Is used for
recreation or sport
purposes.
• • Does not have an
airworthiness
certificate.

8. Aircraft Types and Categories Ultralight Vehicles

• An ultralight aircraft
• • If unpowered, weighs
less than 155 pounds
.
• • Has a fuel capacity not
exceeding 5 gallons.
• • Is not capable of more
than 55 knots calibrated
airspeed at full power in
level flight.

9. Aircraft Types and Categories Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) Category

• The Sport Pilot Certificate
was created for pilots
flying light-weight, simple
aircraft and offers limited
privileges.

10. Aircraft Types and Categories Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) Category

• The category of aircraft
called the Light Sport
Aircraft (LSA) includes:
• Airplane (Land/Sea)
• Gyroplane
• Airship
• Balloon
• Weight-Shift Control
(Land/Sea)
• Glider
• Powered Parachute.