Pilot licensing in Canada

Other than when flying a hang glider or paraglider, a person may only operate a Canadian-registered aircraft or act as a flight crew member in Canada with a licence or permit issued by Transport Canada.

At the end of 2008 there were 64,932 Canadian licences and permits held,[1] giving Canada the second largest population of licensed pilots in the world.

A licence can be used to fly domestically as well as internationally, while a permit does not comply with ICAO standards and therefore can only be used within Canada, unless accepted by another country.

[4] In April 1920 the first commercial pilot licence in Canada was issued to Roland Groome.

At the end of 2008 there were 27,138 aeroplane and 596 helicopter private pilot licences in force in Canada.

A rating is a Transport Canada endorsement that grants additional special privileges.

For example, a single engine general aviation aircraft's design and operation is fundamentally different from a gyroplane.

Type ratings allow a pilot to fly a specific aircraft model or series.

[8] Before earning a permit, a student pilot may only practice dual instruction with an instructor.

Only domestic day flying under visual flight rules (VFR) is allowed under this permit and no passengers may be carried.

Until endorsed with other ratings, only domestic day flying under VFR is allowed under this permit.

Transport Canada defines two general categories of ultra-light aeroplane.

The operating and flight rules for basic ultra-light aeroplanes (BULA) does not allow any passenger carrying.

The advanced ultra-light aeroplane (AULA) has stricter design requirements and includes passenger carrying if the pilot has an ultra-light pilot permit endorsed with the Passenger-carrying—ultra-light aeroplane rating.

In such cases, the ultra-light pilot permit is restricted to the type used by the student for training and qualification.

It has fewer requirements with respect to training and affords more restrictive privileges compared to the private pilot licence—aeroplane.

[15] Only domestic day flying in a single engine, non-high-performance aeroplane under VFR is allowed.

This permit is restricted to single engine aeroplanes designed for a maximum of four people, but with only one passenger.

It was to have fewer requirements with respect to training and would have afforded more restrictive privileges as compared to the private pilot licence—helicopter.

[19] Once a glider pilot has completed a minimum of three solo flights using a particular launch method, they may then carry passengers, but only for those launch methods for which they have been endorsed and have completed the three solo flights.

Only day flying of a single engine non-high-performance aeroplane in accordance with VFR is allowed, unless other ratings have been obtained.

[23][24] A pilot with this licence cannot work for "hire or reward", although reimbursement for some costs such as fuel is permitted.

[27] A pilot with this licence cannot work for hire, although reimbursement for some costs is permitted.

[34][35] The airline transport pilot licence—helicopter is restricted to aerial work only if the night and instrument flight time requirements are not met.

[34] The following endorsement can be added: Some airliners are flown by a third crew member in addition to the pilot and co-pilot, a flight engineer.

[38] While either class may be used to fly as a commercial drone pilot, only the advanced certification allows for flight within controlled airspace (with prior approval from Nav Canada) and within 100 feet (30 metres) of bystanders.

These include:[43][44] Aeroplane licences may be endorsed with individual aircraft types or with blanket ratings for groups of aircraft, for instance "All aeroplanes with a minimum flight crew requirement of one pilot excluding high performance".

[45][46] Other blanket type ratings available for the respective licence or permit include:[46] Individual aircraft type ratings required for the respective licence or permit include:[46] The night rating allows a pilot to fly in VMC and navigate in visual reference to the ground, at night.

[49] The VFR OTT rating is available for the following licences:[49] The instrument rating allows a pilot to fly in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), for example when cloud layers obscure the pilot's view of the ground.

An instrument-rated pilot is able to fly and maintain situational awareness strictly by using instruments and avionics.