Class rating

A class rating is an allowance to fly a certain group of aircraft that require training common to all aircraft within the group. A type rating is specified if a particular aircraft requires additional specialized training beyond the scope of initial license and aircraft class training. What aircraft require a type rating is decided by the local aviation authority. Almost all single engine piston (SEP) or multi engine piston (MEP) single pilot aircraft can be flown without a type rating, but are covered by a class rating instead. An exception to this under European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) regulations is the piston version of the Piper Malibu.

There are seven categories of aircraft, which may be further subdivided into two or more classes:

A Mars water bomber, one of the largest multi-engine sea-class aircraft

An airship class aircraft in the aerostat category, a Zeppelin NT

An example of a glider class aircraft, a Schweizer SGS 2-33

An example of a rotorcraft class aircraft, a CH-149 Cormorant helicopter

An example of a very large multi-engine class aircraft, a C-17 Globemaster III

An example of a jet fighter aircraft

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