Do you want to have a pilot’s license just as easily as you can get a driver’s license? That dream is becoming a reality for the public. The Civil Aviation Administration of China has recently relaxed the requirements for obtaining a private pilot license, making it as convenient as getting a driver’s license.
Officials from the administration introduced to reporters on the 28th that three consultation notices have been issued recently, relaxing the standards for theoretical exams, practical exams, and medical examinations for those applying for a private pilot license.
The official explained that a private pilot license is mainly used for private flying or recreational purposes, allowing individuals to operate non-commercial aircraft not intended for compensation. As long as one is at least 17 years old, has a junior high school education or above, passes a medical examination to obtain a civil aviation personnel medical certificate, completes 40 hours of theoretical study and 40 hours of flight training, and passes the corresponding exams, they can obtain a private pilot license.
He stated that individuals can sign up for training at any flight school or institution, undergo a medical examination at a Civil Aviation Administration–authorized medical center to obtain the corresponding medical certificate, complete the required training and theoretical exams, and then apply for a practical exam with the regional civil aviation administration. Upon passing the exam, they can obtain a private pilot license.
Pilot licenses are divided into private, commercial, airline transport, and multi-crew licenses, among others. Industry experts here pointed out that before the new standards were introduced, the requirements for obtaining a private pilot license in China—especially the medical standards—were close to those for a commercial pilot license, making it difficult to obtain. Experts made an apt analogy: a private pilot license is equivalent to a Class C driver’s license in the automotive world, the lowest level. A commercial pilot license held by professional pilots is akin to a Class B or Class A driver’s license. The former is for personal use, while the latter qualifies one to operate public transport vehicles.
In aviation-developed countries, learning to fly a plane privately is as convenient as learning to drive a car. Data shows that among the 600,000 pilots in the United States, more than 200,000 hold private pilot licenses, forming a strong talent reserve for the country’s commercial aviation sector.