Licence, type rating, endorsement: how pilot certification actually works

Every week someone writes to ask how to get certified to fly an Atlas, a Leviathan or a Seraph. The honest answer is that there is no single certificate. Pilot qualifications come in three layers, and understanding them will save you a great deal of time and money.

The first layer is the licence. A licence says you are a pilot at all and defines what kind of flying you may do. Almost everyone starts with the Private Spaceflight Licence, earned on our First Solo course in 14 weeks and 45 flight hours in the Sparrow Trainer. It lets you fly light craft for pleasure in cislunar space. To be paid to fly, you need the Commercial Pilot Licence (Orbital), which our Shuttle Operations course delivers in 12 weeks on the Kestrel. At the top sits the Passenger Command Licence for liner captains.

The second layer is the type rating. Large and complex ships are certified individually, so even a highly experienced commercial pilot cannot simply climb into an Atlas Heavy Freighter. They need the Atlas Heavy Freighter Type Rating, which covers that specific ship's systems, handling and emergency procedures. We teach type ratings for the Aurora Mk II, Atlas, Leviathan, Valkyrie, Basilisk and Tempest. Each takes between 10 and 20 weeks.

The third layer is the endorsement. Endorsements certify a kind of operation rather than a ship: rescue flying in the Seraph Medevac, powered descents in the Cascade Dropship, atmospheric skimming at Jupiter, deep-space command, or teaching other pilots. Some endorsements also carry requirements set by outside bodies, such as the Orbital Aeromedical Council for medevac.

So the path to the left-hand seat of an Atlas is: Private Spaceflight Licence, then Commercial Pilot Licence (Orbital), then 600 hours of multi-crew experience, then the Heavy Freight Type Rating. For a motivated student that is typically four to five years from complete beginner, though sponsored seats can shorten it.

If you are unsure where you fit, our admissions team will review your logbook for free. And if you want the whole picture in an hour, join our webinar on licences, type ratings and endorsements.