Canadian Regulations

Pilot Permits / Ratings

Pilot Permit: (CAR 421.21) In order to obtain a Pilot Permit you must:
  • be at least 16 yrs of age
  • complete a Category 4 Medical Certificate (Civil Aviation Medical Declaration). Declare that you have never suffered from any of the conditions listed on the form and have not been refused on medical grounds a motor vehicle license or a civil aviation personnel license; or, if you do not meet the conditions, complete a medical examination given by a Civil Aviation Medical Examiner and either be in possession of a valid Medical Certificate Category 1 or 3, or an assessment letter (form 26-0417) issued by the Department of Transport attesting to meeting the requirements of Category 4.(This certificate is valid for 60 months)
  • complete an approved Ultralight  ground school
  • pass the Transport Canada written exam Pilot Permit - Ultralight Aeroplane (ULTRA) minimum pass mark - 90%
  • a letter of recommendation from a qualified flight instructor to attest to the Skill requirement of certifying that the applicant has demonstrated the ability to perform both normal and emergency maneuvers appropriate to the ultra-light aeroplane used for the training program, and with a degree of competency appropriate to that of the holder of a pilot permit - ultra-light aeroplane.

Within the 24 months preceding the date of application for the permit, (these hour requirements are specific to PPCs, and permits are restricted to PPCs)

  • a minimum of 5 hours total flight time (minimum of 2 hours as sole occupant)
  • a minimum of 20 takeoffs and landings (minimum of 10 as sole occupant) 

Credits:

  • Knowledge
    An applicant who holds a pilot permit or license in any other category of aircraft shall be deemed to have met the written examination requirement.
    An applicant who holds a pilot license - aeroplane shall be deemed to have met the knowledge requirements.
  • Experience 
    An applicant who is the holder of, or has held a pilot license - aeroplane within the preceding 5 years shall have the experience requirements reduced to a minimum of 5 hours of flight time in ultra-light aeroplanes, including a minimum of 2 hours dual instruction flight time and a minimum of 2 hours solo flight time. The flight time shall include a minimum of 20 takeoffs, full circuits and landings, including a minimum of 10 as sole occupant.
  • Skill 
    An applicant who holds a pilot license - aeroplane shall be deemed to have met the skill requirements.

Privileges: You may fly as pilot in command under day VFR conditions, no passengers may be carried.

Period of Validity: The normal period of validity is 60 months calculated from the first day of the month following the date of medical declaration or medical examination. Revalidation is accomplished by renewing your medical. This is accomplished by filling out the medical declaration, as stated for the Student Pilot Permit Ultra-Light Aeroplane above.
To ensure continuity, application for renewal should be made during the 60 days prior to the "valid to" date on your license.
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Student Pilot Permit: (CAR 421.19) In order to obtain a Student Pilot Permit you must:

  • be at least 14 years of age.
  • complete a Category 4 Medical Certificate (Civil Aviation Medical Declaration). See above.
  • provide proof of Canadian citizenship.
  • passed a Transport Canada approved written pre-solo exam administered by your instructor, or flight training facility.  The exam will cover Air Regulations, Air Navigation Orders, Air Traffic Rules and Procedures, Information Circulars and NOTAM. Including questions on basic aerodynamics applicable to the type of ultralight being used for training, stall recognition and recovery procedures, and meteorology related to ultralight aeroplanes.

Once the Citizenship, Age, Medical, Fitness and Knowledge requirements have been met and evidence thereof presented to an Authorized Person, (this may be your instructor, if he/she is authorized by Transport Canada to issue licenses, or your instructor may provide a letter attesting to your completion of the above for Transport Canada to issue the permit) a Student Pilot Permit  shall be issued. The instructor shall be responsible for ensuring that the applicant has reached a satisfactory standard of experience and skill to complete solo flight before authorizing the first solo flight.

Privileges of a Student Pilot Permit -you may act as pilot-in-command of any ultralight/PPC aeroplane provided that:

  • you are under the supervision and direction of a person who is authorized to conduct ultralight/PPC training;
  • no passengers are carried; and
  • flights are conducted within Canada, under day VFR conditions, and outside of controlled airspace unless otherwise authorized.

Period of Validity: The normal period of validity is 60 months calculated from the first day of the month following the date of medical declaration or medical examination. 
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Flight Instructor (Commercial) Rating: (CAR 421.88) In order to obtain a flight Instructor Rating you must:

  • be at least 18 years of age.

  • hold a Category 3 Medical Certificate

Knowledge:

  • complete training in instructional techniques which shall not be less than 10 hours and shall include:
    (i) the practical application of the basic principles of learning and learning factors with emphasis on the preparation and use of lesson plans
    (ii) preparatory ground instruction
    (iii) pre-flight, in-flight instruction and post-flight briefing, and
    (iv) flight safety.
  • pass the Transport Canada written exam Flight Instructor Rating Instructional Techniques (FITEN) minimum pass mark - 80%
  • completed ground school training, including normal and emergency procedures, on ultralight/PPC aeroplanes. (this would be from the Pilot Permit training) 
  • pass the Transport Canada written exam Pilot Permit - Ultralight Aeroplane (ULTRA) minimum pass mark - 90% (this would be from the Pilot Permit training)

Experience: Within the 24 months preceding the date of application an applicant shall have acquired in ultralight aeroplanes a minimum of 50 hours flight time, including a minimum of

  • 25 hours solo flight time. (the rules for dual flight are deemed to have been met if the applicant has trained in PPCs, however the rating is also restricted to PPCs)
Skill:   An applicant shall submit a letter from the holder of a Flight Instructor Rating - UltraLight/PPC Aeroplane or the holder of a Flight Instructor Rating - Aeroplane certifying that the applicant has demonstrated the ability to perform and instruct both normal and emergency maneuvers appropriate to the ultralight aeroplane used for the training program, and with a degree of competency appropriate to that of the holder of an ultralight aeroplane instructor rating.

Credits:

  • An applicant who holds a permit or licence in any other category of aircraft shall be deemed to meet the knowledge requirement specified above (ULTRA).

  • An applicant who is the holder of, or has held a pilot licence of the aeroplane category within the preceding 5 years shall have the Experience requirement reduced to a minimum of 20 hours of flight time in Ultra-light Aeroplanes, including a minimum of 2 hours dual instruction flight time and a minimum of 10 hours solo flight time.
  • The Knowledge and Skill requirements shall be deemed to have been met if the applicant holds, or has held within the preceding two years, a Flight Instructor Rating - Aeroplane or Helicopter.
  • The requirement for a letter of recommendation for renewal of the rating can be satisfied by a successful instructor renewal flight test in the aeroplane or helicopter category aircraft.

Privileges: the holder of a flight instructor rating may:http://www.tc.gc.ca/aviation/regserv/carac/CARS/cars/406e.htm#406_21

Validity: this rating is valid for 5 years.  Revalidation is accomplished by renewing the Medical Certificate, and completing 10 hours of flight time as an ultralight flight instructor; or, provide a recommendation from the holder of a Flight Instructor Rating -Ultra-light Aeroplane certifying that the applicant is familiar with current instructional techniques, and is competent to act as an ultra-light aeroplane flight instructor.

Instructor rating / Authorized Person designation:  Transport Canada recognizes 2 levels of responsibility regarding  Instructors.  Once a person is qualified as an instructor they can apply to Transport Canada for a designation of Authorized Person, or Authorized training Unit, this essentially allows that person/group to issue Student Pilot Permits

Instructor Authorized Person
  • dual flight instruction
  • conduct ground school training
  • all privileges of an instructor plus:
  • issue student pilot permits


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In general there are rules and regs that apply to all:

Recency (CAR 401.05)



*Direction and supervision means guidance provided as part of the ground and flight instruction and, more specifically,
(1) direction means a situation whereby an applicant's training is being channelled along an organized route by a person who has accepted responsibility for that training, and
(2) supervision means a situation whereby an applicant's training is being regulated, controlled and guided according to progress shown by that applicant.
(3) All permits and licenses pertaining to ultralight/PPC aeroplanes shall be carried when you fly.
(as I have been told by Transport Canada - your instructor is to be physically present when you fly)
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