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5 Answers

What ratings carry over when I get commercial.

Asked by: 7295 views , , ,
Commercial Pilot, FAA Regulations, Private Pilot

I am a private pilot SEL and am interested in getting my SES(single engine sea) I am currently working on my commercial rating. If I were to get my SES as private and then take my commercial check ride would my SES be able to be used as commercial or only private and I would need to test in the SES?

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5 Answers



  1. Wes Beard on Nov 21, 2012

    The only ratings that are automatically upgraded are commercial aircraft specific type ratings to the ATP level at the same category and class. No category or class ratings are upgraded.

    In your example, you ASES rating will stay at the private level after you pass tour commercial practical test.

    I would wait to addon your ASES rating till after passing the commercial test. You can then take the commercial ASES. If done this way, the same number of practical tests will result in commercial ASEL and ASES ratings.

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  2. jacob conell on Nov 22, 2012

    Would an instrument or multi rating carry over?

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  3. drew meltebeke on Nov 22, 2012

    Thanks, i do believe instrument does but don’t think multi does =)

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  4. Sam Dawson on Nov 22, 2012

    Instrument is class specific- such as instrument airplane, instrument RW. So if you get an instrument in a SEL you have an instrument airplane rating, subject to limitations. In this case if you are a private MEL, then get you instrument airplane in a SEL your certificate will read instrument airplane, MEL VFR Only (or something to that effect), unless/until you have this limitation removed by taking an abbreviated check ride in a MEL.
    Since a SES is an airplane and SE the instrument would apply to it as well as the SEL.

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  5. Wes Beard on Nov 22, 2012

    There are items in the instrument PTS that a single engine airplane cannot accomplish. For example, one engine inoperative ILS. Therefore, if you already have a ASEL certificate with instrument privileges and want an AMEL certificate you are required to pass those items in the instrument PTS that couldn’t be accomplished in an ASEL aircraft. If you choose not to, as Sam said, your license will have the limitation, AMEL – VFR ONLY.

    The reverse is also true going from an AMEL to ASEL airplane. At this time, though, I am not aware of an ASE only maneuvers in the instrument PTS. If that is the case, your instrument rating will be valid for an ASEL aircraft once passing that test.

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