Certified Flight Instructor - Flight Instructor Airplane Practice Exam

Which of the following normally requires the pilot in command to hold a type rating?

1. Any turbojet-powered aircraft.

2. Any airplane which has a gross weight of 6,000 pounds or more.

3. Any multiengine airplane which is operated under interstate commerce.

4. Any aircraft that carries more than 10 passengers.

The correct answer is: Any turbojet-powered aircraft.

A type rating is a certification that a pilot must obtain in order to operate certain complex aircraft. This requirement is specifically governed by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, which stipulate that pilots must have a type rating for any aircraft that is turbojet-powered. Turbojet aircraft are typically more complex than other types of aircraft, requiring specialized knowledge and skills due to their unique operating characteristics, systems, and performance. In contrast, the other scenarios mentioned—operating airplanes with a gross weight of 6,000 pounds or more, multiengine airplanes under interstate commerce, and aircraft carrying more than 10 passengers—do not inherently require a type rating. For these categories, while additional endorsements or ratings may be necessary (such as a multiengine rating or specific training for large aircraft), they do not uniformly necessitate a type rating based solely on the aircraft weight, number of engines, or passenger capacity. Thus, the requirement for a type rating is specifically applicable to turbojet-powered aircraft, reinforcing the need for specialized training and proficiency in operating these high-performance aircraft.