Most people are familiar with the look and feel of driver's licenses, which – at least in the US – serve as both government-issued identification and permission to operate a vehicle on the road. But what does a pilot certificate look like and what information does it convey? In the United States, the comparison between the look of and information included on pilot certificates and driver's licenses unveils intriguing distinctions that reflect the somewhat different purposes of the two documents.

Basic appearance and information

Driver's licenses, aside from being a permit to drive, also double as a government-issued photo ID in the US. These licenses are issued by individual states, and thus may look different and include slightly different information depending on where the license is from.

Nevertheless, they generally include essential personal details such as the license holder's birthdate, address, signature, height, gender, and eye color. Additionally, they display the license number and class, any driving limitations, issuance and expiration dates, and a control number, all of which contribute to both identification and regulatory purposes.

Photo: State of California DMV via Wikimedia Commons

Conversely, although pilot certificates include some basic identifying information, their primary focus is on qualifications rather than identification. An American pilot certificate, issued centrally by the Federal Aviation Administration, includes the individual's name, address, nationality, gender, height, weight, language proficiency, hair color, and eye color. Pilot certificates do not feature a photograph of the holder.

Credentials and ratings

The most significant differentiation between the two types of licenses lies in their respective emphases. While driver's licenses serve as both identification on the permission to drive different types of vehicles, pilot certificates primarily underscore the qualifications to operate varying categories of aircraft. Pilot certificates focus on and outline the specific credentials held by the pilot, detailing the type of certificate and ratings they possess.

Photo: FAA

Photo: FAA

For instance, while a driver’s license might simply say that it is a “Class C” license, a pilot certificate might state that the holder is a private pilot with the capability to fly single-engine, land-based aircraft in instrument meteorological conditions.

Absence of expiration date

One notable difference is the lack of an expiration date on pilot certificates. Unlike driver's licenses that need periodic renewal, pilot certificates follow a different approach. Instead of renewing the certificate, pilots simply maintain it by continually fulfilling specific requirements.

A vital component of this maintenance is holding a valid medical certificate appropriate for the type of flying they intend to conduct that demonstrates their physical fitness for flight. Alongside this, pilots are required to carry a government-issued ID – the reason behind the absence of a photograph on the pilot certificate – as proof of certain types of flight experience or testing within a set period of time.

A basic example of this is that pilots need to be able to show an inspector that they have either earned a new rating or undergone a flight review within the past 24 months. Depending on the types of additional ratings they possess, pilots might need to provide flight logs that demonstrate their currency for specific types of flights within prescribed timeframes.

How do pilot certificates and driver’s licenses compare in other countries around the world? Let us know in the comments below.