An aircraft category is defined by the
International Civil Aviation Organization
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO ) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that coordinates the principles and techniques of international air navigation, and fosters the planning and development of international sch ...
as a "classification of
aircraft
An aircraft ( aircraft) is a vehicle that is able to flight, fly by gaining support from the Atmosphere of Earth, air. It counters the force of gravity by using either Buoyancy, static lift or the Lift (force), dynamic lift of an airfoil, or, i ...
according to specified basic characteristics", for the purpose of
personnel licensing. Examples of aircraft categories include aeroplanes, helicopters, gliders, or free balloons.
United States of America
In the United States of America, there are seven aircraft categories for the purpose of certification of
aircraft pilot
An aircraft pilot or aviator is a person who controls the flight of an aircraft by operating its directional flight controls. Some other aircrew members, such as navigators or flight engineers, are also considered aviators because they a ...
s:
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Airplane
An airplane (American English), or aeroplane (Commonwealth English), informally plane, is a fixed-wing aircraft that is propelled forward by thrust from a jet engine, Propeller (aircraft), propeller, or rocket engine. Airplanes come in a vari ...
s
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Rotorcraft
A rotary-wing aircraft, rotorwing aircraft or rotorcraft is a heavier-than-air aircraft with rotor wing, rotary wings that spin around a vertical mast to generate lift (force), lift. Part 1 (Definitions and Abbreviations) of Subchapter A of Chapt ...
such as helicopters
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Powered lift
A powered lift aircraft VTOL, takes off and lands vertically under engine power but uses a fixed-wing aircraft, fixed wing for horizontal flight. Like helicopters, these aircraft do not need a long runway to take off and land, but they have a sp ...
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Gliders
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Lighter than air
A lifting gas or lighter-than-air gas is a gas that has a density lower than normal atmospheric gases and rises above them as a result, making it useful in lifting lighter-than-air aircraft. Only certain lighter-than-air gases are suitable as lift ...
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Powered parachute
A powered parachute, often abbreviated PPC, and also called a motorized parachute or paraplane, is a type of aircraft that consists of a parafoil with a motor and wheels.
The FAA defines a powered parachute as ''a powered aircraft a flexible or ...
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Weight-shift control
Weight-shift control as a means of aircraft flight control system, aircraft flight control is widely used in hang gliders, powered hang gliders, and ultralight trikes. Control is usually by the pilot using their weight against a triangular contro ...
Aircraft categories are also defined with respect to the certification of aircraft, to mean "a grouping of aircraft based upon intended use or operating limitations." Examples include transport, normal, utility, acrobatic, limited, restricted, and provisional.
EASA
In
EASA
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is an agency of the European Commission with responsibility for civil aviation safety in the European Union. It carries out certification, regulation and standardisation and also performs inve ...
states, "Category of aircraft" means a categorisation of aircraft according to specified basic characteristics. Examples include aeroplane, powered-lift, helicopter, airship, sailplane, and free balloon.
United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, the categories of aircraft are:
* Aeroplanes
* Helicopters
* Airships
* Sailplanes
* Balloons
* Gyroplanes
Each type of licence is available for each aircraft type.
See also
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Aircraft approach category
An aircraft approach category is a grouping which differentiates aircraft based on the speed at which the aircraft approaches a runway for landing.
They are used to determine airspace, obstacle clearance and visibility requirements for instrument ...
References
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Aviation