Definition
A certificated pilot who is pursuing an additional category, class, or type rating to be added to an existing pilot certificate, rather than seeking an initial certificate at that level. The applicant must meet the specific aeronautical experience and training requirements for the new rating and pass the corresponding practical test, but is generally exempt from re-testing on areas already evaluated for the certificate they hold.
Plain English
A pilot who already holds a certificate and is now training and testing to add another aircraft category, class, or type to it.
Context Anchor
Seen in instructor recommendations and practical test paperwork when a pilot is being sent for a test to add a new rating to an existing pilot certificate.
Derivation
Additional comes from a word meaning “to add.” Rating comes from a word meaning “to set a value or classification.” In FAA use, a rating is an official added qualification on a pilot certificate, not a score or opinion about how good the pilot is.
Why Pilots Care
Affects the minimum flight experience required before taking the practical test and the specific standards applied during the checkride.
Intuition Check
Do not read “rating” here as a grade or review of the pilot’s performance. In this context, a rating is an official FAA permission added to a pilot certificate.
Example Sentence 1
Because she was an additional rating pilot adding a multi-engine class rating to her commercial certificate, the examiner tested only the tasks specific to multi-engine operations.
Example Sentence 2
Practical test recommendations differ for an additional rating pilot compared to an initial applicant.