Definition
FAA Form 8710-1, the official application a pilot completes to apply for a new airman certificate or an additional rating. It records the applicant's personal information, pilot experience, training history, and the certificate or rating being sought, and is signed by the recommending instructor before submission to the examiner.
Plain English
The FAA paperwork a pilot fills out when they want to take a checkride for a new pilot certificate or to add a rating to one they already hold.
Context Anchor
Seen before a practical test, usually when an instructor helps an applicant complete the FAA’s online application and recommends the applicant to the examiner.
Derivation
Airman is the FAA’s legal word for a person who holds or applies for an aviation certificate. Certificate comes from the idea of officially certifying that someone is qualified, and rating means an added qualification attached to that certificate.
Why Pilots Care
Completing and submitting this form is required before an applicant can take the FAA practical test.
Intuition Check
Do not read rating as a grade or test score here. In this context, a rating is an added FAA qualification, and the application form is the official request for that certificate or qualification.
Example Sentence 1
Before the checkride, the instructor reviewed the airman certificate or rating application form with the student to make sure every entry was accurate.
Example Sentence 2
All required endorsements must be recorded before the airman certificate or rating application form can be processed.