Definition
Additional qualifications added to a pilot certificate that authorize the holder to operate specific categories, classes, or types of aircraft, or to exercise specific privileges such as instrument flight. A rating is not a separate certificate; it is an endorsement attached to an existing certificate that defines what the pilot is allowed to fly and under what conditions.
Plain English
Extra qualifications added to your pilot certificate that say what kinds of aircraft you can fly and what kinds of flying you can do. They sit on top of the certificate itself.
Context Anchor
Seen when FAA material discusses pilot certification, training requirements, and what privileges a pilot certificate actually gives.
Derivation
From the older sense of 'rating' meaning a classification or grade assigned to someone — like a naval rating that defined a sailor's role and duties. In aviation, a rating similarly defines what role the pilot is qualified to perform.
Why Pilots Care
Determines the exact aircraft and operations a pilot may legally perform without additional training or checks.
Intuition Check
Do not read ratings here as reviews, scores, or performance grades. In this FAA context, ratings are official qualifications attached to a certificate.
Example Sentence 1
Her private pilot certificate listed the associated ratings of Airplane Single-Engine Land and Instrument Airplane.
Example Sentence 2
Before renting a multi-engine airplane, he checked that his associated ratings covered the class and type he planned to fly.