Definition
The government function of formally certifying that a person has met the required standards of knowledge, skill, and medical fitness to act as a pilot of an aircraft. In the United States, this authority sits with the federal government and is exercised today by the FAA through the issuance of pilot certificates after written, oral, and practical testing.
Plain English
Officially testing pilots and giving them a document that says they are qualified and legally allowed to fly.
Context Anchor
Seen in aviation history discussions about early federal control of flying, including the first national rules for pilots and aircraft.
Derivation
The word 'license' comes from the Latin 'licentia,' meaning 'permission' or 'freedom to act.' A licensed pilot has formal permission from the government to act as pilot of an aircraft.
Why Pilots Care
Flying without the proper certificate is illegal and uninsured. Every privilege a pilot exercises -- carrying passengers, flying at night, flying on instruments -- traces back to having been licensed for that activity.
Intuition Check
Do not read “licensing pilots” as simply giving pilots a card. Here it means a full approval process: standards, testing, and legal permission to fly.
Example Sentence 1
After the early air mail crashes, the federal government began licensing pilots to make sure they met minimum standards before flying.
Example Sentence 2
Today the FAA maintains strict requirements when licensing pilots for both private and commercial operations.