Definition
An additional qualification added to a pilot certificate that authorizes the holder to act as pilot in command of a specific make and model of aircraft. Type ratings are required by the FAA for all large aircraft (over 12,500 pounds maximum certificated takeoff weight), all turbojet-powered airplanes, and certain other aircraft designated by the Administrator. The rating is earned through specific training and a practical test in that aircraft type.
Plain English
A special permission stamped on a pilot's license that says they are trained and tested to fly one particular kind of aircraft. Without it, they cannot legally be the pilot in charge of that aircraft.
Context Anchor
You will see this term in training, certification, and aircraft-specific discussions, especially when moving into larger, faster, or more complex airplanes.
Derivation
The word 'type' here means a specific make and model of aircraft, not a general category. A pilot who is rated for one type (say, a Boeing 737) is not automatically rated for another (a Boeing 777), even though both are large jets.
Why Pilots Care
A pilot cannot legally act as pilot in command of a type-rated aircraft without holding the rating, which ensures demonstrated knowledge and skill for safe operation.
Intuition Check
Do not read rating here as a score or review. In FAA use, a rating is an official qualification placed on a pilot certificate.
Example Sentence 1
Before she could captain the regional jet, she completed several weeks of training and a checkride to earn her type rating in that aircraft.
Example Sentence 2
After completing the required simulator sessions, she passed the practical test and added the Airbus A320 type rating to her certificate.