Here you can find thorough answers to the most frequent questions we are asked by students and newcomers, regarding new flight licenses issuing rules. Our Flight School instructors and high-skill professionals guarantee that the enclosed information is correct and up-to-date: Flight School Director, Capt. Giuseppe Giovenzana, has been involved with ENAC (Italian Aviation Authority) as expert consultant during the JAR-FCL implementation phase.

Since the whole discipline is rapidly evolving, this page will be frequently updated: include it in your bookmarks!

1. What is an FTO?
   An FTO (Flying Training Organization) is a Flight School, certified and recognized in all European Countries, entitled to issue flight licenses according to JAR-FCL rules.

2. What is JAA?
   JAA (Joint Aviation Authority) is an international organization including Aviation Authorities of 33 Countries of geographical Europe as well as other non-European Countries having asked to take part as well. These Authorities joined their efforts to rule, implement and standardize across national boundaries the emission criteria of flight licenses for private and professional pilots.

3. What are JAR–FCL?
   JAR-FCL (Joint Aviation Requirements – Flight Crew Licensing) are the collection of criteria and requirements, suggested by JAR-adhering National Aviation Authorities, now being the base for international recognition of aeronautical titles issued by member States. At the present time, parts relevant to airplanes (JAR-FCL1) and helicopters (JAR-FCL2) flight have been completed. Part JAR-FCL3, completed as well, includes medical requirements and practices to be used to assess physical fitness of flight crew.

4. What advantages and facilities are available for JAR-licensed pilots?
   Pilots owning JAR licenses have their titles and endorsements automatically recognized abroad in a total-reciprocality regimen. Therefore license conversion is no longer needed to validate national licenses. Professional pilots will be automatically authorized to work in JAA-member States.

5. What type of Flight Schools are included in JAR-FCL?
   Four different levels of Flight Schools are envisaged:
   • RF (Registered Facility), issuing Private Licenses only.
   • FTO (Flying Training Organization), issuing Private and Professional Licenses, Type and Class Rating, Instructor and Examiner Rating.
   • TRTO (Type Rating Training Organization), issuing Type Ratings.
   • TKO (Training Knowledge Organization), issuing approved theory courses.

6. How is an FTO structured?
   Organization is dictated by JAR-FCL and foresees an Accountable Manager, head of organization and direct referer of Flight Safety- and Quality Manager. Training Director is responsible for Secretariat, Head of Ground Instructors and Head of Flight Instructors. Secretariat manages books and training material as well as students courses status and advancement. Positions for Head of Ground Instructors and Head of Flight Instructors are defined to manage activities of ground-, simulator- (STD - Synthetic Training Device), and flight instructors.

7. What are requirements and obligations for accessing training courses?
   Private Licenses require middle school certificate. Professional licenses require thorough knowledge of English. A medical certificate is needed as well: this must be issued by a JAR-recognized organization (compliant to JAR-FCL3). At the moment, in Italy only Air Force Medical Institution in Milan, Rome and Naples are entitled for this. Medical certificate renewal may be issued, for private license holders, by JAA-authorized medical doctors (AME - Authorized Medical Examiner). Minimum age for flying solo (i.e. without instructor on board) is 16. Licenses may be issued to people over the age of 17.

8. Do course financing facilities exist?
   Aero Club Milano aims by statute to contribute to flight activities and diffusion. To allow more people access to flight and become a pilot, either professionally or not, our Club activated a deal with Banca Popolare Commercio & Industria, leading bank institution in Italy, to finance training courses. Financing has an entry level of €10.000,- to be paid back in 18 months under zero interest rate.

9. What licenses will be issued after training in Aero Club Milano?
   Aero Club Milano has been certified to provide training courses for the following aeronautical titles (Airplane):
   • PPL(A) - Private Pilot Licence
   • IR(A) - Instrument Rating
   • CPL(A) - Commercial Pilot Licence
   • CPL(A)/IR - Commercial Pilot Licence & Instrument Rating
   • ATPL(A) - Airline Transport Pilot Licence
   • CR(A) - Class Rating: Endorsement for Single Pilot – Single Engine / Multi Engine.
   • MCC - Multi Crew Coordination: Endorsement to fly on aircraft requiring more than one pilot. MCC training will be operated in partnership with Mistral Air, Rome - Italy.
   Further endorsement courses will be provided:
   • Type Rating – For complex type of aircraft (jet, turboprops)
   • Flight Instructor
   • Flight Examiner

10. How long do courses last?
    Ground courses need 100 to 750 hours, depending on license, i.e. 12 to 24 months. Flight training depends on student's time availability, but normally it is possible to have ground- and flight training completed at the same time.

11. Is it possible to get more than one license?
    No. Nevertheless, it is possible to convert a license to a higher-level one. Licenses path starts with Private License (PPL) and ends with Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL) through Commercial License (CPL) and several endorsements: it is therefore possible anytime to extend capabilities by attending the relevant course (modular or integrated) and final examination.

12. What kind of aircraft does a license allow to fly?
    A flight license allows piloting of aircraft according to endorsements held. Endorsements may be obtained during a course or thereafter: following a motorist example, it is necessary to go back to driving school every time one changes his car. More in detail, PPL implies endorsement for single-engine, piston-powered airplanes (the ones used for training) with further extensions (retractable gear, constant-speed propeller, turbocharger, tailwheel). Multi-engine endorsement (class- or type-) may be obtained later. For professional licenses (CPL, ATPL) multi-engine endorsement is included, in addition to PPL-bound endorsements.

13. What's the difference between integrated- and modular courses?
    According to JAR, courses for commercial licenses may be MODULAR or INTEGRATED.
    • MODULAR COURSES. Modular courses allow students to get their license and endorsements with a sequence of courses, each of which issues a valid title. For instance, a PPL(A) holder may attend a Modular CPL(A) course to get CPL, then a Modular IR course to upgrade his license to CPL/IR. Finally a Modular ATPL(A) course allows him to reach ATPL license.
    • INTEGRATED COURSES. Integrated courses allow the relevant license to be obtained through a single training syllabus, with differences upon licenses already held by student. For instance, a student without any flight experience may attend an Integrated CPL(A)/IR "ab initio" course to jump directly to a CPL/IR license. A PPL holder may attend an Integrated CPL/IR "from PPL" course to get the final title, enjoying "credits" in flight time due to his PPL.