- Type designator table of Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA)
- Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) TCDS – NAPA Issued Certificate Online (NICO)
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) TCDS and Type designators
- European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Type designators
- International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Type designators
Blanket and individual type ratings
All aircraft types will be classified as either falling under a Blanket Rating or, will have an Individual Aircraft Type Rating assigned to be endorsed on flight crew permits and licenses in accordance with Part IV of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs).
- Aircraft Blanket Type Ratings
- Individual Aircraft Type Ratings
- Two Crew Aeroplanes
- High Performance Aeroplanes
- Helicopters
- Powered Lift
- Airships
- Gyroplanes – Two seats or more
Note: Medically restricted - Pilots may have a medical restriction on their permit or licence that may require an Individual Aircraft Type Rating or, they may be restricted to a specific aircraft, when that aircraft normally would fall under a blanket rating.
Aircraft with blanket type ratings
Blanket aircraft type ratings are issued automatically with the issue of the appropriate licence unless the licence is restricted to an individual aircraft type, types, or specific aircraft in which case the Individual Type Rating will be endorsed on the permit or licence. The following aircraft are classified under a Blanket Rating:
- (a) Aeroplane (Aeroplane Licence and Recreational-Aeroplane Permit)
All single pilot aeroplanes excluding high performance. Notes:- A Recreational Permit-Aeroplane is limited to aircraft certified to carry a maximum of four persons, but the privileges restrict the Recreational Permit holder to carry no more than one passenger on board. (CAR 401.22)
- When an aeroplane blanket rating is endorsed on a licence it is normally combined with an aeroplane class rating. Aeroplane class ratings include a combination of the following: SE - Single engine
SME – Single and Multi-engine
SCE – Single and Centre line thrust multi-engine Combined with: L – Land S – Sea
- (b) Gliders (Licence)
All gliders. - (c) Balloons (Licence)
All non-power driven balloons. - (d) Ultra-Light Aeroplanes (Permit)
All ultra-light aeroplanes. - (e) Gyroplanes (Permit)
All single seat gyroplanes.
Aircraft with individual type ratings
- (a) Aeroplanes (Licence)
- Individual type aeroplanes (those not included under Blanket Rating)
- Two crew Aeroplanes
- Two crew aeroplanes with cruise relief only
- High Performance Aeroplanes
- All power-driven balloons or airships
- All gyroplanes with two seats or more
- Individual type aeroplanes
- Individual type aeroplanes with second officer rating
Individual type ratings
An individual aircraft type rating is issued for aircraft not included in a blanket type rating.
Military aircraft types that have no civilian equivalent in the Individual Type Rating Table (link below) cannot be endorsed on a TCCA permit or licence.
View the TCCA Type designator table
Aircraft certification process
Transport Canada incorporates two certification processes for new aircraft being introduced and operated in Canada - the aircraft certification itself, and the operational evaluation process. These evaluations are conducted separately.
- Aircraft type certification, which occurs first, results in an Aircraft Type Certificate Data Sheet (TCDS) that Transport Canada uses to assign aircraft type designators and minimum crew requirements. Transport Canada aircraft certification often recognizes the FAA Flight Standards Board (FSB) certification which is stated on the TCDS.
- The operational evaluation (OE) that is conducted by an Operational Evaluation Team after the certification process, results in a determination whether or not the aircraft is considered a variant of an existing type requiring additional Aircraft Differences Training. See “Aircraft Differences Training – Similar Aircraft Types” below:
- Aircraft Differences Training - Similar Aircraft Types - Requiring Ground Training Only
- Aircraft Differences Training - Similar Aircraft Types - Requiring Ground and Flight Training, but no PPC
Type certificate data sheets (TCDS) information
After aircraft type certification and operational evaluation (OE) are complete and a TCDS is issued, type designators are then established to be as consistent as possible in consultation with:
- Transport Canada Aircraft TCDS and Operational Evaluations (OE);
- Search the TCCA NICO (NAPA Issued Certificate Online) database (NAPA: National Aeronautical Product Approval)
- Search the FAA TCDS database
- Search FAA Type Designators
- Search FAA Dynamic Regulatory System (faa.gov)
- Search EASA Type Ratings and Licence endorsement list.
- Search ICAO Aircraft Type Designators
Notes
- Aircraft differences training: for aircraft that have been determined similar by aircraft certification and by an Operations Evaluation Board (OEB) report, there may be “Master Differences Requirements” between the variants for training, checking and currency requirements that must be met to transition between the different variants.
- Some aircraft requiring two pilots may be permitted single pilot for either VFR or IFR under specific conditions provided the single pilot skill test and applicable knowledge and experience requirements have been completed. Applicable skill test must also be completed if operating under two-crew.
- High performance aeroplane – As defined in subsection 400.01(1) of the CARs
- Airship – as defined in subsection 101.01 of the CARs. An airship type rating is endorsed on the Balloon pilot licence.
Enquiries
Enquiries regarding Type Designators for pilot licensing may be directed to Pilot Training & Licensing (AARTJ) at: pilotlicensing-licencesdepilote@tc.gc.ca
