The Foundations of Pilot Licensing
The activity of a pilot, like that of other aviation personnel, depends in Georgia on a certificate: aviation personnel have the right to perform flights and render services on the basis of a certificate issued or recognized in accordance with Georgian legislation. The aviation rules are developed by the Agency for civil aviation and by the Ministry of Defence for state aviation; the certificate carried by personnel in the course of their activity must conform precisely to those rules. Training is provided only in certified educational institutions — those holding an appropriate certificate.
Recognition of Foreign Certificates
A certificate issued to aviation personnel by a foreign state may operate on the territory of Georgia where an interstate agreement on the mutual recognition of such certificates exists — a route that opens the possibility of working in Georgia for pilots with experience abroad, but only on the basis of an agreement.
The Aircraft Commander
Obtaining the pilot certificate is not the end of the road: the certificate confirms a specific qualification, while work on a specific type of aircraft requires additional training and experience — precisely what the aviation rules developed by the Agency or the Ministry of Defence regulate. The practical result is that each stage of a career — moving to a new type, instructing, examining — is tied to its own requirements, and knowing those requirements in advance means saving time.
The commander of an aircraft is the pilot who, during the performance of the flight, is responsible for the control of the aircraft and its safety. The commander must hold a pilot certificate and, in addition, the training and experience necessary for the independent control of the specific type of aircraft and for leading the crew, in accordance with the aviation rules. During the flight, the commander's instructions are binding on all persons on board; in the case of a forced landing, the commander directs the actions of the persons on board until representatives of the respective state bodies arrive. An examiner within the crew who holds a pilot-instructor qualification and occupies the pilot's seat is vested with the authority of crew commander.
To summarize: the pilot licensing system rests on four pillars. First, the certificate: flight and service are allowed only on an issued or recognized certificate, carried during the activity. Second, the rules: in civil aviation they are developed by the Agency, in state aviation by the Ministry of Defence. Third, training: it takes place only in certified institutions, while a foreign certificate operates under a mutual-recognition agreement. Fourth, command: the commander is responsible for the control and safety of the aircraft, and his instructions bind everyone. Knowledge of these four is the basis for planning the licensing route correctly.