What is a “recreational pilot certificate?
A recreational pilot certificate is similar to a private pilot certificate, though it carries certain restrictions. The advantage is that it take less time to earn (as little as 30 hours) and is therefore cheaper than a private pilot certificate. However, a recreational pilot may only fly single engine aircraft having four or fewer seats, and then only in daylight and good weather. Also, a recreational pilot may only carry one passenger at a time and may not fly beyond 50 miles from the airport where training was taken. The good news is that all time logged as a recreational pilot can be applied toward higher ratings.