What statement best describes how a type rating is tied to certification?

• A. It is independent of the airman certificate
• B. It is tied to the aircraft registration
• C. It is tied to the pilot's medical certificate
• D. It is tied to the airman certificate

Answer: (D)

A type rating is an endorsement on the airman certificate that authorizes the holder to operate a specific aircraft type. This authorization is part of the pilot’s credentials and stays with the individual—the rating is tied to the airman certificate, not to a particular aircraft or to the medical certificate. The aircraft’s registration is a separate document for the aircraft itself, and while a valid medical certificate is required to fly, the type rating itself isn’t controlled by the medical certificate. So the best description is that the type rating is tied to the airman certificate.