| td> | | | | category of Aerial Work. This therefore requires the |
| Aviation is a huge industry worldwide, it employs | | | | pilot to have a minimum of a current Commercial Pilots |
| approximately 29 million people which is more than the | | | | License (CPL). |
| employed population of France. For some it is just a | | | | The difference in training between a PPL and CPL is |
| hobby and the different levels of training and | | | | huge, both in cost and commitment. For example a |
| certification make this possible without the huge costs | | | | PPL requires 7 written exams and can be done in |
| of further training. However, the lower levels of | | | | several weeks. However a CPL requires all this plus a |
| certification and training also restrict what a pilot can | | | | further 14 written exams as well as hour building and |
| do. | | | | an additional flight test. |
| Commercial aerial photography can be a demanding | | | | Therefore a pilot employed for commercial aerial |
| job for both the photographer and the pilot. Many pilots | | | | photography must hold a valid CPL. For this to be |
| in the United Kingdom who hold a Private Pilots | | | | current he must have completed 3 landings and |
| License (PPL) will have taken a camera with them and | | | | takeoffs in the preceding 90 days and must also be |
| snapped away to take advantage of the interesting | | | | current on the type of aircraft he his flying. |
| views. This is perfectly legal although the Civil Aviation | | | | Further training and certification maybe required for |
| Authority (CAA) does specify that the minimum crew | | | | certain types of aerial photography. For example |
| should be two — how can you fly the plane if | | | | survey photography or high level vertical photography |
| you’re taking photographs! If however the | | | | may require flying at a greater altitude. This may well |
| images are commissioned or will be sold at a later | | | | take the aircraft into Class A airspace which would |
| date, even in several years from an aerial | | | | not only require the pilots to hold a CPL but also a valid |
| photographic library the operation becomes a | | | | Instrument Rating (IR) and of course the Aircraft must |
| commercial aerial photographic flight which falls into the | | | | also be certified for Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). |