AArdvark wrote:That was a backhand compliment.
"Since you drive a wheelchair, even though it only runs on electricity..."
Like that.
It sounds like you were putting Pinback down because he is licensed to fly only single engine aircraft (something that nobody else here will ever be).
Each class of aircraft has a different license. As I'm not a pilot I'm not sure whether gliders require a license but otherwise, I figure it would have a different one from a powered craft.
I decided to look it up:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilot_lic ... tification
License types are Student, Sport, Recreational, Private, Commercial, Instructor, Airline Transport. These are roughly equivalent to a driver training permit, restricted license, class C (automobile), Class B (bus) and Class A (Tractor-Trailer) vehicle license.
Then there are categories which are equivalent to endorsements on a commercial driver's license: Airplane, Rotorcraft, Glider, Lighter-than-air, Powered-lift, Powered parachute, weight-shift-control.
I didn't even know there were different types of pilot licenses, mostly because I never thought about it.
For the same reason I can drive anything up to 26,000 pounds, because I have a passenger license. You may be aware of this, but you can have a Class A licnese with air brake, hazmat, and passenger endorsements, you still can't legally drive a motorcycle without a separate license.
It's all based on being sure you know what you're doing. Which of course is a terrible thing for the government to be stepping in and forbidding incompetents from flying planes. Even the 9-11 terrorists had take-off training for Heavy aircraft. Can you imagine how bad it would have been if they hadn't been trained?