To earn a multi-engine rating, you must meet basic civil aviation prerequisites:
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- Age: At least 18 years old for a Commercial multi-engine rating (or 17 for a Private pilot add-on).
- Language: Ability to read, speak, write, and understand English.
- Medical Certificate: Hold a current FAA Medical Certificate (Third Class or higher) or qualify under BasicMed.
Aeronautical Experience & Hours
The total time required depends on whether you already hold a pilot license:
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- As an Add-On Rating (Most Common): Under FAA Part 61 rules, there is no federally mandated minimum flight hour requirement. You simply train until you achieve proficiency. In practice, most pilots require 10 to 15 hours of dual flight training to master the aircraft.
- As an Initial Pilot Certificate: If you have never held a pilot license and choose to do your initial primary training in a multi-engine plane, you must meet the standard 40-hour minimum private pilot requirements (including 20 hours of instruction and 10 hours of solo flight time).
Testing & Endorsements
Because it functions as an add-on rating at your existing certificate level, the testing structure is heavily abbreviated:
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- No FAA Written Knowledge Test: You are not required to take a written exam if you already hold an airplane rating at that pilot certificate level.
- Instructor Endorsements: An authorized instructor must sign off in your logbook, certifying that you are proficient in both aeronautical knowledge and flight operations.
- Practical Test (Checkride): You must pass a practical exam with a Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE). The checkride consists of an oral exam and a flight test.
Core Flight Skills Evaluated
Multi-engine training shifts focus away from standard single-engine maneuvers to managing a second engine. According to the FAA Airman Certification Standards (ACS), you will be heavily tested on:
- Engine-Out Operations: Managing asymmetric thrust, identifying a failed engine, feathering the propeller, and securing the dead engine.
- VMC Knowledge: Deeply understanding and demonstrating \(V_{MC}\) (Minimum Controllable Airspeed)—the speed below which the rudder can no longer counteract the asymmetric yaw of a failed critical engine.
- Single-Engine Approaches and Landings: Safely maneuvering and landing the aircraft with only one engine operational