Originally Posted by
Chuck Ellsworth
Is a " Commander " the same as a pilot when referring to the person flying these light single engine airplanes??
Or does the term commander require some special training?
It simply means "the pilot in command of the aeroplane". In this case, the pilot who was flying the aeroplane was licenced as a PPL holder, held a "Single Engine Pilot (SEP)" rating and had signed for the aeroplane - making him "commander" in the eyes of the CAA and the law.
The training and licencing system assumes that the pilot is also commander as it is a single pilot aeroplane.