John Wesley Pipkin - Airline Transport Pilot, Flight Instructor, Mechanic

John Pipkin is an FAA-certified pilot, flight instructor, and aircraft mechanic based in Columbia, SC. John Wesley Pipkin holds a Airline Transport Pilot certificate with Airplane Multi-Engine Land (AMEL), Rotorcraft Helicopter, Airplane Single-Engine Land (ASEL), Airplane Single-Engine Sea (ASES), and Glider ratings. This certificate includes type ratings for the B-727, Boeing 737 (B-737), Cessna Citation 500 Series (CE-500), McDonnell Douglas DC-9/MD-80 (DC-9), F-27, Gulfstream IV (G-IV), Gulfstream V (G-V), SK-58, and SK-61, authorizing the holder to serve as pilot in command of these aircraft types. The Airline Transport Pilot certificate is the highest level of pilot certification issued by the FAA, authorizing the holder to act as pilot in command of scheduled airline operations and any aircraft for which they hold a type rating. ATP certification requires a minimum of 1,500 hours of total flight time and passing rigorous written and practical examinations. John holds a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) certificate with Airplane Single and Multi-Engine, Rotorcraft Helicopter, Instrument (type unspecified), and Glider ratings. A Certified Flight Instructor certificate authorizes the holder to provide flight training to student and certificated pilots, including ground and flight instruction, solo endorsements, practical test endorsements, and biennial flight reviews. John holds an Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) mechanic certificate. An A&P certificate is the most comprehensive FAA mechanic certification, authorizing the holder to inspect, maintain, and repair both aircraft structures (fuselage, wings, control surfaces, landing gear) and engines (reciprocating, turbine, and turboprop powerplants). A&P mechanics are qualified to perform the broadest range of aircraft maintenance, including annual inspections when combined with an Inspection Authorization (IA). John Pipkin also holds an FAA Inspection Authorization (IA), the highest level of maintenance certification issued by the FAA. An IA authorizes the holder to perform annual inspections on aircraft, approve aircraft for return to service after major repairs or alterations, and supervise progressive inspection programs. Inspection Authorization holders must meet stringent experience requirements and pass annual refresher training to maintain their authorization. Their most recent FAA medical certificate is a Second Class medical, valid through February 2025. The FAA airman records for John Pipkin are tracked and verified by AviatorDB.