Multi-Engine Privileges and How the Rating Is Earned

The Airplane Multi-Engine Land (AMEL) rating is a class rating added to an existing pilot certificate. There is no separate FAA multi-engine knowledge (written) test — all theory is examined orally and demonstrated in flight.

• 14 CFR 61.31(a): requires a type rating only for aircraft over 12,500 lb maximum certificated takeoff weight or turbojet-powered. Most light twins are below this, so no type rating is required.
• 14 CFR 61.63(c): governs adding a class rating. You need ground and flight training and a logbook endorsement, then a practical test (checkride) — no written test if you already hold the appropriate category rating.
• 14 CFR 61.45 / 61.43: the practical test must be conducted in an aircraft that has the controls and performance appropriate to the rating.

If your multi-engine training and checkride are conducted in a centerline-thrust airplane (engines on the longitudinal axis, e.g., Cessna 337 Skymaster), your certificate will carry the limitation "Limited to center thrust" (14 CFR 61.5/61.31). To remove it, you must pass a practical test in a conventional (wing-mounted-engine) twin.

Standard 14 CFR 61.57 recency rules apply (three takeoffs and landings in 90 days for passenger carriage; tailwheel landings to a full stop). There is no special multi-engine currency rule, but insurance and operator minimums are typically far stricter than the regulation.

Holding an instrument rating in the airplane category extends to the multi-engine class automatically once you hold AMEL — you do not earn a separate "multi-engine instrument" rating. However, recent IFR experience under 61.57(c) is logged by category and class as appropriate.