Why aircraft license is spell licence?

Question

Why aircraft license is spell licence?

Answer 1

This can go on forever, because in the US, there is a strict legal difference between a license and a certificate. And when lawyers get involved, confusion happens. A license grants a privilege, but an airman's certificate merely means that you have met certain criteria and are therefore allowed to fly in Federally controlled airspace. It does not say that you are safe or qualified or allowed by the almighty government to do it; that is always up to the pilot. This difference relieves governmental liability. In uncontrolled airspace, in an aircraft of certain detailed smaller dimensions, flying is considered a right, not a privilege; quite unlike driving, and is not controlled by the government whatsoever. (It is controlled by gravity and civil lawsuits, however!)

Nations, where government is the sole source of rights and privileges, operate differently, of course. Same with spelling.

Answer 2

It's not.  It's spelled "certificate".

"Licence", no matter what the context, is just a misspelling.  It's never properly spelled that way.

EDIT: My apologies for my friends across the pond.  Here in the states, that's a way to flunk a spelling test.  I knew of a lot of spelling variations, but i was unaware of that one!

Answer 3

No, it isn't wrong. Licence spelled with a "c" is perfectly correct in the U.K. and its environs. It's spelled license with an "s" in the U.S.

Answer 4

This word can be spelled either way, and the meanings are the same.  It can mean a document (which, in the case of a licence/license plate, can be made of metal), or the freedom to do something.  (You may find "licence" is used more in England)

Answer 5

American and British English spelling differences are one aspect of American and British English differences.

In the early 18th century, English spelling was not standardised. Differences became noticeable after the publishing of influential dictionaries.

Here are some examples:

UK            ---------------                     US

defence -----------                      defense

licence (noun) -------------           license (OR licence) (noun)            'to

license (verb)-------                     license (verb)

offence ---------                           offense

practice (noun) -----                   practice (noun)

practise (verb) ------                   practice (OR practise) (verb)

pretence     -------                      pretense (OR pretence)

Answer 6

It's not.  Some people just don't know how to spell properly.  There is only one correct way to spell the word 'license"

Ref... below.  See, I told you those Brits don't know how to spell properly!

Answer 7

Easy answer

Lincese/Lincence -  Have an expiration date, and have to be renewed.

Certifcate- does not exipre as long as certain crietria is met.

Real world proof-

Drivers lincense, hunting lincense, license plate- expire

Marriage certificate, boating certifcate, pilot certifcate- dont expire, as good as the conditons of the certifcate are met.

Answer 8

I agree with the teacher!  A license is a privilege granted to someone to do something.  A certificate is proof of that license.  A lot of people in aviation get very upset when you call a pilot certificate a license.  Well, it's both.  Driver's licenses say license on them, but that's not really true.  It's a driver's certificate.  It's proof that you have a license, which is something you cannot see.  Pilot's licenses say certificate on them, but they are evidence of a license.  I can say that I have a license, but I carry a certificate.  I'm not really sure why this is so important to some people!