What is a pilot authorisation?

A pilot authorisation is an operator's own grant that a pilot may fly one of its aircraft types, or one particular aircraft, often after a check flight with an instructor. It's separate from the pilot's licence and ratings, and many operators give it an expiry so a pilot who hasn't flown for a while flies with an instructor again.

How RALPH handles it

In RALPH staff grant a pilot authorisation for an aircraft type, such as an R44, or for one aircraft, with an expiry if you want one. If your operation sets a policy requiring one, for the bookings you choose, such as solo hire or one aircraft type, those bookings are checked for a current authorisation, with the outcome your policy chose: advise, hold the booking for approval, or block it, always with the reason and what would resolve it.

Questions, answered

Is a pilot authorisation the same as a checkout?
It's the same idea. Some operators and software call it a checkout; RALPH calls it a pilot authorisation.