Airline Transport Pilot Privileges and Requirements

What can an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) do?

Information on becoming an ATP is here.

A person who holds an airline transport pilot certificate is entitled to the same privileges as a person who holds a commercial pilot certificate with an instrument rating.

An ATP may instruct other pilots in aircraft of the same category, class, and type, as they are rated and endorse the logbook of the person to whom the training has been given.

Excluding briefings and debriefings, an ATP may not instruct in aircraft for more than 8 hours in any consecutive 24-hour period or more than 36 hours in any 7-consecutive-day period.

What are the limitations of a Restricted Airline Transport Pilot

A person who has not met the requirements of an ATP certificate without restriction (as specified in 14 CFR Part 61.160) may not:

1. Act as pilot in command in certain operations conducted in 14 CFR Parts 91, 121, or 135; or
2. Serve as second in command in flag or supplemental operations in part 121 of this chapter requiring three or more pilots.

More information on the limitations of a restricted ATP certificate can be found in 14 CFR Part 61.167.

Requirements to obtain an ATP certificate

1. Be at least 23 years of age (at the time of the ATP practical test).
2. Be able to read, write, and converse in the English language.
3. Be of good moral character.
4. Hold at least a commercial pilot certificate and an instrument rating, a restricted ATP certificate, or a foreign ATP or commercial pilot certificate.
5. Hold at least a current FAA third-class medical certificate. Later, if your flying requires an ATP certificate, you must hold a first-class medical certificate.
6. Complete an approved ATP Certification Training Program (CTP).
   1. A list of Gleim partnered ATP-CTP providers can be found here.
   2. This requirement is only valid if you are seeking the ATP certificate with a multi-engine rating. The ATP single-engine rating does not require completion of a CTP program.
7. Pass a pilot knowledge test with a score of 70% or better. The ATP multi-engine airplane test (ATM) consists of 125 multiple-choice questions selected from the airplane-related questions in the FAA’s ATP, aircraft dispatcher, and flight navigator knowledge test bank.
   1. A knowledge test is not required for you to add another aircraft type rating to your ATP certificate if your ATP certificate lists the aircraft category and class rating that is appropriate to the type of rating sought.
   2. After July 31, 2014, for an ATP certificate with an airplane category multi-engine class rating, you must receive a graduation certificate from an authorized training provider under 14 CFR part 121, 135, 141, or 142 meeting the requirements of 14 CFR 61.156 before applying for the knowledge test.
   3. If you complete the ATP single-engine knowledge test (ATS) and then seek to add the multi-engine rating, you will be required to complete an ATP CTP program prior to taking the ATM knowledge test.
8. Accumulate flight experience in accordance with 14 CFR 61.159.
9. Successfully complete a practical flight test given as a final exam by an FAA inspector or designated pilot examiner and conducted as specified in the FAA’s Airline Transport Pilot and Type Rating Practical Test Standards.

Requirements to obtain a Restricted ATP Certificate

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