Clarification

[StevenM-TX-209]

Adam,

Good evening. I went and visited ATP in Arlington yesterday. They gave me the tour and it was very informative. The Chief pilot, Jeremy was very helpful and he sat down with me and we talked about the entire program. I was wondering, what is the difference between the ATP and Commercial license?
Thanks for your time.

Steven

[ExpressJet Adam]

Hey Steven,

Good question. Basically your Commercial gives the right to fly and get paid for it. That means you can instruct, banner tow, cropdust, border patrol, cargo, AND be a First Officer for an airline or a corporate gig. The requirements and the tolerances for the checkride are also considerably less than for the ATP.

Commercial Pilot Reqs:
You must log at least 250 hr. of flight time as a pilot that consists of at least:
100 hr. in powered aircraft, of which 50 hr. must be in airplanes
100 hr. as pilot in command flight time, which includes at least:
50 hr. in airplanes
50 hr. in cross-country flight of which at least 10 hr. must be in airplanes
20 hr. of training in the areas of operation listed in item 8. below, including at least:
10 hr. of instrument training of which at least 5 hr. must be in a single-engine airplane
10 hr. of training in an airplane that has a retractable landing gear, flaps, and controllable pitch propeller, or is turbine-powered
One cross-country flight of at least 2 hr. in a single-engine airplane in day-VFR conditions, consisting of a total straight-line distance of more than 100 NM from the original point of departure
One cross-country flight of at least 2 hr. in a single-engine airplane in night-VFR conditions, consisting of a straight-line distance of more than 100 NM from the original point of departure
3 hr. in a single-engine airplane in preparation for the practical test within the 60 days preceding the test
10 hr. of solo flight in a single-engine airplane training in the areas of operation required for a single-engine rating, which includes at least:
One cross-country flight of not less than 300 NM total distance, with landings at a minimum of three points, one of which is a straight-line distance of at least 250 NM from the original departure point
In Hawaii, the longest segment need have only a straight-line distance of at least 150 NM.
5 hr. in night-VFR conditions with 10 takeoffs and 10 landings (with each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern) at an airport with an operating control tower.

The only position that actually requires an Airline Transport Pilot license is airline Capt. That being said, it is the highest license you can obtain, and many jobs will require one not because it's a regulatory requirement, but simply because of what it represents.

ATP Reqs:
To be eligible for an airline transport pilot certificate, a person must--
(a) Be at least 23 years of age;
(b) Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language.
(c) Be of good moral character;
(d) Meet at least one of the following requirements:

(1) Hold at least a commercial pilot certificate and instrument rating;
(2) Meet the military experience requirements under Sec. 61.73 of this part to qualify for a commercial pilot certificate, and an instrument rating if the person is a rated military pilot or former rated military pilot of an Armed Force of the United States; or
(3) Hold either a foreign airline transport pilot or foreign commercial pilot license and an instrument rating, without limitations issued by a contracting State to the Convention on International Civil Aviation.

Sec. 61.159 Aeronautical experience: Airplane Category rating.

(a) A person who is applying for an airline transport pilot certificate with an airplane category and class rating must have at least 1,500 hours of total time as a pilot that includes at least:

(1) 500 hours of cross-country flight time.
(2) 100 hours of night flight time.
(3) 75 hours of instrument flight time, in actual or simulated instrument conditions:
(i) An applicant may not receive credit for more than a total of 25 hours of simulated instrument time in a flight simulator or flight training device.
(ii) A maximum of 50 hours of training in a flight simulator or flight training device may be credited toward the instrument flight time requirements of paragraph (a)(3) if the training was accomplished in a course conducted by a training center certificated under part 142.
(4) 250 hours of flight time in an airplane as a pilot in command, or as second in command performing the duties and functions of a pilot in command while under the supervision of a pilot in command or any combination thereof, which includes at least:
(i) 100 hours of cross-country flight time ; and
(ii) 25 hours of night flight time.
(5) Not more than 100 hours of the total aeronautical experience requirements of paragraph (a) of this section may be obtained in a flight simulator or flight training device that represents an airplane, provided this aeronautical experience was obtained in an approved course conducted by a training center certificated under part 142.

Cool?

Adam

[StevenM-TX-209]

Cool. So, one can apply for ATP status after obtaining the Commercial. Thanks so much for the information.

[ExpressJet Adam]

Steve,

Well I don't know if I'd use the word "apply". After you earn your Commercial, AND accomplish ALL of the above listed requirements, THEN, you can take your ATP checkride if you chose to. In most cases, if you work for an airline, your ATP checkride will be part of the upgrade process, and will actually be combined with your Capt checkride. Alot of pilots will get it on their own, if they're not working for an airline or they haven't upgraded yet, simply because it looks much better on a resume.

Adam

[StevenM-TX-209]

Adam,

Thanks for the clarification.

Steven

[ExpressJet Adam]

No problem,

I always like to be clear, lol.

Be well,

Adam