10 FAQs About the R-ATP

What is the R-ATP?

The Airline Transport Pilot certificate (ATP) is the FAA’s highest pilot certificate, and is required to fly as an airline pilot in the United States.

The requirements to get an UN-restricted ATP include: Hold the Commercial Pilot certificate with Airplane Multi-Engine Land and Instrument Airplane ratings, accrue 1500* total flight hours to include various types of flight time, complete an ATP-CPT course, pass the ATP Knowledge and Practical tests, and be at least age 23*. 

The *Restricted-privileges Airline Transport Pilot certificate (R-ATP) can be attained with fewer flight hours than 1500, and/or at a younger age than 23, when certain educational and training requirements have been met. The minimum age for the R-ATP is 21. (See FAR §61.151-160)

How do I get the R-ATP?

Military path: Complete training as a military pilot and build 750 total flight hours.

College aviation degree path: Complete a four-year Bachelor degree or two-year Associate degree, Major in Aviation, and complete pilot training to attain the Commercial Pilot and Instrument ratings through an FAA-approved R-ATP college program, and build 1000 total flight hours (with Bachelor degree) or 1250 total flight hours (with Associate degree). More information, below.

Other path: Meet all requirements for the regular unrestricted ATP, including 1500 hours flight time, before age 23. The pilot can accomplish this with any type of flight training and with any college degree or “zero” college. The minimum age is 21. 

How do I know if a college has an R-ATP program? What if they say they’ve applied for approval?

The R-ATP was new in 2014, and not widely known until the post-covid pilot shortage caused a rapid increase in demand for pilot training. Many colleges that were already offering structured flight training programs under FAR Part 141 weren't quite ready and have been scrambling to get FAA approval for their newly created R-ATP Aviation degree programs. Some of them have been recruiting new students by saying they have Part 141 pilot training and have applied for R-ATP approval.

Caveat emptor. All FAA-approved R-ATP flight training programs are Part 141, however the reverse is not true. The only way to absolutely verify that a college holds an FAA Letter of Authorization for their R-ATP program is to check the FAA’s most current published list of Institutions Authorized to Certify its Graduates for an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certificate with Reduced Aeronautical Experience. 

What’s required to enroll in a college R-ATP program?

The student has to apply and be admitted to the college and to the college’s Aviation degree flight training program. The student can have “zero” flight hours or some hours or the Private Pilot certificate. They cannot have the Instrument rating, per FAA rules.

Most colleges require the FAA first class medical certificate to apply. Once the student is matriculated, each college may set their own standard for grades, attendance, and progress for continued enrollment. 

Can I transfer between colleges?

Transferring from one FAA-approved R-ATP college aviation degree program to another is allowed by the FAA. But effectively, colleges are saying "No".

While required flight training and course topics and hours are spelled out by the FAA, each college's degree program coursework is individually designed by that college and individually approved by the FAA. Therefore, it's up to each college to make a determination about a potential transfer student's prior coursework. Between this sticking point and the high demand for admission, few if any students have successfully transferred (as far as anyone knows in a popular social media group for parents of teens in aviation).

What if I change majors or drop out of college? 

The student can continue with flight training elsewhere, and must meet the 1500 total flight hour requirement to attain the R-ATP (minimum age 21) or the ATP (age 23 and older). 

What does the R-ATP allow me to do?

An R-ATP pilot can fly as second-in-command or first officer in airline operations. When the pilot meets the regular ATP flight time and age minimums, the restriction is removed. With the unrestricted ATP and 1000 flight hours in airline operations, the pilot can advance to an airline pilot-in-command or captain position. 

What’s the advantage of going to college for the R-ATP? 

Most U.S. major airlines no longer require college degrees to be considered for hiring, but pilots with a college degree (in any major) are still viewed more favorably. The quicker a pilot is qualified and hired at an airline, the more quickly they can begin accruing seniority, skill, experience — and money. 

An R-ATP pilot as young as 21 can be hired by an airline. The mandatory retirement age for airline pilots is 65. Do the math – seniority and longevity at a legacy airline make a BIG difference in career earnings, as in millions of dollars.

Can I get pilot training for the R-ATP elsewhere, more cheaply, and skip college?

Yes! See 5 Paths to an Airline Pilot Career.

It looks like I'll complete commercial pilot training with roughly 250 total flight hours. How do I get to 1000, 1250, or 1500 hours to actually earn the R-ATP or ATP?

Many new commercial pilots undertake additional training to become a Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI), and start building hours and earning money as an instructor for their flight school or college. Flight instructing is not for everyone, however. Please don't do it unless you plan to be a diligent and conscientious instructor who cares about what you teach and cares about the people you are teaching. Haphazard and hazardous attitudes can result in death.

Other time-building flying jobs include: Scenic tours, banner towing, skydiving, aerial photography, aerial mapping or survey, pipeline or powerline patrol, glider towing, passenger charter, corporate shuttle between cities, subcontractor cargo companies, ferry pilot, airplane demonstrator (sales), traffic watch reporting, forestry pilot, seasonal fire patrol.

May your dreams take flight!

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Photo credit: Hispanolistic