Basics
The ATPL (A) licence is a ICAO-compliant licence and is therefore valid worldwide within the framework of the ICAO guidelines.
In contrast to the CPL licence, the instrument rating is always an integral part of the training.
The training is also designed for multi-engine aircraft and multi-crew.
The training is explicitly geared towards piloting commercial aircraft.
The ATPL is obtained in several stages. Once you have successfully completed the theoretical training, you will be trained to become a CPL(A) with some extensions. You then have a "CPL with ATPL theory credit" (also known as a "frozen ATPL"). This allows you to fly commercial aircraft as a co-pilot.
Only once you have gained the necessary flying experience will you take an examination to obtain the actual ATPL.
The training can be completed "ab ignitio" as an integrated course from the ground up, or "modular" if you have the relevant previous experience from existing flying licences.
Requirements
The minimum age for starting the training programme is 17 years and for the issue of the licence 21 years. The requirements are otherwise the same as for the CPL (e.g. Medical Class 1). We will go into details about the requirements in the medical field in separate articles.
Training programme
The training consists of a theoretical part and a practical part. In addition, proof of general language skills and a radiotelephony licence must be successfully completed as part of the training. Compared to the private pilot licences, there is also a higher-quality radiotelephony licence, which AZF instead of the BZF for PPL/LAPL (see also our article "Step by step to a licence"). The individual training components must be certified flight school be completed.
Theory
The theoretical part is even more extensive and detailed than the CPL training. However, the individual modules are the same as for the CPL:
- Air Law
- Aircraft General Knowledge - Airframe/Systems/Powerplant,
- Aircraft General Knowledge - Instrumentation,
- Mass and Balance,
- Performance,
- Flight Planning and Monitoring,
- Human Performance,
- Meteorology,
- General Navigation,
- Radio Navigation,
- Operational Procedures
- Principles of Flight,
- Visual Flight Rules (VFR) Communications
For theory training, the ICAO and EASA define so-called "Learning Objectives". The elements to be covered by the course are defined for each module. However, the exact organisation of the theory course, i.e. how these learning objectives are achieved, is left to the discretion of the respective flight school.
Practice
Similar to the CPL, there are two basic types of ATPL training.
Either (1) you go through an integrated ATPL course, or (2) you complete a modular ATPL training programme.
Integrated ATPL course
You can start the integrated course as a newcomer, or with an existing PPL (A) licence, which allows you to get some hours recognised.
Overall, the course (theory and practice together) should be between 12 and 36 months last.
The theory course consists of the above-mentioned areas, but this time in the scope of 750 hours.
In addition, MCC (Multi Crew Cooperation) training is required, consisting of at least 25 hours Theory and practice.
In the case of an integrated course, the practical training consists of
- at least 195 hours,
- of which 95 hours must be flight training with a flight instructor (55 hours of which can be "instrument ground time", i.e. instrument flight in the simulator)
- 70 hours as (S)PIC for VFR and IFR flights
- 50 hours must be cross-country flights as PIC, of which one flight must be at least 540km with landings at two other aerodromes
The training also includes a 5 hours Night flight trainingand 115 hours Instrument flight trainingof which
- 20 hours as SPIC
- 15 hours MCC for which a flight simulator can be used
- 50 hours of instrument flight time, of which 25 -40 hours can be flown in a simulator (depending on the quality of the simulator)
- A minimum of 5 hours in an aircraft with a variable pitch propeller and retractable landing gear must also be included.
The practical flight training is completed with a CPL test flight and a test flight for the IR for multi-engine aircraft.
Modular ATPL course
The modular ATPL training course focusses on applicants with an existing flight licence.
In this case, the theoretical training is reduced from 750 hours to 650 hours (for PPL), 500 hours for IR(A), 400 hours (for CPL), or 250 hours for holders of a CPL (A) licence with IR(A) rating.
The ATPL licence is not really a "different" licence from the CPL.
It is basically a combination of various licences and flying experience. To put it simply, you need the following to obtain an ATPL licence:
- an MPL licence or
- a CPL (A) licence with multi-engine instrument rating and training in MCC (Multi Crew Cooperation)
You therefore complete the training and have, for example, a CPL licence including multi-engine instrument rating and MCC training at that point. You have also passed the ATPL theory.
In terms of the licence, at this point you have a "CPL with ATPL theory credit" (also known as a "frozen ATPL").
This allows you to fly commercial aircraft as a co-pilot. In order for the "frozen" to become a genuine ATPL licence, the following flight experience is still required, which must be gained after completing the training:
- 1500 hours flight time, of which
- At least 500 hours as part of a multi-pilot cockpit crew
- 500 hours as PIC under supervision (usually a trained captain as part of a multi-pilot crew) or 250 hours as PIC (without supervision) or 250 hours in total, of which 70 hours as PIC and the remaining time as PIC under supervision
- 200 hours of cross-country flight time, of which at least 100 hours as PIC or as PIC under supervision
- 75 hours in instrument flight, of which no more than 30 hours may be in a simulator
- 100 hours of night flying experience as PIC or co-pilot
Of the required 1500 hours of flight time, up to 100 hours may be flown in an FFS or FNTP flight simulator, of which a maximum of 25 hours may be flown in an FNTP simulator (as FFS simulators are more realistic).
Once you have successfully completed the licences and gained the experience, you can then take an ATPL test flight, which - if successful - leads to an ATPL licence.
Recognition of experience
For the theory part
The following applies with regard to recognition for the theoretical part of the training:
- If you have an ATPL licence in an aircraft category (e.g. helicopter) and want to extend this to the "aircraft" category, there are precisely defined differences in the theory syllabus depending on the category. The syllabus then lists the exact courses that must be taken in order to bridge the differences between the categories ("bridge instructions"). In each case, these bridge instructions conclude with a dedicated theory test
- An applicant for an ATPL licence who has already successfully completed the theory for a CPL (A) will be credited with the subject VFR Communications
- An applicant for an ATPL licence who has already successfully completed the theory for an Instrument Rating IR(A) will be credited with the subject IFR Communications
For the practical part
The following applies with regard to recognition for the practical part of the training:
- If you have a TMG or gliding licence, up to 30 PIC hours can be credited
- If you have a helicopter licence, up to 50% of the 1500 hours of flight experience required for the ATPL licence can be recognised if you have the relevant experience as PIC
It should also be noted that the practical training first concludes with a CPL licence including multi-engine instrument rating and training in MCC.
The 1500 hours of flight experience described above must then be gained before an ATPL examination can be taken.
Therefore, the same guidelines apply to the recognition of flight experience for ATPL training as we have listed in the article on the CPL licence. For holders of a PPL licence, there is extensive recognition of practical flight experience:
If you have a PPL licence without IR, the training only consists of a total of 25 flight hours. This includes 10 hours of instrument flight training (5 hours of which may be in a simulator). Applicants who already have an instrument rating do not need these 10 hours. Your CPL training therefore consists of 15 VFR flying hours.
If you do not have a night flying licence, this must also be completed as part of the CPL training (5 hours).
A minimum of 5 hours in an aircraft with a variable pitch propeller and retractable landing gear must also be included.
If you have an MPL, this can be converted to an ATPL as soon as you have completed the required 1500 hours of flight experience and have successfully passed an ATPL test flight. However, the issued ATPL licence is then still restricted to aircraft with a crew of several.
Rights as a pilot
As an ATPL pilot, you have all the same rights as an LAPL, PPL or CPL licence holder.
In addition, you may work as a pilot or co-pilot on commercial flights with aircraft that require a multi-crew according to their licence.
The rights of the ATPL are always linked to the associated class or type rating, which must be available for the aircraft to be flown.
Commercial flights and all flights with passengers on board as pilot or co-pilot may only be operated if the pilot has performed at least 3 take-offs and landings in an aircraft of the same type (or in an appropriate simulator) in the last 90 days.
The 3 take-offs and landings should be made as a single pilot or in a multi-pilot crew, depending on the licence.
As a "cruise-relief co-pilot" you may only fly commercially or with passengers on board if either (a) the above-mentioned 3 take-offs and landings have been completed, or (b) the pilot has flown on at least 3 sectors as a cruise-relief pilot in the last 90 days, or (c) has completed a "Refresher Flying Skill Training" in a flight simulator in the last 90 days.
Only for commercial flights can the period be increased from 90 days to 120 under certain conditions. Likewise, only for commercial flights may a pilot aged 60-64 only be active in multi-pilot crews. From the age of 65, commercial flights on aeroplanes are no longer permitted.
Extension and expansions
The ATPL licence itself is also for life valid.
However, the class or type rating must be extended in each case. The same requirements apply here as for the CPL.
Summary
The ATPL (A) licence entitles the holder to fly aircraft commercially that require a multi-crew according to their certification. In addition to the licence, at least one class rating and one type rating must always be obtained, which then entitles the holder to fly an aircraft of the same type.
The licence itself is valid for life, but the corresponding class or type ratings must be renewed regularly.
The practical part of the training concludes with a CPL licence including a multi-engine instrument rating and training in MCC. This is followed by 1500 hours of flight experience as a pilot and co-pilot on commercial aircraft before the ATPL exam can be taken
The ATPL licence is ICAO-compliant and therefore valid worldwide.
Source references:
EASA FCL