Regulation Text
(a) A person who is applying for an airline transport pilot certificate with a rotorcraft category and helicopter class rating, must have at least 1,200 hours of total time as a pilot that includes at least:
(1) 500 hours of cross-country time;
(2) 100 hours of night flight time, of which 15 hours are in helicopters;
(3) 200 hours of flight time in helicopters, which includes at least 75 hours as a pilot in command, or as second in command performing the duties of a pilot in command under the supervision of a pilot in command, or any combination thereof; and
(4) 75 hours of instrument flight time in actual or simulated instrument meteorological conditions, of which at least 50 hours are obtained in flight with at least 25 hours in helicopters as a pilot in command, or as second in command performing the duties of a pilot in command under the supervision of a pilot in command, or any combination thereof.
(b) Training in a full flight simulator or flight training device may be credited toward the instrument flight time requirements of paragraph (a)(4) of this section, subject to the following:
(1) Training in a full flight simulator or a flight training device must be accomplished in a full flight simulator or flight training device that represents a rotorcraft.
(2) Except as provided in paragraph (b)(3) of this section, an applicant may receive credit for not more than a total of 25 hours of simulated instrument time in a full flight simulator and flight training device.
(3) A maximum of 50 hours of training in a full flight simulator or flight training device may be credited toward the instrument flight time requirements of paragraph (a)(4) of this section if the aeronautical experience is accomplished in an approved course conducted by a training center certificated under part 142 of this chapter.
(c) Flight time logged under § 61.159(c) may be counted toward the 1,200 hours of total time as a pilot required by paragraph (a) of this section and the flight time requirements of paragraphs (a)(1), (2), and (4) of this section, except for the specific helicopter flight time requirements.
(d) An applicant who credits time under paragraph (c) of this section and § 61.51(f)(4) is issued an airline transport pilot certificate with the limitation “Holder does not meet the pilot in command aeronautical experience requirements of ICAO,” as prescribed under Article 39 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation.
(e) An applicant is entitled to an airline transport pilot certificate without the ICAO limitation specified under paragraph (d) of this section when the applicant presents satisfactory evidence of having met the ICAO requirements under paragraph (d) of this section and otherwise meets the aeronautical experience requirements of this section.
Research Notes
Regulatory Cross-References
§ 61.161 mirrors § 61.159 but applies to the airplane category single-engine class ATP rating. The hour requirements are identical in most respects: 1,500 total, 500 cross-country, 100 night, 75 instrument, 250 PIC (including 100 XC PIC and 25 night PIC), and 50 hours in single-engine airplanes.
When Is an ATP Single-Engine Rating Issued?
The airplane single-engine ATP rating is uncommon in Part 121 operations, which require multiengine aircraft. It is more relevant for certain Part 135 charter operations and Part 91 operations in high-performance single-engine aircraft where the operator requires ATP-level certification. Some operators using turboprop single-engine aircraft (e.g., Cessna Caravan for cargo or parachute operations) require ATP certification from PICs.
Key Authorities
- § 61.159 — Multiengine counterpart (same hour breakdown)
- 14 CFR § 135.243 — PIC requirements for Part 135 single-engine operations
Amendment History
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AOA Notes
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CFI Commentary
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