ATPH Question

[rollthbns]

Hi guys!

 

Well, here it is. I am working on my ATP this week, and reading through the requirements I ran across something in 61.157 that I dont quite understand. Here is the Reg....

 

(f) Proficiency and competency checks conducted under part 121, part 135, or subpart K of part 91. (1) Successful completion of any of the following checks satisfies the flight proficiency requirements of this section for the issuance of an airline transport pilot certificate and/or the appropriate aircraft rating:

 

(i) A proficiency check under §121.441 of this chapter.

 

(ii) Both a competency check under §135.293(a)(2) and §135.293b of this chapter and pilot-in-command instrument proficiency check under §135.297 of this chapter.

 

(iii) Both a competency check under §91.1065 of this chapter and a pilot-in-command instrument proficiency check under §91.1069 of this chapter.

 

(2) The checks specified in paragraph (f)(1) of this section must be conducted by one of the following:

 

(i) An FAA Aviation Safety Inspector.

 

(ii) An Aircrew Program Designee who is authorized to perform proficiency and/or competency checks for the air carrier whose approved training program has been satisfactorily completed by the pilot applicant.

 

(iii) A Training Center Evaluator with appropriate certification authority who is also authorized to perform the portions of the competency and/or proficiency checks required by paragraph (f)(1) of this section for the air carrier whose approved training program has been satisfactorily completed by the pilot applicant.

 

Am I to understand that my part 135 checkrides are sufficient to satisfy the flight proficiency portion of the practical test for this rating? It cant be that easy! Anyone here have any insight to share on this?

[DynamicallyUnstable]

I was just talking with someone about this. It would seem that the regs are written in that way as long as you have a .297 ride as part of your 135 checkride (are you at an IFR program?)

This only seems to cover "flight proficiency," which leads to believe that you still have to do a ground session with an FAA Examiner of DPE that can do the ATP ride.

 

That's just the way I read it but could of course be wrong. I would ask someone at your FSDO, then call back tomorrow and ask someone else haha

[rick1128]

The fixed wing world has been doing this for years. How many operators do it, is that they conduct the ATP checkride along with the 135.293/.297 checkride. Your company check airman is required to do so many observed rides. So on one of those observed rides they do an ATP checkride. The ground portion is usually the same but with a few more questions. And generally the Inspector will let the Check Airman run the show for the most part.

[Gomer Pylot]

It makes sense, because the Part 135 IFR PIC checkride is identical to the ATP checkride. As an IFR PIC, you get an ATP checkride every 6 months. I've done so many I can't even count them, and every one was exactly the same as the ATP checkride - 2 precision approaches with one being single-engine, 2 non-precision approaches, emergency procedures, holding, etc. The Part 135 oral is much more extensive than the ATP oral, since the latter just covers aircraft systems. The Part 135 oral also covers IFR procedures, company ops specs/ops manual, FARs, etc. If you can pass a Part 135 IFR PIC checkride, you can pass an ATP check. I did my ATP before this was either enacted or well-known, because I did mine in conjunction with recurrent training, and got two checkrides in two days, both more or less identical, except the ATP oral was much more extensive on the aircraft systems, and covered essentially nothing else. The flights were the same.

[rollthbns]

Thanks for the replies!

 

So it would seem that it is written loosely to be at the discretion of the examiner. I am not in an IFR program, so the .297 requirement knocks me out of this one. I am going to run it down further with the FSDO and see what it can be used for. Thanks again!