ATP question

[Hubbs]

Hi,

I have had a look at the FAR/AIM and I am trying to understand the intricacies of the ATP license. Assuming you meet the Eligibility Requirements and have the written under your belt, is it possible to obtain a full (unconditional) ATP without any turbine PIC time? For example, could you work as an instructor to, say, 1000TT, then get a job as a FO at a regional and once you hit 1500TT (and assuming you have the requisite night and instrument time) can you apply for an ATP? Is there a checkride required for the ATP? If yes, does it matter what type of aircraft the checkride is performed in?

The reason I ask is that I am interested trying to obtain a job in Europe of possibly further afield some time in the future, and converting a FAA ATP to JAA is a lot easier than converting a CPL IR; and so my regional airline choice is affected. I wouldn't want to choose an airline like American Eagle, with a 7yr upgrade time if it was not possible to get an ATP till after an upgrade.

Thanks

[minitour]

Yes
Yes
No

For an FAA ATP, if you meet the requirements 1500/500/100/75/50 you need 0 turbine PIC. You don't even need any multi if you just want an ATP ASEL.

You can take the checkride in anything from a 152 to a transport category jet or even an approved simulator representative of such an airplane.

The reason most wait to upgrade for the ATP is the Captain ride/type ride is an ATP checkride. So it's "free" if you do it that way.

-mini

[Hubbs]

Originally Posted by minitour

Yes
Yes
No

For an FAA ATP, if you meet the requirements 1500/500/100/75/50 you need 0 turbine PIC. You don't even need any multi if you just want an ATP ASEL.

You can take the checkride in anything from a 152 to a transport category jet or even an approved simulator representative of such an airplane.

The reason most wait to upgrade for the ATP is the Captain ride/type ride is an ATP checkride. So it's "free" if you do it that way.

-mini

Thank you for your speedy reply.

I assume an ATP ASEL will have a 'single-engine' limitation attached to it? Would there be any difference between an ATP that was performed in a Twin and an ATP that was the result of a upgrade/type-rating checkride? What I am trying to get at, I guess, is when it comes to converting it to JAA, do you think it will matter how the ATP came about?

Thanks again

[chrisdahut1]

Originally Posted by Hubbs

Thank you for your speedy reply.

I assume an ATP ASEL will have a 'single-engine' limitation attached to it? Would there be any difference between an ATP that was performed in a Twin and an ATP that was the result of a upgrade/type-rating checkride? What I am trying to get at, I guess, is when it comes to converting it to JAA, do you think it will matter how the ATP came about?

Thanks again

Yes - It won't be a very useful ATP, but it will still be an ATP.

No - A multiengine ATP is a multiengine ATP. As Minitour stated earlier, most people will get their ATP when they upgrade in turbine equipment as 1)an ATP is required to fly as PIC of turbine aircraft under Part 121 2) A type ride IS an ATP ride 3) it's free, since your company is paying for the training. You could go out on your own, pay out of pocket and obtain an ATP in a PA-44 or by doing a type ride in a B-777. Both will still be the same multiengine ATP (except you'll have a B-777 type rating on your certificate as well if you choose to do the latter). There's no such thing as a "multiengine-turbine ATP" is what I'm trying to get at.

As far as converting to a JAA ATP, They'll look at your FAA ATP the same way whether you got it in a PA-44 or a B-777 sim. The only thing that'll make the process a little easier is by having a logbook full of ACTUAL flight time in a VERY big jetliner.