FAQ for foreign ATP and commercial pilots
Minimum Requirements for enrollment
This is article can answer the most frequent questions of foreign pilots: “How to get FAA ATP if I have ICAO CPL or ATP”. This article is for foreign airline pilots without an FAA Airline Transport Pilot Certificate who would like to earn this Certificate. This article concerns inquiring commercial or airline pilots with at least 1500 hours of logged total time and NON-U.S. citizens.
To be qualified for FAA ATP you have to have:
- ICAO Commercial Pilot license with Multi-Engine Rating and Instrument Rating or Airline Transport pilot license with Multi-Engine Rating.
- 1,500 hours of total flight experience, including 250 hours as a Pilot In Command or under supervision.
More detailed requirements you can find in Part 61.153 and Part 61.159.
Cost estimation:
All prices here are just approximate expenses. Your personal situation can be different from the common cases (age, experience, pause in an aviation career, personal abilities, etc). Some people need individual approaches, so this price is not a public offer but just an example of how much standard person in standard conditions can spend on the process of getting an ATP license.
- NON-type ATP: $3,999 (ATP-CTP) + $175 Written test ATP ME + $4000 (10 hours of ME training on P2006T) + $2,000 (checkride and aircraft rental) = $10,174
- ATP with Type-rating A320 (initial): $3,999 (ATP-CTP) + $175 Written test ATP ME + $12,000 (A320 Initial + checkride) = $16,174
- ATP with Type-rating A320 (reduced, if you have A320 in ICAO license): $3,999 (ATP-CTP) + $175 Written test ATP ME + $8,000 (A320 Reduced + checkride) = $12,174
If you need M-1 visa, you have an additional $500 processing fee for I-20 form issuance.
Steps to receive FAA ATP License
based on foreign CPL or ATP License
1
Check eligibility requirements
Check eligibility requirements according part 61.135 and aeronautical experience according part 61.159.
2
US Visa M1
If you don’t have US visa we can help you with student M-1 visa. Download our instruction for foreign students.
3
Request Letter of Verification
Make sure you have enough time becasue verification process can take up to 90 days!
4
Obtain TSA permissions, fingerprints
When you have US visa, immediately apply for TSA approval. Use our instruction for ATP-CTP. You need TSA for each course (ATP ME or A320 type)!
5
ATP-CTP Program
The ATP-CTP course is a mandatory pre-requisite in order to take the ATP written exam. ATP-CTP course include 30 hours of ground school and 10 hours of sim training.
6
ATP Written Test
ATP ME written test includes 125 questions and you have 4 hours for pass this test. The minimum score is 70%.
7
Choose Your Way:
The cheapest way to get your ATP license - training and checkride in light-twin airplane. We can offer Beechcraft Duchess (BE76) or Tecnam P2006T (with Garmin G950) for your training.
1
MultiEngine ATP training
Training itself include 7-10 flight hours of training, 3-5 hours of ground school.
2
ATP Checkride with Examiner
When you ready for checkride we will help you with checkride appointment and schedule your checkride. More details about ATP ME checkride on webpage.
FAA regulations allows you to take your ATP checkride simultaneously with type rating check.
1
Airbus 320 type + ATP training
We can offer you ATP training combined with Airbus Type Rating at no additional cost. You will be train for type rating but your checkride will include both - ATP and Type Rating check.
2
ATP + type rating checkride on FFS
Your checkride will be the same like standard type rating checkride but it will be combined check. As a result you will have ATP license with type rating.
If you don't have enough time or money you can do step-by-step. Start from ATP ME on light-twin airplane and later on add type rating to your ATP license!
1
ATP ME training
Start your training on BE76 or Tecnam P2006T, pass your checkride and get your ATP ME license.
2
ATP ME checkride
When you ready for checkride we will help you with checkride appointment and schedule your checkride. More details about ATP ME checkride on webpage.
3
A320 type
Then join our Initial type rating program and add A320 type rating to your ATP license.
4
A320 type rating checkride
Your checkride will be in full flight simulator and only as add-on to your ATP license.
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