Category: Regulations

  • R-ATP Exemption Follow-Up

    Back in 2014, I wrote about six different universities and a community college that were all petitioning the FAA to become exempt from the requirement to hold a ground school certification so that they could participate in the R-ATP program. That post had become somewhat stale, so here is a look back at what happened…

  • R-ATP Cross Country Time

    I previously wrote about a regulatory boo boo that made it impossible to determine how much cross country flying experience was required to obtain a restricted ATP certificate.  The regulation that allowed students to apply for the rating with 30 college credit hours was never included in the nearby paragraph authorizing reduced cross-country time requirements. To bring…

  • Safety Pilots are Not Allowed Cross Country Experience

    Think twice the next time you log a “time share” flight or act as a safety pilot on a cross country flight.  According to legal interpretations from the FAA dated in 2009, only the pilot flying is allowed to log cross country time under § 61.  As explained in the Gebhart Interpretation: Section 61.65(d) contemplates that only the…

  • Restricted ATP Minimums

    Easy-to-read details about the new ATP rules?  You found them!  I understand the need for simple explanations. There are six ways to get an ATP license now, each with different requirements. This is my summary and comparison of the R-ATP minimums from 14 C.F.R. § 61.159 and § 61.160. 160 (a) 160 (b) 160 (c)…

  • R-ATP Exemption for Part 61 Training

    My searches on federal websites found four petitions by universities seeking R-ATP authorization without a required part 141 ground school certificate. The petitioners are, in alphabetical order: Eastern Michigan University, Jacksonville University, Metropolitan State University of Denver, and Purdue University. Letters and documents filed by these universities seem to be routine.  I will point out…

  • CFI Checkrides Do Count as Flight Reviews

    Yes, it’s true!  After a CFI or CFII checkride, you do not need another flight review for 24 calendar months. For example, I passed the commercial AMEL practical test on 26 October 2012.  When I was hired in October 2013, I reported my flight review date for my commercial test, meaning I would need a…

  • First Officer Qualification Rule in Detail

    The new first officer qualifications are a hot topic.  On July 10, the FAA released its Final Rule, which should appear in the Federal Register next week.  Everyone has something to say about this.  But opinions aside, all I can I find on the web is the text of the new rule and several paraphrased…