R-ATP Part 61 Exemption for Purdue University

Grant of Exemption letter to Purdue UniversityThe Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) this week granted an exemption to Purdue University allowing graduates of Part 61 flight training to become eligible for restricted ATP (R-ATP) certification with reduced experience requirements.  This exemption is retroactive.  It is effective for all Purdue graduates from 2009 through 2016.  The R-ATP check rides can be conducted through July 2017.  Graduates are now only required to have an eligibility certificate from the university and a copy of the exemption letter from the FAA.

This exemption marks the first time the FAA has accepted R-ATP applicants who did not complete FAA-approved training under Parts 141 or 142.  The requirement for airline pilots to hold an ATP or R-ATP certificate went into effect August 2013 and made no exceptions for university graduates who completed the same training under Part 61.

Purdue’s petition for exemption was dated 24 August 2013.  Petitions from four other universities remain outstanding and were neither granted nor denied.

The FAA gave the following reasons for granting this exemption:

  • Purdue became a Part 141 flight school on 27 September 2013.
  • Purdue received authorization to certify R-ATP eligibility on 31 March 2014.
  • Purdue’s Part 141 ground training “is no different” from its former Part 61 program.
  • “Key personnel, facilities, aircraft, equipment, and training syllabus … also existed when Purdue conducted training under part 61.”
  • Several factors contributed to “an equivalent level of safety … for those who previously completed their ground and flight training.”

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R-ATP Exemption for Part 61 Training

Logos of EMU, Jacksonville, MSU Denver, and Purdue.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 also that the Jacksonville petition included a copy of the university’s rejection letter from the FAA dated December 2013.

While the FAA is not currently accepting comments on these petitions, I would like to offer my encouragement.  The FAA should authorize these universities as rapidly as possible, recognizing they are accredited institutions that offer 4-year degrees with aviation concentrations.  This is the purpose and intent of the R-ATP program, after all.

Details and reference numbers are listed below, in chronological order.

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