Restricted ATP Frequently Asked Questions
Will I need an ATP before I can get hired by an airline?
- No, although in the United States, most airlines will probably require you to have at least the minimum flight time required for a Restricted-ATP (R-ATP).
Is Purdue approved to qualify students for an R-ATP?
- Yes, students who complete their instrument rating and commercial pilot certificate in our FAR Part 141 courses, and who complete requirements for the B.S. degree, can qualify for an R-ATP.
How much flight time is required for an R-ATP?
- If you graduate with the Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue’s Professional Flight Technology Program, Aviation Management, or Aeronautical Engineering Technology, with at least 60 credit hours from our FAA approved course list, you will need a minimum of 1000 hours total time to meet the requirements of FAR 61.160. In addition, you would need 200 hours of cross-country time, 100 hours of night time, and 50 hours of flight time in the class of aircraft in which you are seeking your R-ATP (in most cases, multi-engine time). Please reference FAR 61.160(b), (f), and 61.159(a).
Where can I find the FAA approved course list?
What if the number of credits for a specific course is different on the list than what is listed for that course on my transcript?
- Only the lesser of the two credits shown for that course in either source will count.
What if I "tested out" of a course and received credit, even though I never actually attended the Purdue course?
- If the course appears on your official transcript, then it is eligible to count towards the required 60 credit hours.
What if I don’t have 60 credit hours from the approved list?
- If you earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue’s Professional Flight Technology Program with at least 30 credits from the approved course listing, you will need a minimum of 1250 hours total time to meet the requirements of FAR 61.160 for an R-ATP (in addition to the other flight time requirements of FAR 61.159 and 61.160).
What if I completed my flight training at Purdue in the FAR Part 61 program?
- On July 9, 2014 the FAA approved Purdue's request for an exemption from the FAR 141 certification requirement for the eligibility of Professional Flight graduates for the R-ATP. (The exemption can be viewed here.) In most cases, students who have graduated or who will graduate from Purdue's Professional Flight program between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2016 will be eligible for an R-ATP provided they have completed the required credit hours from Purdue's approved course list, as explained above.
Is there a separate approved course list for graduates who qualify under the FAR 141 exemption?
- No, the approved course list is the same.
How do I request a certifying statement from Purdue so that I can apply for an R-ATP under the FAR 141 exemption?
Can I qualify for an R-ATP if I transferred into Purdue’s Professional Flight Technology Program from another aviation school?
- In certain instances, yes. Please contact Associate Professor, Brian G. Dillman (dillman@purdue.edu) to review your specific situation.