Originally Posted by
tallpilot
This is correct. He would be legal to circle IMC in the typed aircraft as long as he only needed commercial privileges to conduct the operation.
Getting an ATP for 'free' as part of an approved training program is a nice perk, however it does come with some limitations occasionally.
It would be a pretty easy ride in a Seminole to remove the circling restriction from the ATP in this case.
Negative. A type rating is conducted to one standard: ATP.
A person who received a type rating without circling limitations, issued to the holder of a commercial pilot certificate, who later upgrades his pilot certificate to ATP, sees his type rating intact, without circling limitations. A type rating is issued without circling limits when circling has been demonstrated as part of the type ride. Simply because that person upgrades pilot certificate privileges to ATP, does NOT mean he must repeat his type ride, or any portion thereof, and he is NOT required to demonstrate circling in that type aircraft. He retains his type rating without a circle limitation.
Specific to your statement, the individual is free to circle in type with commercial privileges, and free to circle in type with ATP privileges. Obtaining ATP certification does not negate the nature of the type rating already issued; it does not take on a circling limitation on that type rating, as an ATP.