Originally Posted by
ChatMEC
Sound advice. Single engine CPL is really a transitional cert. It should be staged up as CFI prep.
But what do I know, I tried to get my ATP-glider.
The commercial pilot certificate is definitely not a "transitional certificate."
There are many who never go beyond that, and have no need for anything else, and fly based on their commercial. I did, for years.
The ATP is a specific-use certificate, but hardly necessary for a great deal of what pays in aviation. Further, one may hold commercial privileges with one category/class, but ATP in another. Commercial single engine sea, for example, ATP multi engine airplane. Not transitional.
The CFI is predicated on the user holding a commercial pilot certificate, not an ATP.