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09-11-2009 | 03:49 PM

#15359

CRJDriver

Gets Weekends Off

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 1,617

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From: Some Hotel

Quote:

Originally Posted by andy171773

I'd like to know exactly how you did it too!

Mine expired in May

Ok. Let’s look at the FAR 61.39(b) first and see what it says:

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (a)(1) and (2) of this section, an applicant for an airline transport pilot certificate or an additional rating to an airline transport certificate may take the practical test for that certificate or rating with an expired knowledge test report, provided that the applicant:

(1) Is employed as a flight crewmember by a certificate holder under part 121, 125, or 135 of this chapter at the time of the practical test and has satisfactorily accomplished that operator's approved—

(i) Pilot in command aircraft qualification training program that is appropriate to the certificate and rating sought; and

(ii) Qualification training requirements appropriate to the certificate and rating sought; [/quote]

There seems to be a lot of confusion and different interpretations of the regulations regarding the ATP written. First, you ATP written expires after 24 calendar months. Period. However, the regulations state: “Is employed as a flight crewmember by a certificate holder under part 121, 125, or 135 of this chapter at the time of the practical test.” The part that confused me and thought would make me ineligible is the “and has satisfactorily accomplished that operator's approved”, in this case when I would upgrade to Captain at Comair.

My ATP Written expired in March and I wanted to get my ATP in April, Pt. 61 at a local FBO. I did some research and talked to the DPE and called my local FSDO to confirm and see if I can use my expired written exam or if I would have to re-take it. After about a week of waiting and the FSDO confirming with OKC, I got the green light from the FSDO and my DPE and was told I was good to go, as long as I have a seniority number on file with my airline, I am still considered to be employed by a Pt. 121 carrier.

The issue you will run into is with IACRA. The system will reject your expired written exam. Luckily my DPE knew what he was doing and had dealt with this before. Instead of using IACRA, we completed a paper 8710, attached a copy of my furlough letter and my expired ATP written. It will definitely help if you have a DPE that knows what he is doing. At this time I am running around with my 2nd temporary certificate, as my local FSDO doesn’t have it all together. First time around they forgot to send it in, then they forgot to sign it, so it has been a big cluster, but there haven’t been any issues with the expired written. I thoroughly researched this before I started my ATP and wanted confirmation from the FAA in OKC. So, it can be done if you have it all together, do some research and know what you are doing. I’ve heard some stories of regional FOs going to ALLATPs and trying to do this and got denied. I don’t know why? I really didn’t want to re-take that stupid test, as I though it was actually the hardest and most time consuming part of the whole process of getting the ATP.

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