Quick ATP reg. question
 

Question about the restricted ATP. I know that one who graduated from an aviation university can get one with 1000 hours. The restricted part means that the recipient can only fly as an FO, not a Captain.

Once the restricted ATP holder hits 1,500, do they (a) have to reapply to get a full ATP and retake the tests, etc., or (b) automatically get "upgraded" to full ATP without further testing?

Thanks a lot!:)

Uh... no. In order to get an ATP in the USA you need to meet the requirements including 1500 hrs. Period. There is no "restricted" ATP for graduates. It has been proposed but it is not law.

For now, these are the requirements:
ATP Requirements

It's called Frozen. Not sure if you have to re-test.

And there no such thing as a "frozen" ATP. It's a European marketing term for "I've got a commercial license and I've passed the ATP written(s) but I don't have 1500 hours yet."

NPRM is out, but not finalized yet. Your question can't be answered until the regulation is issued.

In FAA land, there is a term for "frozen ATP", Comercial Pilot.
GF

The question I have is how long are they going to wait before finalizing it?? I have a feeling it will be this fall right before the elections. That way the airlines can line DCs pockets easier to get a grandfather clause and some other outs before August 2013.

Well, the NPRM is in the Federal Register, the law passes by Congress has a hard deadline, I suspect the rule will look a lot like the NPRM. Do you think anyone in the industry can bribe Congress to change the law?

GF

Of course Congress can be bribed. Bribes have shaped this country for the past 50 years.

The law in question would still go through there will just be some extra goodies in it to help out the airlines.

The law has passed, it specifies the time and ATP, it would have to be repealed. Can you show a case where Congress repealed a law that created a regulatory action?

GF

This is an unusual situation. Normally congress makes laws and the FAA makes aviation regulations (two different things).

In this case congress not (trusting the FAA, likely for good reason) passed a law that directed the FAA to make a new regulation. The law specified certain things (ATP required for 121) but left certain other details up to the FAA (ie rest rule details, reduced standards for ATP for those who attend certain schools).

The FAA could still make adjustments based on feedback during the NPRM process, and in theory congress could also make adjustments via legislation if they feel the FAA did not implement their original intent.