Can you explain this a little bit more to me?

 

Not an expert on EASA licenses but many foreign pilots say they have a "frozen ATP." They pass the 14 ATP written tests because the EASA will let you use the ATP tests to get a commercial license. Then they just need to log the required hours. It apparently looks better on a resume to say you have a fATPL than having a commercial and have passed the ATP written(s). Back in the last century you had to go to the FSDO and have your logbook audited before you could take the written. One of the requirements was that you had the 1500 hours TT and 250 PIC, 100 night, etc. Since the written was only valid for a year you would normally time when you did the written and checkride. The EASA writtens are good for 5 years so there is plenty of time to generate a new resume after you pass all the writtens but before you reach 1500 hours. The American "commercial with ATP written passed" would normally only cover a few months.

 

"the US never got into that whole "frozen ATP" thing." what does this mean?

 

European pilots will say they have a frozen ATP. They think it sounds better than saying they have a commercial license and have passed their ATP writtens. Their writtens used to be valid for a longer time than the FAA writtens and the ATP writtens count for the commercial license so they would get their commercial with just a couple hundred hours and say they had a frozen ATP. The ATM written is valid for 5 years now but most FAA pilots still seem to take the ATM written when they are getting close to the checkride.