MalteseX

It is not true. You will not get the ATP. For many years, we've been able to get a commercial certificate if we take the mil competency written exam and bring the required documents in....... we've also been able to get commercial type ratings using the scenario you describe above. (This is still applicable--ATP is not).

You will get a commercial type rating if you take your AC upgrade form 8 to the FSDO --- If you have a commerical certificate already AND the military aircraft has an FAA type designation.

However-- If you have an ATP already (vs just the written)--- you will get an ATP type rating for your AC upgrade using the scenario you described above (Perhaps this is how the rumor started).

If you get an ATP without taking the practical (ie the FSDO guy makes a mistake and gives you an ATP certificate) THAT ATP is INVALID. If it is found out in the future---it will be pulled (that is embarassing at the least and can cost you a job at the worst).

Vandal

So a commercial type rating is different than an ATP type? Always thought a type was a type?

zach141

Unless a very drastic change that I (could conceivably?) have missed, a free ATP would be rumor only. However, with a suitable Form 8 and recency of experience proof (from your SARM), you could get Beech 400, B-707, Learjet, Gulfstream, B-737...whatever, added to your Commercial or ATP ticket, whatever you possess. Make an appointment nowadays, with FSDOs, last I checked; don't just show up.

Zach

Twin Wasp

Yes and no. You have to meet the same flying standards for a type rating no matter what grade certificate it's on. But you can only exercise the privileges of the grade of the certificate. I got a DC-3 type while I still only had a Comm certificate. Even after I got the ATP, it said Commercial Privileges DC-3. Which meant that I could not carry pax of for hire in the Three, which was OK because I was working for a freight outfit and 135 freight only required a commercial rating. Finally did a PC with an Examiner who could upgrade the type rating to clean up the certificate.

MalteseX

Technically, a type rating is a type rating. However, you can only exercise the privileges of the certificate you hold with that type rating. If you were in the military and flew a B-737 variant in the military---and you upgraded to AC and took the mil competency exam etc. , you would get a commercial certificate with a B-737 type rating. You would only be able to exercise commercial privileges outside the military --- until you get an ATP.
Even then, (and I'm not fully sure about the conditions that cause this) you may subsequently get an ATP, but still be limited to commercial privileges on the B-737. It happened to me, and I really don't remember how I corrected it, but on my FAA certificate, it said under type ratings C/B-737. Later, I got it changed to A/ B-737 (but I don't remember what the process was). NOTE: The C/ means commercial priv. and the A/ means ATP priv.

rotorhead1026

I'm doing some "tall remembering", but I recall that if you pass a type rating / ATP checkride, all commercial type ratings in the same category and class would be upgraded to ATP. Example, you hold a B737 type with commercial priveleges only (whether you have a Commercial or ATP license), then take and pass an A320 type ride (ATP), then your B737 type should be upgraded. The examiner would have to do this, though - don't think OKE city would do so automatically.

If you had a commercial certificate with a B737 type, then subsequently passed an ATP ride, in - say - an Aztec, then I think the B737 type would be upgraded as well (category and class). I'm not as sure. Previous poster's experience would seem to confirm it. Possibly his ATP examiner forgot to make the change.

727gm

As of 04 Aug 1997, a type rating will follow your certificate grade , e.g. if you had C/L-188 on faa.gov website and get your ATP in a HS-125, the level of the type rating will now follow the certificate and become A/L-188 without an additional checkride. So all those guys with "Commercial Privileges" who haven't added a type since 1997 should be able to go to their FSDO and get a corrected certificate.

I don't know what will happen for those that have "VFR only" restrictions on their type ratings, but as of that date I understand they are not issued anymore.

FlyFastLiveSlow

Yes, as far as I can tell it is. I got my BE400 and MU300 types with the commercial multi/instrument military option. Then I added my B707 and B720 type with the Form 8 at AC upgrade, still on my commercial multi ticket. I added my GV type with an ATP type checkride with FSI and now all 5 type ratings are listed under my ATP multi certificate. Where they do make the distinction is in category and class. My license has always listed private pilot single engine privledges under the commercial or ATP section. I can use my instrument rating in single engine aircraft, but only at the private pilot level. The same has been true for other folks with similar type ratings. Hope this helps.

Twin Wasp

I should have waited 12 years.

MalteseX

That explains it for my situation. I got the ATP before 1997 and still kept the C/ on my type ratings. I got an ATP type in a DC-10 subsequent to 1997 and then my 737 followed it......

Must have been a change of regs between those times. I guess my old age memory isn't going as quickly as I previously thought!!!