I've seen a few contradictory posts on this and know what will happen if I call a FSDO so thought I'd ask the true experts:

I'm a mil multi-engine fighter guy who currently has the following: ATP MEL with SEL private privileges (due to getting my private ticket before entering the military). I also have an MEI (via practical test) and CFII (via mil comp). I'd like to add an SE CFI rating, so to do this know I need at least SEL commercial privileges. Can someone confirm for me once and for all that as long as I have an ATP certificate I can make the jump from SEL Private to SEL ATP? I have 90-odd hours of SE time. Most of what I've read says yes, and my interpretation of the FAR kind of says the same thing. Thank you.

If you flew T-6s ever during UPT you can mil-comp the Comm SEL. I just realized that you might be a tweet guy. How'd you get the CFII milcomp Without a milcomp MEI/CFI?

Yes, I was a Tweet guy - UPT in 96-97. Since then I've only flown T-38s, AT-38s, and F-15Es, so no single engine a/c at all. As to the CFII, in the FAAs mind there is no option to have an MEI with centerline thrust restriction. So a guy like me who takes a mil comp test will be given a CFI cert with "Instrument Airplane" on it but no airplane ratings. Good thing is my practical was just an add-on with a DPE, no need for an initial CFI check. Sheppard Air has a great write up explaining the process.


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Yes. The SEL ATP is an add on to your MEL ATP.

Has nothing to do with your PPL.

Read the PTS matrix for details.

Thank you. I guess my concern was over the number of times I was told it's not an "add on". Plus the wording that one needed to have a commercial certificate as a prerequisite without specifying if the commercial had to be in the same category/class.


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You can do the ATP thing. You may also want to just get the commercial, as it may be more useful to you. It will introduce maneuvers you will later have to demonstrate an instructional ability during your SEL CFI add-on. Your SEL-CFI prep will certainly be shorter if you do the commercial. For kicks, go compare the commercial SEL add on table to the CFI-SE add on table from the appropriate PTSs.

ATP-SEL is near the top of the most useless ratings.

(Note: I'm a WSO who got all my ratings through CFII and ATP-MEL on the side. I'm used to translating from AF to FAA for the bros).